Name of Accused:
Lane, Elizabeth Tilley
Date of Arrest:
09/09/2024
Charges For Arrest:
Criminal Damage to Property 2nd (Private Property)
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 Monday, September 9, 2024
, at 1229 hours I was dispatched to [100 BLOCK] Eastwood Dr, Cartersville in reference to a welfare check on [REDACTED].
[REDACTED], whom I spoke with by phone before arriving on scene, advised that he wanted a welfare check on his 17-year-old brother, [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] advised his father told him that his mother, Elizabeth (Beth) Lane had called him asking if he would get her out of jail if she were arrested. [REDACTED] also advised that he was made aware of a domestic disturbance that occurred on September 8, 2024
, between his mother Beth, and her boyfriend [VICTIM ], and was concerned [REDACTED] was present. [REDACTED] advised he was told that Beth had taken a hammer and busted the kitchen countertops with it while she and [VICTIM ] were in an argument.
When I arrived on scene I made with Beth, who answered the door and already had knowledge that I was there to speak with [REDACTED]. Beth advised [REDACTED] was sick and was asleep so she went and woke him up. I asked Beth how she knew I was there to check on [REDACTED], and she advised she called [VICTIM ] and asked him why law enforcement was at the front door and he told her.
I spoke with [REDACTED] outside of the residence, at the front door. [REDACTED] advised he was okay and did not need any assistance for anything. I then asked [REDACTED] if he knew anything about [VICTIM ] and Beth arguing. [REDACTED] advised that Beth called him on Sunday, September 8, 2024
, at approximately 1900 hours and told him not to come because she and [VICTIM ] had been arguing. [REDACTED] also advised that Beth told him over the phone that she busted the countertops in the kitchen. [REDACTED] stated he stayed at a friend’s house and did not come until this morning. [REDACTED] advised he was not at at the time of the incident between Beth and [VICTIM ].
I then went back inside the residence and spoke with Beth. Beth advised she and [VICTIM ] have been having problems involving [VICTIM ] cheating on her. Beth advised on Sunday, September 8, 2024
, she and [VICTIM ] talked about the cheating incident before he left for work at 1530 hours. Beth advised after [VICTIM ] left for work, she found out that he lied to her about the details of [VICTIM ] cheating. Beth advised she then texted [VICTIM ] confronting him about lying and asking him why he lied to her. Beth advised she and [VICTIM ] argued over text back and forth while she was at and he was at work. Beth then advised [VICTIM ] texted her stating that all he had to do was make one call to the Bartow County Dispatch and someone would be over to throw her out of his house within 30 minutes.
Beth advised [VICTIM ] repeatedly tells her that he will have her kicked out of his house even though she has lived there for 9 years with him. Beth advised that when [VICTIM ] told her that he would have her kicked out, she became more upset. Beth advised she took a hammer and busted the granite countertop in the kitchen and the wooden countertop to the island in the kitchen and then texted [VICTIM ] and told him what she had done. Beth advised she and [VICTIM ] exchanged texts back and forth until he arrived at their residence at approximately 2015 hours. Beth advised there were no threats made by her or [VICTIM ] while they were texting.
Beth advised when [VICTIM ] arrived from work she went into the bedroom to change, so she shut and locked the door for privacy. Beth advised since she and [VICTIM ] had been having issues, she did not want him to see her while she was undressed. Beth advised [VICTIM ] came to the bedroom door while she was changing and started kicking and punching the bedroom door until she opened it. Beth advised when she opened the bedroom door, [VICTIM ] came through the door and elbowed her in the left arm. Beth advised she did not think his intention was to hurt her but to just move her out of the way of the doorway so he could enter the room. Beth advised after [VICTIM ] got what he needed out of the bedroom, she laid down in bed and [VICTIM ] stayed out in the living room. Beth then advised later she and [VICTIM ] sat on the couch in the living together and watched a movie.
Beth advised her left arm was sore from where she stated [VICTIM ] elbowed her. I did not witness any discoloration, bruising, redness, or swelling in the area that Beth pointed out on her left arm. I also witnessed the damaged, kitchen island counter and the damaged kitchen granite counter that Beth advised she busted with a hammer. Pictures of Beth’s arm and both damaged kitchen counters were taken with Sgt Alan Chester’s body-worn camera. I also looked to see if there was any damage to the bedroom door where Beth stated [VICTIM ] punched and kicked it, but I did not witness any damage that would align with punching and kicking. I offered a voluntary statement form to Beth to fill out and she agreed. I did read the passage on the voluntary statement form and she advised she understood and initialed where needed. Beth then completed the form and it was returned to me.
I then met with [VICTIM ]. [VICTIM ] advised he and Beth have been broken up for about a month now and she made plans to move out. [VICTIM ] advised since they had broken up, he started dating someone new and Beth wanted to know specific details about the female he was seeing and he refused to tell her. [VICTIM ] advised on Sunday, September 8, 2024
, he left for work at around 1530 hours. [VICTIM ] advised after he arrived at work, Beth found out that he and his new girlfriend had “relations” and got mad about it. [VICTIM ] advised Beth began texting him, asking why he lied to her about it and [VICTIM ] advised he did not say anything because he did not know what Beth would do, hit him or throw something at him, etc.
[VICTIM ] advised Beth texted and stated she wanted to break something and he responded by telling her that he hoped that she did not break anything. [VICTIM ] advised Beth stated “Hope on” in her text so he asked her what she broke and she told him she busted the counter and the island. [VICTIM ] advised Beth told him she busted the counters because she was mad at him. [VICTIM ] advised they continued to text back and forth while he was at work and until he got . [VICTIM ] advised when he arrived from work, he went straight to the kitchen and saw the granite kitchen countertop and the countertop to the island busted up. [VICTIM ] advised he took pictures of the damage before Beth cleaned up the mess and picked up the hammer she used to bust the counters off of the floor.
[VICTIM ] then advised he and Beth argued for about an hour, then Beth told him to get his belongings out of their bedroom because she did not want him in there anymore. [VICTIM ] advised he got his uniform and other things for work and took it to the living room. [VICTIM ] had a few more things to get from the bedroom so he went back into the bedroom and Beth already had his belongings gathered in her arms. [VICTIM ] advised his wrapped his arms around the belongings she had and grabbed them from her. [VICTIM ] advised when he did this, Beth jumped back and stated “You hit me in the arm.” [VICTIM ] advised all he did was take his belongings from her. [VICTIM ] advised he then stayed out in the living room and Beth stayed in the bedroom. [VICTIM ] advised Beth tried to get him to go back to the bedroom to sleep but he did not go.
[VICTIM ] also mentioned that while he and Beth were texting while he was at work, Beth asked him where his guns were and made comments about not needing to be here anymore and that everyone was better off without her. [VICTIM ] advised she has been to the hospital before for wanting to harm herself.
[VICTIM ] emailed screenshots of his and Beth’s texts from the incident and they can be found in the attachments tab of this report.
Based on [VICTIM ] and Beth’s statement, with Beth admitting she damaged the countertops while arguing with [VICTIM ], who she lives with, over text, it was determined that Beth would be placed under arrest.
I then made with Beth again and placed her under arrest for Criminal Damage to Property- 2nd Degree (FVA). Beth was then patted down for any weapons, drugs, and other contraband and then placed in the back of my patrol vehicle. Beth was then transported to the Bartow County Jail.
[End of Narrative]