Matthew Rooks

Name of Accused:
Rooks, Matthew Daniel

Date of Arrest:
10/19/2024

Charges For Arrest:
Simple Assault-Family Violence
Simple Assault-Family Violence
Simple Assault-Family Violence
Simple Assault-Family Violence
Simple Assault-Family Violence
Stalking (Family Violence) – Misdemeanor
False Imprisonment
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 10/19/2024 at approximately 1339 I was dispatched to the Holly Hill Mall located at 189 W Athens St. Winder, GA for a domestic dispute. I responded CODE 1 in my marked patrol vehicle #398 to this location.
Upon arrival, I met with the complainant later identified as [VICTIM #1]. [VICTIM #1] stated that he was there because his daughter, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had got into an argument with her husband Matthew Rooks at their residence located at [REDACTED BY AGENCY]. Winder, GA. [VICTIM #1] stated that Matthew took [REDACTED BY AGENCY] keys to her vehicle and wouldn’t let her leave. [VICTIM #1] stated that Matthew then stood in front and behind her vehicle. [VICTIM #1] stated Matthew then sat on her hood and wouldn’t let her leave. [VICTIM #1] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] explained that Matthew was following her in his truck. [VICTIM #1] stated that he told [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to pull into the Holly Hill Mall and that he would meet her there and call the police. [VICTIM #1] stated that to his knowledge there was nothing physical just verbal. [VICTIM #1] stated that he was there to keep Matthew away from his daughter and the kids.
I then spoke to [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and she stated that her and Matthew got into an argument at their residence, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated she told Matthew that she wasn’t dealing with it, nor did she want the kids to be a part of the argument, so she was leaving to take the kids to her mothers-in-law’s house. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she wanted to get away from Matthew and for him to leave her alone and not make the argument worse. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Matthew then went out to the vehicle and took the keys out of her van and would not let her have them. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she then took the keys out of Matthew’s pocket and got into the van with the kids to leave. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Matthew went behind the van and wouldn’t move.
[REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she put the vehicle in reverse and very slowly began to back up to try and get him to move to which he did. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she backed out of the driveway and Matthew then ran and got in front of the vehicle not letting her leave. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she put the vehicle in drive and took her foot off the brake not pressing the gas but was allowing the vehicle to move forward to again try and get him to move. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that then Matthew jumped up on the hood of the vehicle causing a dent in the hood to stop her from leaving. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that she then put the vehicle in park until he got off the hood of the car. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that once Matthew got off the hood she began to drive off and noticed Matthew was now following her in his truck. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Matthew followed her all the way to the Holly Hill Mall where [VICTIM #1] was waiting on them.
I asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and the four juvenile kids in the vehicle if at any point during this incident they were afraid of being harmed or hurt in any way to which the four juveniles stated that they were afraid and didn’t know what Matthew was going to do. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] stated that Matthew has mental issues and this isn’t the first time. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at first denied being scared in front of the kids but once away from the kids did [REDACTED BY AGENCY] state that she was scared and afraid of what Matthew was going to do because of his demeanor and actions.
I told Matthew to place his hands behind his back and I placed handcuffs on the wrists behind his back double locking them checking for comfort and fit. I searched Matthew incident to arrest for weapons, contraband, and any means of escape and found nothing. I advised Matthew that he was being placed under arrest for false imprisonment, stalking (family violence), and simple assault (family violence). I escorted Matthew to my patrol vehicle and placed him in the backseat buckling his seatbelt for safety during transport. I read Matthew his Miranda Rights and after reading them to him, Matthew agreed to speak with me.
Matthew stated that he just didn’t want [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to leave him and was afraid of being left. Matthew stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] told him to follow her to which [REDACTED BY AGENCY] never mentioned. Matthew stated that he didn’t know what he was doing was against the law or he wouldn’t have done those things. Matthew was very distraught and kept saying that he didn’t know.
Witness statement forms were filled out by [REDACTED BY AGENCY] and [VICTIM #1] and have been attached with this report. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was provided with a business card and a case number for the incident. Case #2024-00042329. [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was provided with a brochure to the Peace Place and advised of the services they provide and contact information.
I advised dispatch of my beginning mileage and was in route to the Barrow County Detention Center.
Once at the jail, custody was turned over to the jail staff. A victim notification form was filled out for [REDACTED BY AGENCY] at the jail and turned over to jail staff.
I returned to the Winder Police Department to procure warrants for Matthew.
The on-call Magistrate judge was contacted and the warrants were signed by the judge and me. Copies of the warrants were taken to the jail to be entered into the system and copies were also attached to this report.
Simple Assault (family violence) 2024-3710MW
False Imprisonment 2024-3711FW
Stalking (family violence) 2024-3712MW
Simple Assault (family violence) 2024-3713MW
Simple Assault (family violence) 2024-3714MW
Simple Assault (family violence) 2024-3715MW
Simple Assault (family violence) 2024-3716MW
[End of Narrative]