Richmond County (September 27, 2022) – Police were called out to a residence on Walton Way regarding a burglary. While en route to the location, officers spotted the suspect, Destiny Katrina Thomas, running down the street with a small dog in her arms. When police approached Thomas, she put the dog in her mouth and tried to eat it.
Police were able to question Thomas about the incident. She admitted that she had broken into a residence because her mother had been locked inside and was not allowed to leave. Thomas was holding a small, white dog in her left arm. When police attempted to detain her, she put the dog in her mouth and tried to eat it. As she was biting the dog, it began to scream and yelp.
Officers attempted to get the dog away from Thomas, but she began to fight and grabbed the dog by the throat and strangled it. Officers were eventually able to free the dog. The dog was not seriously injured.
Officers spoke to the victim, who said when he arrived home, Thomas was inside his house and that the front window beside the front door had been shattered. The victim said when he entered the house, Thomas ran away. It did not appear that any items were missing from the home.
As officers went to arrest Thomas, she attempted to run and jumped head-first inside the passenger window of a parked patrol car.
Due to her erratic behavior, Thomas was transported to Augusta State University for a mental health evaluation.
As a result of the investigation, Thomas was charged with cruelty to animals and burglary. She was later arrested on November 16th and booked into jail. This case is currently pending in court.
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 09/27/2022 at 1144 hours, I Deputy Pettite responded to [2100 BLOCK] Walton Way in reference to a Burglary.
While in route deputies received a description of the individual later identified as the listed suspect (Thomas, Destiny). I deputy Pettite observed Thomas running down the street at the 2100 Block Of Walton Way. I made contact with Destiny at which time Thomas admitted that she had broken into the occurred location and stated that her mother had been locked inside the residence and was not allowed to leave.
Thomas was holding a small white dog in her left arm. Deputies attempted to detain Thomas at which time Thomas pulled the dog to her mouth and began to try and eat the dog. Deputies observed Thomas biting the dog as the dog began to scream and yelp. Deputies were able to remove the dog from Thomas’s mouth at which time Thomas began to fight with deputies and then tried to grab the dog around the throat and strangle the dog.
Deputies spoke to the listed victim ([VICTIM #1]) in reference to this issue at which time [VICTIM #1] stated that when he arrived at the occurred location he observed Thomas inside the residence and that the front window beside the front door had been shattered. [VICTIM #1] stated that when he entered the residence Thomas then fled on foot. [VICTIM #1] states that it does not appear that any items were missing at this time.
While deputies were continuing their investigation Thomas attempted to run and jumped head first inside the passenger side window of a parked patrol car. Due to Thomas’s erratic behavior Thomas was transported to Augusta State University for a Mental Evaluation and turned over to ER staff.
[End of Narrative]
