John Tharpe

Name of Accused:
THARPE, JOHN EDWARD

Date of Arrest:
08/08/2024


Charges For Arrest:
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
CRUELTY TO CHILDREN-ALLOW CHILD TO WITNESS FELONY/BATTERY/FAMILY VIOLENCE – 3RD DEGREE
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 08/08/2024
at approximately 1600 hours, I, Deputy M. Rea responded to [700 BLOCK] Happy Hill Rd., in reference to a physical domestic dispute.
Prior to my arrival, I was notified by Carroll County E911 that a female caller, [VICTIM ], had called and advised she was choked by her father in front of her four year old daughter.
Upon my arrival, I observed a female and a young juvenile on the driveway of the property near the road. The female was crying and appeared to be in distress. The young juvenile looked frantic and scared. I exited my patrol vehicle (22D06) and made with the female and the juvenile. The female was identified as [VICTIM ] and the juvenile was identified as [WITNESS ]. [VICTIM ] stated she was lying in her bed and [WITNESS ] was lying on her stomach, between her legs. [VICTIM ] explained her father John “Eddie” Tharpe came to her room and tried to take [WITNESS ] from her. [VICTIM ] advised she kicked John in his groin to get away from her and [WITNESS ]. John tried to take her phone (and inadvertently pulling out some of [WITNESS ]’s hair while in the fight for the phone).
[VICTIM ] stated John then grabbed her by her throat and choked her. [VICTIM ] demonstrated the choking by taking her right hand and curling her fingers and placing them around her neck. [VICTIM ] advised she could not breathe. [VICTIM ] stated she kept kicking John and he grabbed her left foot and said that he was going to break it and stated to “turn” it. John eventually let go and left the room. [VICTIM ] and [WITNESS ] left the room and called 911. [VICTIM ] advised she wanted to press charges against John for him choking her. [VICTIM ] advised the root of the problem is that she wanted to go back to her fiancé who was released from Troup County Jail and was 11 days sober and John did not want her or [WITNESS ] going back to him.
Prior to [VICTIM ] demonstrating her being choked, I took pictures of her neck and observed physical signs of abuse on the front, left, and right side of her neck. I observed more signs of trauma to the top of [VICTIM ]’s right foot; the skin looked irritated and red. The pictures are under the “Other Images” tab of this report. The pictures of the cellphone show what I believe to be [WITNESS ]’s hair because no one involved in the incident had blonde hair other than [WITNESS ].
[WITNESS ] kept saying “please help us” over and over. [WITNESS ] advised she saw John choking [VICTIM ]. Due to [WITNESS ]’s age and the encounter she was just involved in, she was unable to be very descriptive about what happened.
I then approached the residence and the side door opened and I met John “Eddie” Tharpe. John stated he went to the bedroom to get his granddaughter ([WITNESS ]) and [VICTIM ] began to kick him. John explained [VICTIM ] kicked him on the inside of his left thigh. John advised he put his hand on [VICTIM ]’s neck to get [VICTIM ] off of him, but denied the allegation that he choked [VICTIM ]. I asked John if he grabbed [VICTIM ]’s foot and threatened to break it. John demonstrated him grabbing [VICTIM ]’s leg and placing it between his rib cage and the inside of his left arm. John advised he might have said he would break her foot but it was the heat of the moment and that he lost his cool. John advised he did not recall threatening to break [VICTIM ]’s foot. John explained [VICTIM ] has had several people arrested in Troup County, GA and someone is always getting arrested for Family Violence. John advised if there were any marks on [VICTIM ] she put them there herself.
I spoke to John’s wife, [WITNESS ], whose adrenaline was high due to what happened. I could not follow what [WITNESS ] was saying so I had her fill out a witness statement form and it is attached under the “Linked Files” tab of this report. [WITNESS ] did state that John has not slept in three nights due to the strained relationship between him and [VICTIM ]. [WITNESS ] explained their relationship is impacting John and [WITNESS ]’s relationship. [WITNESS ] also stated that [VICTIM ] was a consistent problem in the house. [WITNESS ] also stated that John suffers from PTSD.
I arrested John for Aggravated Assault Strangulation FVA, and Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree FVA. John was transported to the Carroll County Jail without incident and turned over to the jail staff.
[End of Narrative]