Keith Crosson

Name of Accused:
Crosson, Keith Jemal

Date of Arrest:
07/20/2024


Charges For Arrest:
CREATING A NOISE DISTURBANCE-AMPLIFYING – M
CREATING A NOISE DISTURBANCE-AMPLIFYING – M
Park Hours – M
FALSE NAME/ADDRESS TO POLICE – M
GIVING FALSE NAME, ADDRESS, OR BIRTHDATE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER – M
Public Drunkenness – M
Public Drunkenness – M
OBSTRUCTION – F
OBSTRUCTION – F
TERRORISTIC THREATS AND ACTS – F
TERRORISTIC THREATS AND ACTS – F
TERRORISTIC THREATS AND ACTS – F
OBSTRUCTION – M
OBSTRUCTION – M
DISORDERLY CONDUCT – M
DISORDERLY CONDUCT – M
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 7/20/2024
Ofc. A. Kinner [65583] and I were operating as a two officer unit with SPD’s Community Response Team (CRT).
Due to ongoing citizen complaints regarding open container violations, drug use, and violent crime occurring at Wells Park (W 38th St/Montgomery St) increased patrol had been requested.
As Ofc. Kinner and I drove toward the park, we saw a congregation of approximately 7 persons under the gazebo area. I saw multiple open containers of alcohol on the picnic tables and heard loud music being played by an amplified music device. Additionally, this incident occurred around 2330hrs and all city parks close at 2100hrs.
WITH SUBJECTS
Officers approached the subjects and requested identification from each person. They were informed that the park was currently closed and open alcohol is not permitted outside of the downtown area. All subjects provided their name and date of birth (or ID card) upon request except for one individual, later identified as Mr. Keith Crosson. As officers spoke to other subjects at the park, Mr. Crosson was behaving in a disorderly manner, shouting profanity at officers and refusing to turn the music down from his speaker device. When Ofc. Kinner requested Mr. Crosson’s identification, he did not respond.
I asked Mr. Crosson once more for his identification and he continued to yell at me, demanding that I tell him my own name. I told him “Officer Wilber, Savannah Police. Now give me your ID.” Mr. Crosson stated that he did not have an ID. I told him that I need his name and date of birth, but Mr. Crosson continued to speak over me. I ordered Mr. Crosson again to provide his identification information to me and threatened to arrest him. He refused and continued to yell and curse. He was sitting beside an open alcohol can (beer) and I could detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath and he shouted.
ARREST/OBSTRUCTION
I told Mr. Crosson he was under arrest for failing to identify himself to me. I grabbed his arm near the elbow and attempted to turn his body away from me. Mr. Crosson tensed his body and began pulling his arm toward his chest. I forcefully turned his body away from me and placed my body weight on top of him, causing his chest to rest on the nearby picnic table. With the assistance of Ofc. Kinner, Mr. Crosson was handcuffed.
I escorted Mr. Crosson to my vehicle and began ing him incident to arrest. During the , Mr. Crosson continuously attempted to shift his body toward me. I ordered him to stop turning but he continued to do so. I held Mr. Crosson’s arms up by the chain on the handcuffs to further prevent movement, and pressure was maintained on his body to hold him against my patrol vehicle, as he was still tense and attempting to twist toward officers.
Once I finished ing Mr. Crosson, Ofc. Kinner attempted to place him into the backseat of my patrol vehicle. He was told to sit down in the back-seat but would not comply. Ofc. Kinner pushed Mr. Crosson into the seat with his hands and told him to put his legs inside but Mr. Crosson refused. I went to the opposite door (passenger side) in an attempt to pull Mr. Crosson inside. At this time, I saw Mr. Crosson raise his legs while lying in the back-seat and kicked Ofc. Kinner in his shins.
FALSE NAME
Mr. Crosson told Cpl. Crosby that his name was “Jemal Copeland” with a date of birth of “[REDACTED BY AGENCY]/1969.” Upon logging this name through police systems, I did not recieve a return. Mr. Crosson was transported to CCDC unidentified. He told jail staff and the booking nurse that his name was Jemal Copeland as well. I investigated further and found that Mr. Crosson had been previously booked into jail under this false alias in 2019.
I provided jail staff with my MobileID fingerprint scanner, as he was more compliant with jail staff than SPD officers. They obtained his fingerprint which identified him as Keith Jemal Crosson. He was consequently charged with false name to law enforcement.
TERRORISTIC THREATS/DISORDERLY CONDUCT
During the incident to arrest of Mr. Crosson and transport to the jail, Mr. Crosson made the following statements:
Meet me in a 52-foot ring and I’ll beat your as! I will kill you! I hope your son gets shot! I hope you get shot by a seventeen year old tonight! In the head! You’re a fagot!
I’ll fuk your wives! Fuk you, cra*ker. I hope you die!
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Mr. Crosson requested a supervisor. Sgt. Lockett and Cpl. Crosby responded. Mr. Crosson stated that he is filing a formal complaint.
Ofc. BWCs were activated and effective.
Mr. Crosson was processed and booked into CCDC and provided a copy of his arrest paperwork.
CCDC staff were notified of the discrepency regarding Mr. Crosson’s identity. They advised that it would be corrected with their records department.
A supervisor was on-scene.
[End of Narrative]