I'll go by this. If you let your roots hang around toxicity too much, your fruits become toxic. I was her fruit. >> All right. >> Um, you have your ID? >> Oh, yeah. I have it in my car. >> Hey, now that I'm looking at you, I do definitely recognize you. >> On January 11th, 2022, officers were dispatched to a local apartment complex in Athens, Georgia. A group of girls heard arguing and loud banging coming from their upstairs neighbor's apartment. >> Hey, are you there? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> He's in the apartment. >> Is he still upstairs? >> I don't know. >> Okay. What's your name, ma'am? >> I'm Ashley. >> Okay. >> Yeah, he's here. >> Okay. If you want to just hang out with him down here, I'll come back and talk to you in just a second, okay? >> Okay. >> Is that okay? >> I'm going to go upstairs and unlock the door. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Clark County Police. >> Hello. >> What's going on, man? >> I figured you'd be here. >> Okay. What's going on? >> Okay, so I've already been through this once. 4 years straight, okay? So, I tried to get out but I I tried to get out of the relationship. All right. >> Hey. Am I in the right place? Okay. Sorry to interrupt. What's [clears throat] going on? >> I don't know you. >> You got a crunch? >> No, but you know this girl from Facebook, Lauren? You sell edibles? >> Yeah. Wait, Gabby? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> [clears throat] >> I know Gabby. She's actually my ex. >> I know him. >> As soon as I went to go walk out the door after a little argument, cuz she yelled in my face, I was like, no [ __ ] that. I'm go I'm done. This is the last time. So, we ended up having a couple arguments. We're like, only 2 weeks into this, and she blocks me in the room, okay? Won't Won't let me leave. All right. So, I sit there and I'm trying to be calm, telling her, "Please, please, let me do the door. Please." >> Mhm. >> So, she gets up and she stands there. I'm like, "I'm not going to hear you no more. I want to leave. I don't want to sit here. I don't want this to end up in a bad situation. I want to leave, okay? And this keeps on talking. She says nothing. Stay right here. >> Okay. >> Okay? >> All right. >> So, I So, I did this, okay? I got arrested for this already before. I mean, just moving somebody out of the way. Like, please God, you know? >> Mhm. All right. Uh do you have >> want to leave. >> Do you have a driver's license on you? >> Okay? >> Do you have a driver's license? >> She knows it. She knows everything about me. She knows my PTSD and everything. And this she knows what I been through with police. I just need to leave. >> Do you have a driver's license on you? >> Yes. >> All right. >> I got work tonight. Like, all I want to do is just have a simple life. >> Mhm. >> Call life. >> Okay. >> And just go to work, man. That's all I want to do. >> All right, man. >> Man, I've been homeless five years. >> Five, six inches or one by number. Which one? >> I already gave him a fight. And then, this is like long story short. Whenever he was grabbing my face down here, I saw him. Um and then, he stopped me back. And now, it's the kitchen. So, that's where I was getting away. Um I just got a shower so they can smell I got to get changed all the back in there. Um and then, he was yelling at me and he was still yelling at me cuz I I was giving my ex money for other money still. That's what we were fighting about. Um >> You're fighting because you're giving your ex money? >> Yeah, it's like $50 I gave him five. >> Yeah. >> And I even before the fight had started, I was like, I can see you getting heated up. I can see you don't want me sending him money and I won't. And the discussion and he didn't like that. And I think he blew up. >> Okay. >> Um the incident was when he we were talking like I was like right here. He was calling me a stuff. And he had shoved me against the bed. And I called him up. And I got his face down so like I had I pushed him back. And then, he hit me in the face like he hit my nose, hit my nose, actually. >> Okay. >> Um that's when I woke him up and then she was like, "Ask him if I'm okay." And I went back up to get my water cuz I was going to dry up um to get away. And then And then all of my phone was One of my friends, Manny, I was telling him what happened and he was hearing and he was like, "You got to tell the goddamn truth." I was like, "I am." I told her everything. He was like, "You forgot to say you did this." And I was like, "I did. I was outside." He grabbed my phone and he was like, "Explain." I was like, "Don't take my phone." And I don't know, he just turned around and he just pushed me. And I'm like, "Right here." And he followed me over here to the trash can upstairs. >> Okay. >> And he wouldn't give my phone back. He was like, "I'm going to call the cops and stuff." >> Where's your phone at now? >> Right here. >> You have it? Okay. Is it broken or anything? >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> I'm in another Cynthia situation. That sums it up. She goddamn slapped me. Okay. She slapped me across the face. Then she called the cops on me. Just like Cynthia did. >> I know you're talking to your grandma, but do you want to hang up and talk to me for a minute? >> Hey sir, you going to arrest me? It's possible doing that, man. Cuz I'm I don't >> Well, we're trying to figure out what's going on still. So So I understand there was an argument over money, right? >> It was the argument over her sending her her twisted