Stephen Covington

Name of Accused:
Covington, Stephen Jarred

Date of Arrest:
09/26/2024


Charges For Arrest:
Aggravated Assault by Strangulation
Battery-Family Violence
Simple Battery- Family Violence (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 09/26/2024
at 0052 hours, I, Deputy Childers responded to a Domestic Dispute call at [10 BLOCK] Fairway Dr, Acworth, GA 30101.
Upon arrival, I made with Suspect Stephen Covington who was standing in the front yard of the residence. Stephen was very adamant that I spoke with him before making with Victim [VICTIM ]. After approaching Stephen, who notified me that the whole incident was recorded, Stephen advised the following.
After returning from a concert, Stephen and [VICTIM ] had a conversation. Stephen advised that [VICTIM ] had been cheating on him. [VICTIM ] then asked that Stephen be “okay” with her seeing another man. Stephen then got upset and demanded [VICTIM ] to leave the residence, and [VICTIM ] began attacking him, causing lacerations to his face as well as several other spots on his body. [VICTIM ] then went to her vehicle, before walking back up to Stephen, and Stephen then advised that he “beat the brakes off of her” due to the previous physical altercation. [VICTIM ] then proceeded to the neighbors house before law enforcement arrived on scene.
I then reviewed the footage taken from a mounted camera inside the residence and observed the following. Stephen is seen demanding [VICTIM ] to leave the residence before approaching her while continuing to yell. [VICTIM ]’s son, [VICTIM ] is then seen attempting to calm the situation by telling the two to stop, and placing himself between them. Stephen is then seen pushing [VICTIM ] before [VICTIM ] pushes Stephen, telling him to stop. Stephen is then seen forcibly removing [VICTIM ] and [VICTIM ] from the residence before the video ends. Stephen then showed me exterior footage taken from the residence, however it is unclear what happened due to backs being turned away from the camera.
Stephen told Deputies several times that he “beat the brakes off of her” after being assaulted by [VICTIM ].
I then spoke with [VICTIM ] and witnessed several injuries to her face, arm, and hands, including a swollen bottom lip, scratches on her right arm, and cuts on her fingers.
[VICTIM ] told Deputies that Stephen began forcing her out of the residence when she acted in self defense. She then proceeded to her vehicle, and walked back up to the residence when Stephen began harming her. [VICTIM ] advised that this dispute was caused due to Stephen finding out that she had been cheating.
Deputies then made with Stephen once more, who was placed under arrest, and put in handcuffs (double locked and checked for fit) after being medically cleared by Metro Personel. After allowing Stephen to put shoes on, he was placed in the back of my patrol car.
I then spoke with [VICTIM ], and notified him of the TPO process.
While gathering more information from [VICTIM ], who was in the back of an ambulance with Metro Personel, [VICTIM ] advised the following. While Stephen was physically harming her, Stephen put his hands around her throat and began squeezing. [VICTIM ] told Deputies that she felt like she could not breathe, and proceeded to put her hands on Stephens face to stop the attack, causing Stephen to bite her fingers. I then observed [VICTIM ]’s neck, which appeared scratched with minor bruising, as well as significant bite marks on her two ring fingers.
I then notified [VICTIM ] of Stephens charges, and explained the TPO process to her as well.
I then returned to my patrol car, where Stephen was transported to the Paulding County Detention Center on the charges of Simple Battery Family Violence, Battery Family Violence, and Aggravated Assault by Strangulation. After arriving at the Detention Center, Stephen was turned over to jail staff without incident. Warrants were then obtained and signed by Judge Parsons.
Warrants for [VICTIM ]’s arrest were not taken at this time due to insufficient evidence supporting Stephens claims, as well as conflicting stories.
[End of Narrative]