Ryan Thomas

Name:
Thomas, Ryan Lawrence

Date of Booking:
08/31/2026

Reason(s) For Booking:
Aggravated Assault, Gun

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.]

[NARRATIVE #1 on August 31, 2026]

On August 31, 2026, Deputy Kadinger and Deputy Nunez were dispatched to [300 BLOCK] Summit Cir in reference to a domestic dispute in progress between [VICTIM #1] and Ryan Thomas that involved an AR-15 firearm. Upon Deputy Kadinger’s arrival, he made contact with [VICTIM #1] at the entrance of the driveway in his vehicle.

Deputy Nunez gathered [VICTIM #1]’s statement while Deputy Kadinger held a sector of fire on the house from his vehicle. [VICTIM #1] advised Deputy Nunez that his child, Juvenile 1, was still inside the house with Ryan. Deputy Nunez then contacted Dispatch to call Ryan. Dispatch advised Ryan had answered and linked Deputy Nunez and Ryan into a call. Deputy Nunez ordered Ryan to exit the residence with his hands up, to which he complied.

[VICTIM #1] advised that while he was at his girlfriend, [WITNESS #1]’s, house Ryan came inside and began yelling at [VICTIM #1] to leave. [VICTIM #1] advised that a argument started and that Ryan became so agitated that he went to his room and grabbed a black AR-15. [VICTIM #1] stated that Ryan then pointed the gun at him and racked the bolt. [VICTIM #1] stated that he then left the residence due to fearing for his life.

Deputy Kadinger and Sgt. Barnett approached Ryan, and Deputy Kadinger then patted Ryan down for any weapons, but did not find any. Deputy Kadinger then asked Ryan if Juvenile 1 was inside the residence, to which he stated that he did not know and that Deputy Kadinger would have to ask his sister, [WITNESS #1].

Deputy Kadinger then asked Ryan if it was okay if the Deputies could enter the residence to make sure the child was not inside; he stated that it was okay and that the Deputies could use the kitchen door to avoid his dog. Deputy Nunez, Deputy Bandy, and Deputy Avila then attempted to make entry, but the door was locked.

While Deputy Kadinger was still talking with Ryan, Ryan stated that “It was uncalled for probably, pulling the gun on him.” When Deputy Kadinger asked what prompted him to do that, Ryan stated that it was because [VICTIM #1] was telling him that his sister could be getting hurt some where. Ryan stated that things got really “heated” between the two of them.

Ryan advised that [VICTIM #1] does not live at the residence because he and [WITNESS #1] are having issues. Ryan stated that the only people who live at the residence are [WITNESS #1], Ryan, Juvenile 1, and occasionally Ryan’s mother.

Deputy Kadinger then went and assisted with the search of the residence for Juvenile 1. While searching, Deputy Nunez advised that she saw a black AR-15 in plain view inside a bedroom located in the downstairs portion of the house. Juvenile 1 was located inside her room, in her crib. After Juvenile 1 was found, all deputies exited the residence.

Ryan was then read his Miranda rights, and Ryan chose to exercise his Fifth Amendment right. Ryan was then placed into custody by placing him into handcuffs, checking for fit, and ensuring the handcuffs were double-locked. When asked if Deputy Kadinger could go inside to retrieve the firearm, Ryan declined. Ryan was then transported to the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office by Deputy Bandy.

Deputy Kadinger then filed for search warrant number 2026-256SW, which was approved by Magistrate Judge Phillips on September 1, 2026. A search warrant of the residence was conducted at approximately 00:18 a.m. on September 1, 2026, and a black American Tactical AR-15 (serial number NS114833) was located in the first downstairs bedroom on the right. The rifle was located leaning against a bed with a magazine inserted into the magazine well. Both the AR-15, the magazine, and 23 rounds of 5.56 x 45 caliber rounds were collected and will be stored as evidence at the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Kadinger then went to the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, where he charged Ryan with (O.C.G.A. 16-5-21) Aggravated Assault on warrantless arrest, number 67471. Ryan was then turned over to booking staff with no further incident.

[End of Narrative]

[NARRATIVE #2 on August 31, 2026]

On August 31st, 2026 Deputy Nunez and Deputy Kadinger were dispatched to [300 BLOCK] Summit Cir SW in reference to an aggregated assault that had occurred at the above location. The caller, [VICTIM #1], told dispatch that an AR style rifle was pointed at him by a male named Ryan Thomas.

Upon arrival at 22:17 Deputy Kadinger took a position of cover behind his patrol vehicle and kept a visual on the residence. Deputy Nunez spoke with the caller/victim, [VICTIM #1], and he explained that he called his brother in law, Ryan Thomas, after not being able to get a hold of the mother of his child, [WITNESS #1], in hopes he had his sister [WITNESS #1]’s location. At that time [VICTIM #1] stated that one [WITNESS #1] answered the phone, and Ryan began to “flip out on me and talking crazy.” [VICTIM #1] explained that he was removing himself from the situation by exiting the residence and at that time he stated that Ryan “cocked his gun and points it at me.”

Deputy Nunez asked [VICTIM #1] to describe the gun and he stated “I don’t know what type of gun it is but it’s a rifle for sure.” [VICTIM #1] explained that Ryan was telling him to leave the residence but [VICTIM #1] hesitated due to his one year old daughter still being inside. Deputy Nunez asked [VICTIM #1] to describe what Ryan was wearing and he gave the description of a white male with a black shirt and black shorts.

Deputy Nunez had [VICTIM #1] call [WITNESS #1] and have her meet deputies at the above address. While [WITNESS #1] was on her way Deputy Nunez spoke with her on the phone regarding the current situation. [WITNESS #1] advised Deputy Nunez that she was approximately fifteen minutes away because she had to give her friend a ride. Deputy Nunez asked [WITNESS #1] if her bother Ryan had any substance abuse issues that deputies needed to know prior to making entry and she stated “No, he just recently got a DUI in Chattanooga. He’s always been like this.”

[WITNESS #1] added that [VICTIM #1] and Ryan have been physically towards each other in the past and explained that Ryan had tried to “choke” [VICTIM #1] and she had to step in. [WITNESS #1] also stated “Deputy Nunez advised [WITNESS #1] that when she arrives she would need to stay on the Main Street until instructed otherwise. At that time [WITNESS #1] was overheard telling [VICTIM #1] that she was afraid of going home because she was scared of Ryan.

Deputy Nunez took cover as well and briefed Deputy Kadinger and Sgt. Barnett on the situation. At 22:41 Deputy Nunez asked dispatch to run Ryan Thomas DOB [REDACTED] and to call the number that is associated with the male. Dispatch advised Deputy Nunez that they had Ryan on the phone. Deputy Nunez was linked up with Ryan and gave him verbal commands to slowly come outside the residence with his hands up.

At that time Ryan complied with the officers commands and was detained. With prior knowledge that [VICTIM #1] had provided there was still a juvenile inside the residence. While doing a sweep of the residence for the toddler Deputy Nunez located a rifle found in plain view in the downstairs bathroom (first room to the right). Due to this only being a search for the child a search warrant needed to be obtained to retrieve the firearm and run the serial number. Juvenile 1 was located and handed to her father [VICTIM #1].

Deputy Kadinger placed Ryan into custody for aggravated assault and obtained a search warrant to retrieve the firearm from the residence. A copy of the warrant was left on the kitchen counter for the homeowner to review.

Deputy Nunez contacted [WITNESS #1] to notify her that deputies were out of the residence and they were allowed to reenter the home.

[End of Narrative]