ex-boyfriend, okay? >> Okay. >> Money. Who also threatened to kill my grandmother, >> Okay. >> Okay. sure you can think about how somebody would feel, you know. >> Okay. >> And the girl is sending her ex, you know, money still even though he stole $150 from her. Why is she sending him money? >> Right. >> And why is he texting you saying, "Oh, come suck my Come do this. I'm going to come over there while Jacob's not there." >> What's that for? >> Not sweet talk. >> Are you all friends? >> No. We're roommates. We just heard her yell. >> You heard all of it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> We heard the noise for about 10 minutes and then we were like, "Let's go check it out." We knocked, let's go check it out. We knocked, and answered, so we called the leasing office, and they were like, "You guys can just call 911." So, we did. >> Okay. >> I didn't even really want to. >> Don't worry. I have night shifts at night, okay? >> Mhm. >> I got I work from I work from 7:00 to 6:00 a.m. >> Okay. >> So, this has been going on since the since day one. It's only been like a month already, 3 weeks to a month. >> Are y'all living together in here? >> No, I don't I don't even know who this is, man. I've just >> Well, how have you been staying here? >> You know, wondering if she's going to be serious or not, because she's been going back and forth. You know, playing both of mine and this guy's heads, and getting us into it. And I mean, he recently just showed up in Ellijay. He was all the way in Villa Rica, right? He just showed up in Ellijay, which is which where my my grandma lives. And he's taking pictures of where he's at, and he's saying, "I'm grandma." And then she sends him money afterwards. >> We heard some like discussions, and they were like they were like, "Let's see what what we hear." And then they got to screaming, like, "Let's get out." >> Well, that was not our first time fighting though, but more like him calm down. >> Yeah. >> He just got me to sit down and actually talk to him. >> Devil. Did you hear a big thumps? >> Yeah. >> And you heard it above you? >> And then there was the person >> on the other >> Yeah, she was she was like, "Is that is is that them?" And we were like, "Yeah." >> You look like you're connected. >> And you [clears throat] said that he pushed you? Okay. And when you Is the apartment laid out the same? >> Mhm. >> So, you're here, and you went into over there, to the refrigerator? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um And then, what else physical happened? >> Um That's really all about the physical, really. And then he um he would like say he didn't tell me that he wanted to fight, cuz he wanted to hit me like a man. I was like, "You know I can't hit you." And I was like I was like I I didn't even show y'all how to how to hit him. I can't hit hard. And then he was like really hitting me hard. Like the man stood still. >> He said that to you? >> Yeah. And then I got on the bed and he actually grabbed my hands. I didn't know so I was like started going like this. And he was like, this is what you have to hit me with. You're hitting me with your elbows and knees and >> How long have you guys been together? >> I've known him for about a month. >> A month? You guys live together? >> He's been staying with me cuz his dad kicked him out. >> Okay. Well, we can fix that. Uh do you have your ID on you? >> Oh, yeah. I have my card here. >> And since you're the >> No. No, sir. >> Is it hers? >> Yes, it's her apartment. >> And how long have you stayed here? >> I've only been here for like a couple weeks now cuz I only stayed here a couple days at first. You know, he had my stuff >> for a couple weeks. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. So >> That's how the argument started. I I was like, no, I'm not going to be here while you're sending your ex money after he just threatened My grandmother showed up in Ellijay, uh like an hour and a half away. >> Okay. >> So I No, I'm going to take that seriously. When you drive all the way to Ellijay and just to send me threats. >> Mhm. So so what's >> sent some money. I was like, no, I'm getting up. I'm gone. And then she wouldn't let me leave. >> Okay. >> So I did this number. Okay? >> Mhm. >> And I told her get get out of my way. And then she just slapping me. So I do this. I said, please get off of me. I got PTSD. I've already been through this 4 years straight, okay? With a woman beating the [ __ ] out of me constantly. I didn't even do nothing. Okay? I'm one of those guys that don't I mean, okay, I'll sit there and I'll beat the [ __ ] out of myself before I hit a woman. I'll throw myself over a balcony, okay? But I can't sit there and let somebody whale on me like that, okay? Because if I don't push them off of me, then it might end up self-harm. So, you get me like it's PTSD. I will black out and I'll straight up do something that I will will regret. That's why That's why I do what I do. Like I'm I'm I'm trying to get out of the situation the best way I can, especially when somebody's blocking me from getting out of the door, you know? >> You're pregnant? How far along? >> I'm 14 weeks. >> Okay. Ooh. