Name of Accused:
Starns, Tavis Daniel
Date of Arrest:
08/26/2024
Charges For Arrest:
DISORDERLY CONDUCT – M
POSSESSION AND USE OF DRUG RELATED OBJECTS – M
WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – M
OBSTRUCTING HIGHWAYS, STREETS, SIDEWALKS, OR OTHER PUBLIC PASSAGES – M
Operation Of Vehicle Without Revalidation Decal – 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 the above date and time, I responded to a suspicious person call at the listed location. The call notes provided a GA license plate number ([REDACTED]) associated with a silver 2003 Nissan Altima registered to a Tavis Starns. It was reported that Mr. Starns was throwing items at passing vehicles.
Upon arrival, I observed the Nissan Altima partially obstructing the roadway and entrance to 655 Louisville Rd. The license plate matched the information provided in the call notes. I approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and identified the male inside as Mr. Starns based on his GCIC photo. Mr. Starns initially cracked the door but closed it upon noticing me. I asked him to roll down the window to communicate, but he refused.
Mr. Starns began speaking, but his words were inaudible due to the closed window and door. I requested that Mr. Starns exit the vehicle for further investigation, but he refused, stating he would not comply. At this point, I requested additional units for assistance, citing the Pennsylvania vs. Mimms ruling, as I believed Mr. Starns posed a potential threat to my safety.
After some time, Mr. Starns opened his door but continued to be uncooperative. I requested his identification, which he initially refused to provide upon reuest. Mr. Starns eventually displayed but refused to hand over his license, placing it on the driver’s floorboard instead. Mr. Starns then produced another identification out of South Carolina. Mr. Starns was asked why he had two identifications from two different states, to which he said it was his property to keep. Mr. Starns began exiting the vehicle but stopped midway, stating he would do so voluntarily and that I was not going touch him implying he was going to resist. He then reached into the vehicle’s center console and retrieved a plastic stool. Given his non-compliance and unpredictable behavior, I took control of his left arm to prevent the stool from being used as a weapon.
Mr. Starns actively resisted as I attempted to control him. With assistance, he was moved to the front of my patrol vehicle, where he continued to resist being handcuffed. Once secured in handcuffs, which were double-locked for safety, a of his person revealed a torch butane lighter, commonly used for smoking illegal substances in my training, Knowledge and experience while being a police officer.
During the vehicle inventory, conducted before towing the obstructing vehicle, two glass pipes with white and black residue were discovered. These pipes, as well as two pen portions with white residue, are commonly associated with the consumption of illegal controlled substances in my training, knowledge and experience. A field test on the residue returned a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine. The amount of methamphetamine present had enough to field test, but not enough to send to Georgia Bureau of Investigation for additional testing.
Witness statements were obtained from [WITNESS ] and [WITNESS ]. Mr. [WITNESS ] observed Mr. Starns yelling and behaving erratically upon arrival. Mr. [WITNESS ] stated he approached Mr Starn, but stopped after Mr. Starn started yelling and cursing at him. Ms. [WITNESS ] reported that Mr. Starns intentionally kicked a box into the roadway, causing her to swerve to avoid it.
The manager of Tricentennial Park requested a ban on Mr. Starns from the property, as documented in Officer Smith’s supplemental report.
Mr. Starns sustained a minor laceration to his right eyebrow during the incident. He was transported to Memorial Hospital for treatment and subsequently cleared by medical staff. Following medical clearance, Mr. Starns was transported to the Chatham County Detention Center, where he was booked on multiple charges:
Disorderly Conduct (OCGA 16-11-39)
Obstruction of Law Enforcement (OCGA 16-10-24)
Possession of Drug-Related Objects (OCGA 16-13-32.2)
Obstructing a Roadway (OCGA 16-11-43)
Driving with an Expired Tag (OCGA 40-2-8)
Mr. Starns was assigned a bond of $3,000 and is awaiting a court date.
[End of Narrative]