Pamela Watkins

Name:
Watkins, Pamela Lynn

Date of Booking:
06/29/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Cruelty to Child, Criminal Negligence, 2nd

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 06/29/26 at approximately 1340 hours, Deputy Crane and Deputy Center were dispatched to a call in reference to a domestic dispute in progress located at the Dollar General on 1800 Tunnel Hill Rd.

Deputy Crane first made contact with Pamela Watkins who was holding Juvenile 1 and standing with Juvenile 2 as well beside her vehicle. Ms. Watkins stated that she had only left the kids outside for a few minutes and that the windows were down. Deputy Crane observed Juvenile 1 to have a flushed face and sweating so he told Ms. Watkins if she’d step inside the store or at least into the shaded area to get out of the heat. Ms. Watkins stated that she knew her actions were irresponsible and continually apologized.

Deputy Crane asked Ms. Watkins to step inside the store again to get the children out of the heat and then spoke with the two witnesses standing outside the store. Deputy Crane first spoke with [WITNESS #1] who stated that she called for the police due to the children being left in the vehicle with no air conditioning on. Ms. [WITNESS #1] also stated that when she approached the vehicle that Juvenile 2 reached in Ms. Watkins bag and held a can of mace up.

Ms. [WITNESS #1] stated that she went inside the store and told the employees and they called over the intercom system which then got Ms. Watkins’ attention to come to the front of the store. Ms. [WITNESS #2] stated that she was with Ms. [WITNESS #1] and witnessed the entire incident as well.

Deputy Crane checked the current heat index outside which will be provided through evidence.com by screenshot and it was reading at 93 degrees and rising with a heat advisory in effect. Deputy Crane proceeded back inside the store where he spoke with Ms. Watkins again about the incident. Ms. Watkins began speaking with her mother over the phone at this time while pacing back and forth.

Deputy Crane informed Ms. Watkins that she would need someone to come pick up the kids in attempt to not directly confront her about going to jail in front of her children. Ms. Watkins repeatedly asked if she was going to jail and began getting more visibly upset.

Deputy Crane overheard Ms. Watkins’ mother, [REDACTED], over the phone stating that she was on the way. Ms. [REDACTED] arrived shortly after and Deputy Crane asked if she would give her the keys so that she could retrieve the car seats for transport. Ms. [REDACTED] asked to speak to Deputy Crane for a moment about the incident in which she asked if there was any way around this.

Deputy Crane told Ms. [REDACTED] that there is no way around it and that her daughter will be going to jail. Deputy Center read Ms. Watkins Implied Consent and conducted Standard Field Sobriety Test due to the smell of alcohol emitting from Ms. Watkins.

When Deputy Center was finished with the test, Deputy Crane placed Ms. Watkins under arrest for O.C.G.A. Cruelty to Children 2nd degree and placed wrist restraints on her and double locking them. Deputy Crane and Deputy Center transported Ms. Watkins to the Whitfield County Jail where she was turned over to the Booking staff with no further incident.

Deputy Crane read Warrant #W26-1093 to Ms. Watkins by the Booking holding tank that she was placed in.

[End of Narrative]