Another firefighter arrested on domestic violence charges

Bobby Ray Garmon, 36, of Red Oak Way in Winder, was charged April 24 with three misdemeanors, including battery, criminal trespass, and simple assault.

According to a Barrow County Sheriff’s Office report, he had been drinking beer and tequila “throughout the day” at the home of a relative, and en route to their home that evening began yelling at his wife and “hit her in the right side of her face while she was driving her vehicle.”

When they arrived at their house, she ran inside and locked the door.

“Mrs. Garmon said her husband ran to the front door and tried to kick the front door open,” states the report by Deputy William Myers.

Unable to get the door open, he then ran around the house and got in through the back door.

“Mrs. Garmon said he was pulling on her shirt and took her telephone from her and threw it against something where it broke,” the report states.

The deputy said when he asked Garmon why he had hit his wife, he reportedly claimed he never touched her.

“I told Mr. Garmon his wife had a red mark the size of a hand on the right side of her face,” Myers wrote.

The firefighter again said he had not touched her and challenged the deputy to ask her.

So the deputy asked Garmon’s wife to come into the house. When he asked her what had happened, she said her husband had hit her.

The deputy then placed Garmon under arrest and transported him to the Barrow County Detention Center.

He was charged with the family violence crimes and a victim notification form was completed.

“Mrs. Garmon said she was in fear of receiving injuries when her husband began hitting on her,” Myers wrote.

Garmon has been employed by Barrow County since Dec. 15, 2009 as a firefighter/emergency medical technician.

However, BCES Chief Dennis Merrifield said Tuesday that he has not shown up for work since the incident, and the county attorney is reviewing his employment status.

Garmon’s arrest came two months after the Feb. 14 indictment of former fire Lt. Todd Orr, who was involved in an accidental shooting on Christmas Day during an alcohol-related domestic dispute.

According to the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office, Orr’s jury trial is tentatively scheduled for June 13. He is facing a misdemeanor count of reckless conduct and a felony count of cruelty to children in the 2nd degree due to the presence of a minor daughter in the home during the incident.