Michael Carnes

Name:
Carnes, Michael Dewayne

Date of Booking:
12/16/2025

Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault, Other Weapon

Battery

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 10 December 2025, at approximately 1245 hours, Deputy Rice was dispatched to Hill Rd/Debbie Way for a bolo.

Dispatch informed Deputy Rice that a fight between two males had just occurred on Hill Rd. [WITNESS #1] informed dispatch that the two males had gotten back into their vehicles and took off down Eugenia Dr. [WITNESS #1] informed dispatch that the vehicles had gone around the block a few times as if they were chasing each other.

[VICTIM #1] contacted dispatch and informed them he had just been assaulted by a male on Hill Rd and had followed him down to Five Star Metal Fabrication. [VICTIM #1] informed dispatch that [REDACTED] was the tag on a white F-250, and it had Five Star Metal Fabrication on the side of it. [VICTIM #1] informed dispatch that the vehicle was occupied by multiple males, and they all ran inside the building at Five Star. [VICTIM #1] informed dispatch that he wanted EMS to come and check him out.

Deputy Rice arrived on the scene and made contact with [VICTIM #1], who was sitting inside his vehicle. Deputy Rice observed severe bleeding coming from [VICTIM #1]’s nose, a misalignment of the nasal area, blood on his chin, and multiple red marks on his face. Deputy Rice also observed blood spots in multiple places of the driver’s seat area and on the outside of [VICTIM #1]’s door.

[VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice he was traveling south on Hill Rd when a white F-250 stopped in the middle of the road. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that a male exited the front passenger seat of the F-250 and approached his vehicle. The male was later identified as Michael Carnes. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that Michael asked him why he was following them so close, and he replied to Michael by saying he was not. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that Michael then opened his driver’s side door. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that he told Michael he was going to call the cops, and Michael responded, do it and you’ll see what happens.

[VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that at that time, Michael had brandished a knife towards him. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that Michael put the knife away and then started punching him in the face. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that Michael punched him in the face twice, and then he became dizzy inside the vehicle. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that he exited the vehicle in an attempt to get away, but Michael continued hitting him with his fist. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that he fell to the ground, and Michael continued to punch him and also started kicking him. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that he heard someone yell that’s enough and Michael stopped the assault. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that it was then he saw Michael get into the front passenger seat of the white F-250 and drive off. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that he got back into his vehicle, started following the vehicle, and contacted dispatch.

[VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that he followed the white F-250 around the block a few times before stopping at Five Star Metal Fabrication. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that once the white F-250 parked, multiple people exited the vehicle but he witnessed Michael run to the backside of the building and then observed him going inside. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that Michael was wearing a bright orange construction shirt, bald, and had a long beard. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that Michael was really tall. [VICTIM #1] informed Deputy Rice that the other people in the vehicle were wearing bright green construction shirts. Deputy Rice sent [VICTIM #1] to the Iglesia Church on Hill Rd to meet with ems.

Deputy Rice, Deputy Findley, and Deputy Long went into the business in an attempt to make contact with Michael. Deputy Rice made contact with Nathan Burkett, who is the manager at the business. Deputy Rice informed Nathan that he needed to speak to an employee who is tall and has a beard. Nathan informed Deputy Rice that he was probably done gone since he didn’t come back into the shop. Nathan informed Deputy Rice that we were more than welcome to look around the shop. Deputy Rice asked Nathan if he knew who it was, and he stated, No, I do not.

Deputy Rice asked Nathan if he was an employee, and he stated he is a new employee and that’s all I can tell you. Deputy Rice asked Nathan who else was in the truck, and he failed to answer. Nathan informed Deputy Rice that he had been at the shop working on the front end. Deputy Rice asked Nathan how new this employee was, and he stated this week. Deputy Rice asked Nathan what the employee’s name was, and he did not answer.

Deputy Rice asked Nathan if the office manager would know, and he stated yes. Deputy Rice informed Nathan of the assault that occurred and how one of his vehicles was used during it. Deputy Rice asked Nathan if any of the employees inside the shop were with that truck during the incident, and he stated no. Deputy Rice was provided the name [REDACTED] by the office manager. Deputy Long showed [VICTIM #1] the driver’s license photo of [REDACTED], and he informed her that he was not the offender.

Deputy Rice had Nathan gather his employees and have them step outside. Deputy Long escorted [VICTIM #1] back to the business in an attempt to identify who was in the white F-250. [VICTIM #1] identified [WITNESS #2] as one of the occupants in the vehicle. Deputy Rice spoke with [WITNESS #2], and he stated he had been at the shop since 1121am and displayed his Life 360 supporting that statement. Deputy Rice looked at all of the employees hands and did not see any redness on the knuckles that is consistent with recently hitting something.

