Man logs another arrest for domestic violence

Nicholas Paul Fortner, 29, of 836 Hwy. 211 in Winder was charged with stalking, simple assault, simple battery, cruelty to children and criminal trespass after a confrontation with the victim at his mother’s house. The victim currently lives with Fortner’s mother.

According to the victim, Fortner followed her to the house and tried to open her car door once she brought her vehicle to a stop. The victim said Fortner had broken the door in the past so she rolled down the window in an attempt to prevent him from damaging her vehicle.

The victim accused Fortner of trying to take her cell phone after she rolled down the window. The victim said she threw the cell phone to the floorboard to keep Fortner from taking it. Fortner became angry and grabbed the victim by her clothes and tried to pull her out of the car. The victim said she began yelling and blowing the car horn in an attempt to get Fortner to stop.

Fortner’s mother heard the noise and ran outside to get the couple’s child to safety. Fortner’s mother then called someone to come get Fortner away from the residence. Before leaving, Fortner slashed the rear driver’s side tire of the victim’s vehicle.

The victim said Fortner has been arrested four times in the past year and a half for domestic violence against her. According to the victim, Fortner has yet to be convicted for any of the charges and has a trial date set for May of this year.

The victim said she is terrified of Fortner and fears he will hurt her if not arrested.

The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office took Fortner into custody two days after the incident. In addition to the warrants obtained by Winder Police, Fortner was also charged with possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

According to BCSO records, Fortner was arrested in Oct. 2008 for simple battery and obstruction of an emergency medical technician. He was released after four days in jail.

Two months later, Fortner was arrested for burglary and two counts of second degree criminal damage to property. Fortner served four days before making bond.

In May of 2009, Fortner served two days after again being charged with burglary. The following month, Fortner served 29 days after being arrested on family violence charges including three counts of criminal damage to property, two counts of aggravated assault, violation of a family violence order, obstruction, false imprisonment and family violence hit and run.


Fight at Legion ends in arrest

A Valentine’s Day brawl at the Statham Legion resulted in the arrest of a Statham woman.

Deputies were dispatched to 1633 Atlanta Highway shortly after midnight on Feb. 14 in response to a drunk, combative person.

The bartender advised that Kasey Poole, 25, of 1937 Dooley Town Road in Statham, was in the bar drinking with her parents.

According to the bartender, Poole fell over a table in the bar. When a woman tried to get Poole to sit down and wait for a ride, Poole struck the woman in the face. Two other women attempted to help the victim and were also struck in the face.

The bartender escorted Poole, her parents and the three women out of the bar. Poole’s parents called a ride to take them home, but, when the ride arrived, Poole refused to get into the vehicle. The bartender called 911 after Poole tried to re-enter the Legion.

The three women who were struck told deputies that Poole had threatened everyone in the bar, was causing problems and was “out of control.”

Poole was charged with four counts of simple battery and one count of disorderly conduct.


Shots fired into bar

An unknown suspect opened fire on a Patrick Mill Road bar in the early morning hours of Feb. 16.

The bar owner called the Sheriff’s Office after discovering several bullet holes in the establishment.

A nearby homeowner reported hearing several gun shots in the area at approximately 2:35 a.m. on Feb. 16. The woman said the flood lights came on at the business, but she did not see any people or vehicles in the vicinity.

The deputy noted several areas of damage. One bullet entered the front door of the establishment and exited through the rear wall near a Miller beer sign. Another bullet entered between two front windows and exited through the rear wall. The owner also pointed out several places on the roof that appeared to have been struck by gun fire.

The owner said he could not think of anyone that would purposely “shoot his business.”


Man calls 911 claiming assault

A deputy was unsuccessful in his attempts to locate a man who called 911 claiming to have been stabbed.

The caller said he was hiding in the back bedroom of an Old Hog Mountain Road residence. When the deputy arrived at the residence, the homeowner informed him that no one in the house had been involved in any type of altercation.

The deputy was given permission to search the home and found no indications of a struggle or assault anywhere within the home or the garage.

The caller repeatedly told 911 operators that he could see the mail box and read the numbers from his hiding location inside the house. The deputy noticed that the mailbox numbers could not be read from the house due to the distance.

After searching the home and interviewing the residents, the deputy and communications officers determined the call had been a prank.