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> My ID is in the car. >> What's your uh date of birth? >> Something like that. >> And with the laws nowadays, you can't do nothing once somebody's standing in the door anyways. >> Right. >> Right. >> So, >> What are you supposed to do? >> Walk me in Walk me through a little bit about uh when y'all were on the bed and the money conversation was going on, what happened? Like how did she end up off of the bed onto the floor? >> Off of the bed onto the floor? >> Yeah, she Yeah, so like she was on the bed at one point and you guys were on the bed together and then she ended up on the floor somehow? >> Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no. We're not going to do this lying thing, okay? After she told me about the money thing, I said, "This I got up off the bed, okay?" And then she got up, okay? When I was telling her I'm not going to be here with you screwing around with my head and and then she gets in my face and she starts yelling. She said She said, "Shut the [ __ ] up." Okay? That's what she's doing. She's creating violence. I'm trying to leave. That's the whole sum up here. I'm trying to leave. She's blocking me, creating violence, okay? Trying to provoke me. >> Mhm. >> Okay? I'm not sitting here trying to get nothing through y'all's heads. I mean, I'm just trying to get out of here cuz like like I said >> That is my difference. >> You should have >> to voice out my opinion. He thinks my opinion is just an opinion. He likes facts. >> Yeah. >> That's why he kept calling me like he kept calling me a stupid dumb [ __ ] >> Yeah, now that I'm looking at you, I do definitely recognize you. >> And plus she's pregnant. >> Is it Is it your child? >> I don't know if it's our child. >> Okay. >> She don't even know what who who the child is. That's another thing. >> Right. >> You know, but she's she's going for it. >> Look, man, like you've said you've been through this before, so you know it's like you know this process. You know why I'm asking these questions, right? >> later because you know, usually when you spend a couple weeks with somebody, it's all lovey-dovey and perfect with that person. Then you get, you know, into that first month and that's when they start showing the snake in the grass. >> Mhm. >> Okay, if they are snake in the grass. So I was really hoping this wasn't. It's every It's almost every single woman I get with, okay, but most of them I can tell when they're how they are just by looking at them. This one I messed with. >> Right. >> I don't know. You know, it's just like that four-year relationship I was in, you know, they acted perfect for that first month and then boom, slap in the face over something stupid. That's what I do. >> Right. Right. I got you. >> I don't get how a woman can provoke a man, okay, like this and expect for him to not get angry and loud and want to get, you know, really trying to fight himself, you know? I don't understand. And then they call the cops after she just provoked. It don't make no damn sense when I was leaving already literally. You see my stuff sitting right here. Here's my stuff right here. >> Mhm. >> And the rest of it's in the car. I mean, I didn't get my packed up within 30 minutes, you know? I'm ready to get out of here. I'm not trying to do this toxic. >> Okay. >> And then he commits fraud standing stealing right out of her bank account. And and she wants to go back and send him money right in front of my face. And this dude threatened to kill my grandma. Recently. I can even show you text messages of this guy. >> still talking to him? >> That's what I'm saying. Please explain this to her cuz she says I because I already explained to you why. There is no reason why. >> Mhm. >> You get what I mean? There's no reason to be talking to him. He's toxic. And he he you know what? I go by this. If you hang If you let your roots hang around toxicity too much, your fruits become toxic. I was her fruit. >> All right. >> Okay? And she hung around toxicity too much and now look what it did. >> What are these blue things? I want to see one there one in the back. >> Those are air purifiers or whatever. >> Interesting. >> Some some company that she used to work with her brothers. >> All right. Well, let's let's go back outside and keep talking out there. Let's get out of her room. >> Yes, sir. >> Well, if you'll hang tight up here with him, I'll be right back, okay? Hi. I should have knocked. Sorry. Um do y'all have any questions [clears throat] or anything? >> No. Um just my question is like I don't know what's going to happen. Like if if you were to come back and knock or like knock on our door or something. >> On your door? >> Yeah. Like cuz I don't know like cuz we helped her like we did not matter like it's not her. >> Yeah, there's there's no reason he should be in this apartment. If you guys don't want him in here. Yeah, I mean if he's knocking at the door, then you can just call us. Like don't open the door, just call Cuz there's no reason he should be in here. Ma'am, if you want to hang out inside with your friends uh >> I don't know them. >> Oh, you don't? >> No. >> Oh, okay. It seemed like y'all were like all really good friends. >> When I was coming back up to from my car downstairs, she was sitting at the door and she asked me if I was okay. >> Okay. >> I said yeah and um whenever he showed me living room and then I left, I was like >> I got you. Um we can all walk back in. You can go back into your apartment. He's got all his stuff out, so we'll stay outside, but if you want to go back in and go into your room and all that, you're more than welcome to do that. >> If we decide to make an arrest, it'll be the male that'll be going with us. Um, you guys do know the courtesy officer that lives here, right? >> No. >> Yeah, okay. Yeah, he lives I don't know what what you building, but he lives somewhere around here. If you see a the