[WITNESS #3] arrived on the scene while all of the employees were outside and speaking to Deputy Rice. Deputy Rice asked [WITNESS #2] if he knew of an employee who was tall, with a long beard, and bald, and he stated no. Deputy Rice asked [WITNESS #3] if he knew of a guy who was tall, long beard, and no hair and he stated not that he knows of Deputy Rice released the employees to return inside of the building.

Deputy Rice was standing outside when [REDACTED] and another young male arrived back on the scene. [VICTIM #1] identified the young male and [REDACTED] as passengers in the white F-250. Deputy Rice spoke with the young male, and he informed Deputy Rice that he knew the guy’s name was Mike or Michael, and he was new. [REDACTED] is mute and cannot speak.

Deputy Rice went back inside the office and made contact with [WITNESS #3]. Deputy Rice asked [WITNESS #3] if he knew who a new guy named Michael was, and he stated no. Deputy Rice asked Nathan, [WITNESS #3], and [REDACTED] who Mike was, and they pointed towards [REDACTED]. Deputy Rice asked who’s the other Mike that has a long beard and bald and [WITNESS #3] pointed at [REDACTED] and stated this is the only Mike we have.

Deputy Rice asked [WITNESS #3], Nathan, and [REDACTED] if they were going to continue obstructing our investigation and Nathan stated he was at the shop and [WITNESS #3] stated he was in Calhoun. [WITNESS #3] informed Deputies that technically, we aren’t supposed to step foot inside there unless we have a warrant.

Deputy Rice located 2 vehicles at the shop that are registered to Michael Carnes. Deputy Rice ran Michael’s information and forwarded a photo of him to Deputy Long to show [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] confirmed that Michael Carnes is the one who assaulted him.

Deputy Rice made contact with [WITNESS #1] who witnessed the assault and contacted dispatch. Deputy Rice showed [WITNESS #1] 2 photos of Michael Carnes and asked if it was him. [WITNESS #1] stated kind of looks like him but not 100% sure. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that there were 3 people in the white F-250. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that the offender had on an orange shirt, and the other 2 had on bright green shirts. [WITNESS #1] described the offender as tall and husky.

[WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that he was traveling south on Hill Rd and came up on the vehicles stopped in the road. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that he thought it was a wreck. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that he saw the offender walk up to [VICTIM #1]’s car and start a verbal altercation. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that he drove around them to get to his driveway and to get away from them. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that he stopped to retrieve his mail and got back into his car.

[WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that once he got back into the car, the offender was kicking [VICTIM #1] on the ground. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that is when he started to call 911. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that the offender got in the front passenger seat as they drove off. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that when the offender was getting back into the vehicle, he asked [WITNESS #1] if he was calling the cops, and he stated yes. [WITNESS #1] informed Deputy Rice that the offender then used explicit language towards him and then got into the vehicle and left.

Deputy Rice was informed by dispatch that [WITNESS #4] had called in with information about the assault. Deputy Rice made contact via telephone with [WITNESS #4] and was informed that she had received a Snapchat video of the assault. [WITNESS #4] informed Deputy Rice that her sister, [WITNESS #5], was in her car directly behind [VICTIM #1] and Michael and witnessed the assault. Deputy Rice obtained [WITNESS #5]’s contact information from [WITNESS #4].

Deputy Rice made contact via telephone with [WITNESS #5] and spoke to her about the assault. [WITNESS #5] informed Deputy Rice that she was traveling south on Hill Rd and came upon 2 guys fighting in the road. [WITNESS #5] informed Deputy Rice that she started recording after [VICTIM #1] was already on the ground being attacked by Michael. [WITNESS #5] informed Deputy Rice that once [VICTIM #1] and Michael got back into their vehicles, they sped off down a side road. [WITNESS #5] informed Deputy Rice that she wanted to leave the area due to having her child. [WITNESS #5] informed Deputy Rice that she was scared and didn’t know what to do, and called [WITNESS #4].

Deputy Rice observed the video footage from [WITNESS #5]’s cell phone. Deputy Rice observed [VICTIM #1] on the ground, balled up in a defensive position, and Michael Carnes standing over him, throwing multiple punches and kicking him multiple times. Deputy Rice observed [REDACTED] and what appears to be Nathan Burkett in the video.

Deputy Rice asked [VICTIM #1] if he wanted to pursue charges and he stated yes. Deputy Rice provided [VICTIM #1] with report number 2025-06761 and informed him he would be applying for a warrant.

Warrant number W25-2055 for case number 2025-947376WF was issued for Michael Carnes for the charge(s): OCGA 16-5-21, Aggravated Assault, and OCGA 16-5-23.1, Battery.

Deputy Rice uploaded photos of [VICTIM #1]’s injuries and the video provided by [WITNESS #5] to Evidence.com.

Nothing more to report, pending warrant.

[End of Narrative]