Rual Elder

Name of Accused:
Elder, Rual Stephen

Date of Arrest:
08/17/2024

Charges For Arrest:
Battery, Family Violence (1st Offense)
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 August 17, 2024 at approximately 2249 hours, Sgt. Spence was dispatched to [2100 BLOCK] Bowers Rd. in reference to a domestic dispute in progress. Upon arrival, Sgt. Spence observed an elderly looking female, who was barefoot and wearing a nightgown, standing next to the roadway. Sgt. Spence made contact with her and identified her as the caller, [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] provided the following information.
[VICTIM #1] advised she and her husband, Rual Elder had been arguing all day and he physically assaulted her. She stated Rual accused her of cheating on him with another man. [VICTIM #1] advised they had argued about it earlier in the day and he became so angry that he grabbed her by her hair and hit her. She advised she went to bed because she was “fed up with him” and woke up to him hitting her again. [VICTIM #1] advised she fought Rual off of her and a few moments later he entered the room she was in with a baseball bat and said “Do you know how easy it would be to clean up this mess.” [VICTIM #1] advised she was frightened, so she grabbed her phone, left the residence, and called 911.
Sgt. Spence observed bruises, blood spots, and red marks on [VICTIM #1]’s arms that appeared to be recent. Sgt. Spence also observed [VICTIM #1] appearing to be frightened and angry as she spoke.
Sgt. Spence then made contact with Rual, who was at the residence. Rual provided the following information. Rual stated nothing happened other than a verbal argument between him and [VICTIM #1]. He advised both he and [VICTIM #1] had been drinking and she was lying to get him in trouble. Rual advised he never lifted a hand toward [VICTIM #1] and stated she was the one who hit him, pointing at his eye. Deputy Spence observed a small blue spot where he pointed.
Sgt. Spence observed Rual appearing to be heavily intoxicated although, he advised he had only drank four “Tall Boys” and he wasn’t drunk.
Based on [VICTIM #1]’s testimony and the physical evidence of injury, Sgt. Spence placed Rual under arrest and transported him to Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office. Upon arrival, Sgt. Spence charged Rual with OCGA 16-5-23.1 (F) (1) Battery Family Violence on warrantless arrest #69126 and turned him over to booking staff without incident.
Deputy Kadinger took photographs of [VICTIM #1]’s injuries and sent them to Sgt. Spence who will upload them to evidence.com.
[End of Narrative]