Mercedes Harrison

Name of Accused:
Harrison, Mercedes

Date of Arrest:
10/22/2024

Charges For Arrest:
SIMPLE BATTERY
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 October 21, 2024 around 2020 hours, I, Officer Phillips, responded to [20 BLOCK] Barnard Ave in reference to an unwanted person. However, I and Officer Belcher had already been there earlier around 1900 hours regarding this situation: a civil matter between one homeowner, Brycelon Thornton, and another woman, Jakhala Moss, to whom she rented out a room.
During the first encounter both women were yelling and bickering, attempting to one-up the other in insults. Moss was trying to retrieve her belongings, and Thornton kept telling Moss she was going to throw Moss’ stuff outside. Moss was more boisterous in general cussing around two children that were playing basketball next door. Moss left at that time with a few belongings promising to come back with a truck to get the rest. Thornton wanted to lock Moss out, and I told Thornton based on their agreement, Moss could come in whenever she wanted. Thornton argued there was no written agreement, yet Moss had a significant amount of furniture inside. I told Thornton to call us back when they did show up to facilitate the move to prevent additional issues.
When I arrived the second time at 2027 hours, another female with Moss, Mercedes Harrison, said Thornton had stabbed Moss with the silver pointed end of a red comb brush. Moss said Thornton was talking to friends on the phone while they were there saying they were going to jump Moss. Moss said she did nothing to Thornton. She did have a small blood spot on her left cheek. Moss showed me a video of her recording Thornton who was standing right in front of the front door. Thornton had a shiny object in her hand pointed down, and motioning with it as though she were going to stab Moss. The whole time Moss was instigating Thornton telling her to put it down, and that she would “beat [her] a*s”.
I went to speak with Thornton inside the house who stated Moss barged in, came up to her, and swung at Thornton. Thornton claimed she swung back in self-defense, and must have scratched Moss with one of her fake nails, because she noticed Moss was bleeding. She did not mention the comb. Thornton said there was video of the incident, citing Moss had been recording on live the whole time, but she never showed me anything, instead getting sidetracked.
I went outside to discuss the situation with Cpl Haire and his recruit. I then went to speak with Moss some more to ask if she did anything to have Thornton stab her. Moss was complaining about some tingling in her face from the minor injury. I had EMS enroute at her request. Moss claimed she did nothing to be stabbed. She said Thornton was the one threatening to fight Moss. During this Cpl Haire and RO Sivell had to arrest Harrison for assaulting Thornton inside the home.
Based on the video showing both Moss and Thornton standing essentially toe-to-toe, Thornton with the brush in her hand, and Moss yelling threats at Thornton, I determined neither were acting in self-defense. Furthermore, since both were tumultuously antagonizing each other which ultimately led up to the violent breach of the peace resulting in neighbors, friends, and family all showing up on scene wreaking more havoc, I decided to charge both with disorderly conduct.
I first arrested Moss, and placed her in handcuffs with her arms in front of her. I ensured they were properly fitted and double-locked. I escorted her to Sivell’s patrol car to secure her in there with Harrison. I then went inside, and did the same thing with Thornton. I first allowed Thornton to help her mother prepare some things for Thornton’s young children. I then escorted her to my patrol car, and secured her in there. I transported Thornton to the hospital to get medically cleared, then to the jail where I transferred custody of her to the staff. I completed and issued a citation for said charge. I left her phone with the staff to add to her property box.
I went on Moss’ facebook page and watched some of the 34 minute video she posted on live. I caught several instances of Moss on there saying she was going to go “1 on 1” with Thornton. Moss mentioned Thornton having stabbed a former boyfriend, but did not seem phased that Thornton would try to stab her.
[End of Narrative]