John Townsend

Name:
Townsend, John Austin

Date of Booking:
08/10/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Cruelty To Child, 3rd Or Subsequent Offense, 3rd

Battery, Family Violence (1st Offense)

Criminal Trespass, Damage 0f $500 Or Less

Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]

On 08/10/2026, Deputies Warren and Painter responded to [REDACTED] in reference to a physical domestic dispute in progress. It was reported that John Townsend was on scene and harming [VICTIM #1] and possibly others at the residence.

Deputies arrived and located [VICTIM #1] in the front yard holding Juvenile 1, her son. [VICTIM #1] was crying and seemingly hysterical. As deputies approached, John Townsend appeared on the front porch of the residence and began yelling out to deputies “Y’all are probably going to have to take me to jail”. Deputy Painter then spoke with [VICTIM #1] while Deputy Warren made contact with John on the front porch.

Upon contact, John smelled strongly of alcohol and was yelling and ranting to himself, seemingly about [VICTIM #1]. Deputy Warren asked John what had happened prior to law enforcement’s arrival. John stated that he did not want to explain anything and that he wanted Deputy Warren to either take him to jail or “shoot” him “in the head”. Deputy Warren continued to ask John what had happened, pointing out that John had a red mark on his cheek. John then stated that [VICTIM #1] had slapped him at one point.

John eventually stated that he and [VICTIM #1] lived together and that Juvenile 1 was their son. John claimed that he had taken [VICTIM #1]’s car to get gas for his lawn mower. While out, John stated the car had started having issues. John called [VICTIM #1] and told her that he was going to take the car to a relative’s house and leave it to be fixed.

[VICTIM #1] asked John just to bring the car home so that they would have some form of transportation, regardless of the issues. John stated that he and [VICTIM #1] began arguing over the phone about the subject before John hung up the phone. John claimed that the car then broke down somewhere on Riverbend Rd. John then parked the car and had another relative pick him up and take him home, where he and [VICTIM #1] began to argue in person.

John then disclosed that [WITNESS #1], a relative, was inside of the residence and had been present during the argument. Deputy Painter then made contact with [WITNESS #1] inside of the residence. John then became focused on yelling at [VICTIM #1] in the yard, rather than explaining how and when [VICTIM #1] slapped him; calling her names like “b*tch” and “wh*re” as he refused to calm down.

It was at this time that [WITNESS #2] arrived on scene. It was later discovered that [WITNESS #2] was [WITNESS #1]’s son and John’s uncle. John became more irate at the sight of [WITNESS #2] and began yelling insults at [WITNESS #2] and about [WITNESS #2] to Deputy Warren. [WITNESS #2] attempted to enter the residence to check on [WITNESS #1]. It was at this time that John and [WITNESS #2] engaged in a verbal altercation. Deputies Warren and Painter positioned themselves between the two and separated them.

Deputy Warren then spoke with [WITNESS #2] in the front yard of the residence while Deputy Painter attempted to speak with John on the front porch. [WITNESS #2] told Deputy Warren that [WITNESS #1] had called him when the argument began between John and [VICTIM #1] at the house. [WITNESS #2] stated that he stayed on the line as the argument ensued and claimed that all he could hear was John yelling and cussing at [VICTIM #1]. [WITNESS #2] further stated that [WITNESS #1] informed him that John had broken a television and other items within the house during the altercation, prompting him to come check welfare on his mother.

John continued to yell and remained irate while on the porch. Deputy Painter then placed John into handcuffs and detained him in his patrol vehicle until he calmed down.

Deputy Warren then spoke with [VICTIM #1] inside of the residence. [VICTIM #1] confirmed that the initial argument began over the phone about her car and continued when John arrived home without the car. [VICTIM #1] stated that they then entered the home and went to their bedroom to argue. It was there that [VICTIM #1] claimed that John began punching the television in the bedroom, causing the screen to shatter in multiple places. [VICTIM #1] stated that John also took a framed painting from within the room and purposefully broke the frame.

[VICTIM #1] stated that they then stepped out of the bedroom and into the kitchen area, still arguing. [VICTIM #1] stated that this is when John punched her between her eyes. Deputy Warren observed a red mark between [VICTIM #1]’s eyes. [VICTIM #1] stated that Juvenile 1 was present during this. [VICTIM #1] stated that she then went back outside to get away from John and called family members to come pick her and Juvenile 1 up.

Once her family members were on their way, [VICTIM #1] stated she attempted to go back inside to pack items to take with her. [VICTIM #1] stated that John confronted her at the door. [VICTIM #1] claimed that John then grabbed her by her neck and pressed her against the house as he yelled at her. [VICTIM #1] stated that John was squeezing her neck and that this is when she slapped him in his face. [VICTIM #1] stated that John then let her go. She then picked up Juvenile 1 and went back to the front yard and that deputies arrived on scene a short time later.

Deputy Warren then spoke with Deputy Painter. Deputy Painter had mirandized and interviewed John. Deputy Painter informed Deputy Warren that John admitted to breaking the television and denied touching [VICTIM #1].

Deputy Warren then met with [VICTIM #1] and Juvenile 1. With [VICTIM #1] present and consenting, Deputy Warren asked Juvenile 1 “What did you see today?”. Juvenile 1 simply stated “Daddy punched mommy in the face” and imitated a punching motion with his arm and fist.

[WITNESS #1] stated that she did not visibly see any of the alleged assaults or damaging of property, but stated that John was the instigator of the disturbance.

[VICTIM #1]’s visible injuries were photographed along with the broken television and the broken frame. Deputy Warren then returned to John, informed him that he was under arrest and placed him into the back seat of his patrol vehicle. Deputy Warren then transported John to WCSO and charged him accordingly:

Warrant #W26-1371

16-5-70(e)(3) Cruelty to Children 3rd Degree
16-5-23.1 Battery (FV)
16-7-21 Criminal Trespass (FV)

[VICTIM #1] was provided with a victim’s bill of rights form.

[End of Narrative]