police vehicle like parked, that's his. Where were you when he shoved you from the living room to the kitchen? >> Oh, right here. >> Okay. >> Right here, and then I came back hit this >> Mhm. I think she's going to come back in, is that okay? Okay. I would lock your door until then, though. >> Okay. >> Are you going to want him barred from here? Like to not to not return? >> No, no, I don't I don't I don't want to do that. I mean, this this is like I mean, he I don't want to do that. >> Okay. >> He really doesn't have place to go cuz his dad kicked him out a month ago, and he's been helping me out. >> Okay. In situations like this where or things like this happen, it tends to get worse and not better. Um, so we can't tell you what to do. We can only make recommendations. Um, but just so you know, I've I've never seen a situation like this get better. Okay? Um, and that's not something that we want for you. Um, I'll have to talk to him really quick, um, and we'll decide what needs to happen from here. Well, here's where we're at, right? So, family violence state of Georgia, uh, law states that the victim in any case isn't the one ever going to be pressing the charges, right? Uh, but from conversations with you and conversations with her, sounds like there was, uh, a definite point of contact of shoving from the middle of this room almost all the way into the kitchen throughout the argument, whatever. That's just not okay, right? So, >> Slapping's not okay. >> Right. And and so and so slapping is not okay. You're absolutely right. However, >> Am I going to go to jail for this, man? >> Yes, you are. >> I'm going to jail for this, man. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah, you are. Um it's going to be >> What about her slapping them? >> Reactions to a forceful shove to get somebody away from them is is self-defense, right? But you are going to be going to jail because of the actions that took place today. >> Are you Are you kidding me? >> No, I'm not kidding you. I >> Can I call Can I call somebody let them know? Can I call my boss and, you know, just let them know? Can I let my grandma know and everybody? And what Where is this? Athens-Clarke County? >> Mhm. It won't be a long pro- >> I can't >> It won't be a long process. Once they Once you get there, they'll let you make phone calls. They'll let you write down numbers, all that. But yeah, man, like this this is this is just clear as day, unfortunately. We'll go ahead and get the process started, man. If you'll just put your hands behind your back for me, okay? >> Where can we go? Faster you get out of here, the better. >> Yeah, I'm going to try to avoid your watch, okay? >> Okay. >> All right. >> We'll go ahead and walk downstairs, okay, man? I'll grab your bag for you. >> Your seat belt is underneath the stadium. >> Actually, 86, do you mind transporting? >> No, yeah, it's fine. >> Okay. We'll go over this one cuz I don't think you're going to fit in my car, man. >> Let's just check him. Come here. >> All right, just stand right here. Just lean up against the car a little bit for me. You got anything inside your waistband, anything like that? >> I don't think >> Okay. >> Let me check your hat. >> Let me take the sock off your head, brother. All right. I'll just put it back on your lap for you. They're going to make you take it off in there anyway, but There you go. Okay. So, what's happening now is uh he has been placed under arrest for simple battery family violence. Um due to the fact that you have been living together for a few weeks, that is a family violence relationship, okay? So, he's placed under arrest for simple battery family violence. He'll be going to jail. Um >> For how long? >> He'll be in there for at least one night. He'll get out by noon tomorrow, okay? He's going to have to meet with the judge. Now, the important part is is that you have your phone available tomorrow cuz the judge has to call you before he's going to be released. But, here's this pamphlet for you, okay? If you have any questions, please call the numbers in there. Call us um at the department. We can walk you through anything you need. Um but, like I said, it's going to be really important for you to have your phone on you tomorrow um between like 9:00 and 12:00 and just be able to take a phone call. The judge is going to call you. Basically, just ask if you want things like TPOs, anything like that. They're going to explain the process to you. This doesn't mean that you guys can't be around each other. >> Are they telling him not to see me again after this? >> I mean, it it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't, but if that's something that either one of you decide, then then there will be a a condition of bond saying that you can't go around each other. That's mainly why the judge has to speak with you so that if you do want something like that, we have to get it in place before he's released, okay? I'm going to get out of your hair. I hope you have a better day. Uh I'm sorry this happened. Um but, in situations like this, like I said earlier, it it doesn't get better and uh we as officers have to step in when there's a crime between a family violence relationship and and put a stop to it before it gets worse, okay? All right. I hope you have a better day, okay? >> Thank you. >> The suspect was booked for simple battery family violence and disorderly conduct. On September 9th, 2022, both charges were dismissed, meaning the case was not prosecuted. As a result, no plea was entered and no sentencing was issued.