Edward Layton

Name of Accused:
Layton, Edward Arthur

Date of Arrest:
07/10/2024


Charges For Arrest:
Public Drunkenness – M
Public Drunkenness – M
TERRORISTIC THREATS AND ACTS – F
TERRORISTIC THREATS AND ACTS – F
TERRORISTIC THREATS AND ACTS – F
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – F
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT – F
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 07/10/2024
at 1954 hours, while in uniform driving a marked patrol vehicle, Dispatch sent me to a Ellis Square (200 W. Congress St.) for a DISORDERLY PERSON call.
Call Notes
According to Dispatch, a less male with a knife was being disorderly. He was described as a tall, slender while male in his 50’s with salt and pepper colored hair and beard. He was wearing a green t-shirt, tan/khaki-colored pants, and white sneakers and was carrying a 4-inch knife and blue bag.
Initial
When I arrived at the scene, I ed a security guard working in Ellis Square, Ms. [WITNESS ], who witnessed part of the incident. She confirmed the Suspect description and handed me a knife that the suspect, Mr. EDWARD A. LAYTON, had dropped. Ms. [WITNESS ] advised me that the Suspect left the scene heading east. Ofc Smith and Cpl Clever responded to the incident, began canvassing the area, then detained the Suspect. Ms. [WITNESS ] informed me that the Suspect was threatening Mr. [VICTIM ] with the knife that she handed me.
Victim Statement
I spoke with Mr. [VICTIM ] at the scene. He informed me that a verbal altercation began with the Suspect because he believed one of the less individuals in Ellis Square had stolen $120 from him. Mr. [VICTIM ] told the Suspect that no one there had taken his money. The Suspect threatened to get a gun and shoot the less people in Ellis Square. The Suspect then pulled out a knife and began waving it at Mr. [VICTIM ] while telling him to “come over here!” Mr. [VICTIM ] began to walk away while the Suspect continued to repeat that phrase. Mr. [VICTIM ] understood that phrase to be a threat and believed that if the Suspect was within range, he would have attempted to use the knife to attack him.
Witness Statements
One of the less individuals in the square, Ms. [WITNESS ], told me that she witnessed the incident. She stated that she saw the Suspect arguing with Mr. [VICTIM ] from across the square. As they approached where she was sitting on the eastern side of the square, she heard the Suspect yell that he either had a gun or was going to get a gun. She also observed the Suspect pull out a knife and wave it at Mr. [VICTIM ].
Video Surveillance
Sgt Duncan responded to the scene and ed Major Crimes detectives. He was able locate a video recording of the incident. The video showed the Suspect and Mr. [VICTIM ] standing near the southeast corner of Ellis Square in front of each other in what appears to be a verbal altercation. The Suspect pulls a knife out of back pocket and spins it open. He then thrusts it toward Mr. [VICTIM ] but does not make . When Mr. [VICTIM ] begins to walk toward the west side of the square, the Suspect follows him for a few steps, then sits down on a brick wall. He spins the knife around a few more times.
Suspect Interview
I went to interview the Suspect where he was detained. I suspected that he was intoxicated based on his physical appearance and delayed/slurred speech. He informed me that he had a few “shots” of alcohol, but he was fully capable of speaking with me. After advising him of his Miranda Rights, he said that he understood what I read, and he agreed to speak with me. The Suspect informed me that someone stole $130 from him a few days prior. He originally stated that he did not know Mr. [VICTIM ] and never got into a verbal altercation with him, then he said he did speak with Mr. [VICTIM ], but insisted that he was trying to give Mr. [VICTIM ] the knife, not threaten him with it.
Probable Cause for Arrest
The following facts and circumstances led me to reasonably believe that Mr. LAYTON committed the following OCGA offenses:
Aggravated Assault { 16-5-21 }
He used a knife to make another believe he would be violently injured.
Terroristic Threats & Acts { 16-11-37 }
He threatened to commit a crime of violence by claiming he would get a gun and shoot the people in the square.
Public Drunkenness { 16-11-41 }
He was yelling and threatening multiple people in a public square while under the influence of alcohol.
Conclusion
I placed Mr. LAYTON in double-locked handcuffs, checked them for proper fit, then performed a Incident to Arrest of his person. Ofc Smith conducted a of his bag; he logged it into the Savannah Police Property Room for Safekeeping. Mr. LAYTON was advised of his charges and placed in the back of my patrol vehicle. I transported him to the Chatham County Detention Center, where he was booked. I logged the knife into the Savannah Police Property room as evidence.
During the transport to the jail, he claimed that the handcuffs were too tight. He acknowledged that he was twisting his wrists. I tried to advise him multiple times not to twist his wrists so the handcuffs would not dig into his flesh, but he constantly interrupted me. Also, during the transport, he exclaimed multiple times that I arrested him because of his race. He later said, “This is what you going to do! I’m going to hunt you down!” I asked him to repeat himself and he repeated the threat (“I’m going to hunt you down”). Because of this statement, I added a second count of Terroristic Threats to his charges.
This currently concludes my involvement in this incident.
[End of Narrative]