Rafi Blount

Name of Accused:
BLOUNT, RAFI JAMAL

Date of Arrest:
09/13/2024


Charges For Arrest:
WILLFUL OBSTRUCTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – MISDEMEANOR
FLEEING OR ATTEMPTING TO ELUDE A POLICE OFFICER FOR A FELONY OFFENSE
WEAVING OVER ROADWAY
WEAVING OVER ROADWAY
WEAVING OVER ROADWAY
WEAVING OVER ROADWAY
TO FAST FOR CONDITIONS
FAILURE TO OBEY STOP SIGN
FAILURE TO OBEY STOP SIGN
RECKLESS DRIVING
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
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 09/13/2024
around 10:47PM, I Corporal M. Reed 036 responded to a domestic dispute in progress at [100 BLOCK] Joe Drive. Carroll County E-911 advised this dispute was between a male and female and it had been physical. Due to the information provided by Carroll County E-911 I decided to respond with my emergency equipment, blue lights and siren activated.
Upon arrival to the scene around 10:59PM, I parked in the driveway and exited my patrol car. Note: I did have my cruise lights activated on my patrol car, which is a steady blue light on the roof mounted light bar that helps distinguish law enforcement vehicles. I approached the front porch where two female subjects were seated later identified as victim [VICTIM ] and her daughter [REDACTED BY AGENCY], they were visually upset and crying.
I asked the females what occurred for law enforcement to be called to the address, the females advised a domestic dispute. While I did not get to thoroughly question the females, [REDACTED BY AGENCY] told me that there was a man inside that was violent and claiming he did nothing wrong. This man was later identified as Rafi Jamal Blount. [VICTIM ] then told me that an argument began between her and Rafi over her having snapchat, she told me that she did not have snapchat. [VICTIM ] told me she requested Rafi to gather his belongings and leave, [VICTIM ] said that Rafi became physical with her and started “throwing” her around, and broke her nail. [VICTIM ] also told me that Rafi “slapped” her around.
At this point I asked where the male was inside of the house due to safety concerns, and then asked for someone to show me to him. As [REDACTED] began to escort me into the house I witnessed movement from within the garage. I then asked both females if it was a black male and they advised it was, I then requested [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to open the garage door for me, which she did. As the garage door began to open [REDACTED BY AGENCY] said “he is getting in the car”, I instructed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to back up for safety concerns.
As the garage door opened Rafi backed into the door with the vehicles rear hatch. I began giving loud verbal commands for Rafi to shut the car off, and I identified myself as a law enforcement officer by yelling “Sheriff’s Office” and “Carroll County Sheriff’s Office”. Rafi continued to back out of the garage. I had to step out of the way to keep from being struck with the vehicle. Once out of the garage, I held Rafi at gun point and continued to give loud verbal commands for him to put the car in park and to shut it off. Rafi continued to ignore my commands, at which point I noticed the passenger side door was unlocked. I attempted to open the passenger side door and at that time Rafi took off in the vehicle. I then advised Carroll County E-911 that I was going to be in pursuit of the suspect. I entered into my patrol vehicle and gave chase.
As I backed out of the driveway and exited out of the subdivision to the right on Rainey Road following Deputy A. Cone 19 who was arriving on scene to assist, Dep. Cone took over as primary vehicle in this pursuit. We traveled down Rainey Road at a high rate of speed (70mph) toward Old Draketown. We took a right onto Old Draketown still at a high rate of speed. Rafi appeared to swerve toward Deputy M. Peppers 61 who was responding to assist other law enforcement. As we continued down Old Draketown Deputy J. Bullock 55 was able to apply stop sticks to the fleeing vehicle. We then took a right on Highway 101 toward Villa Rica City limits. Traveling down Highway 101, speeds still were high being anywhere between 70mph and 90mph.
As we approached Villa Rica Animal Hospital and Newman Drive Dep. Cone attempted a precision immobilization technique (PIT) maneuver. I used my patrol vehicle and pinned the driver door shut to prevent the suspect from exiting and fleeing on foot. Dep. Cone removed Rafi from the vehicle to which I, Dep. Peppers, and Deputy M. Camp 12 placed Rafi into handcuffs. A incident to arrest was performed on Rafi and he was then secured in the back seat of my patrol vehicle. Georgia State Patrol arrived and worked the crash part of the incident; I then escorted Rafi straight to the Carroll County Jail to be booked on his charges. Rafi was turned over to Jail staff without issue. The following is the charges Rafi will be charged with and warrants secured for.
Aggravated Assault FVA 16-5-21
A person commits the offense of aggravated assault when he or she assaults: With any object, device, or instrument which, when used offensively against a person, is likely to or actually does result in strangulation.
Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers 16-10-24
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, a person who knowingly and willfully obstructs or hinders any law enforcement officer, prison guard, jailer, correctional officer, community supervision officer, county or Department of Juvenile Justice juvenile probation officer, probation officer serving pursuant to Article 6 of Chapter 8 of Title 42, or game warden in the lawful discharge of his or her official duties shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Rafi was charged with Aggravated Assault FVA due to victim testimony gathered by Dep. Peppers. For further on the reasoning behind the charge being applied see supplemental report completed by Dep. Peppers.
Rafi was charged with Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers after he failed to comply with lawful verbal orders given by Corporal M. Reed. Cpl. Reed gave Rafi multiple orders to shut his vehicle off and to stop his vehicle before he fled the scene of the incident.
[End of Narrative]