VIDALIA, Ga. – On the night of May 6, 2023, a Vidalia Police officer responded to a stabbing at a Center Drive residence. After being flagged down by a shirtless female, the officer saw a male with a blood-soaked shirt and stab wounds to his neck and left side on the ground with two females, one shirtless, applying pressure to his cuts.
One of the women explained that she told them to remove their shirts and press them against his wounds to help stop the bleeding. She said she recognized the victim, who came from down the road and walked into their kitchen before returning outside.
The officer noted a puncture wound on his side and two lacerations on his neck and underarm from a “sharp pointed cutting tool” that were actively bleeding. The victim was unable to provide any information.
Toombs-Montgomery EMS arrived and began to render aid. Vidalia Fire and additional officers arrived to help with traffic and scene control.
Several people tried entering the residence where the incident occurred. At this time, the officer learned that a nearby volunteer firefighter needed police presence because the suspect, James Ezra Taylor, approached him and was sitting by him on the ground.
When asked if he possessed any weapons, Taylor handed the officer a black and green pocketknife and a gold and brown knife. The black and green knife had blood “all over the blade and part of the handle.”
Inside the residence, the officer saw blood spatter on the ground leading from the back porch to a room that contained a crib. There was blood dripping on the door as well.
The female who flagged down the officer hesitantly explained that when her father drinks alcohol, “he changes to another person.” She said a fight started between Taylor and the victim because Taylor told him to leave, and he said he “was not scared.”
They began shoving each other when her father pulled out the knife and stabbed the victim. The officer detained Taylor and transported him to the Vidalia Police Department for an interview, where he was later released.
A witness contacted the officer with video footage of the stabbing. She said a juvenile recorded it with her cell phone but was instructed by another witness to “lie to the police and not mention the footage.”
The juvenile stated she was scared and did not want to go to jail. After viewing the video, officers traveled back to the Center Drive neighborhood and arrested Taylor on May 7, 2023.
They transported him to the hospital, where he received stitches for a cut on his thumb, and then drove him to the Toombs County Detention Center. He faces aggravated assault charges in this active case.
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 May 6th, 2023 at approximately 10:46 p.m. I was dispatched to [2100 BLOCK] Center Drive in reference to a stabbing. While en route I was advised that they were on the side of Center Drive near the address. Upon my arrival, I saw a shirtless white female flagging me down who was later identified as [WITNESS #1].
I turned on my emergency lights and ran to where I observe a Black male wearing blood soaked white in color t shirt laying on his back. I saw a white female later identified as [WITNESS #2] to be holding the male and applying pressure to a wound to the left side of his neck and left rib cage area.
I also saw a white female shirtless but wearing a bra juvenile applying pressure to the male’s ribcage. [WITNESS #2] said the male was [VICTIM #1] and that he came to their house knocking on the door. [WITNESS #2] said that they knew of the male subject and that he came from down the road with the stab wounds.
[WITNESS #2] said he walked into the kitchen then he went outside, and she guided him to the other side of the road. [WITNESS #2] said she told both [WITNESS #1] and Juvenile 1 to take off their shirts so that she could use it to apply pressure to the wounds.
I saw [VICTIM #1] to be bleeding from the left side of his neck and the left upper rib cage area. The wound on [VICTIM #1]’s neck and armpit area appeared to be lacerations from a sharp cutting tool. The wound to [VICTIM #1]’s rib area appeared to be a puncture wound from a sharp pointed cutting tool as well.
A [WITNESS #3] was also on scene and gave aid. [WITNESS #3] said he was the neighbor and one of the juvenile daughters came to the house saying that “[VICTIM #1]” needed help, so he ran over. I tried to gather information from [VICTIM #1] but was unsuccessful.
Once Toombs-Montgomery EMS arrived on scene [VICTIM #1] was turned over to them so that aid could be given. I then called Investigator Sgt. Shannon Martin and Captain Garry Colson to help with the scene. Vidalia Fire was also advised to aid for traffic control.
While awaiting Sgt. Martin I saw several subjects trying to go inside the residence of [2100 BLOCK] Center Drive. I was then informed by [WITNESS #1] that is where the incident took place. I then advised [WITNESS #1] and [WITNESS #2] to not go inside the residence. Volunteer Fire Fighter [REDACTED] advised he needed an officer at his location. [REDACTED] was on scene helping with traffic control.
[REDACTED] said that he was approached by James Taylor who told him that he was the suspect and that he had to get [VICTIM #1] off him. I saw a white male wearing a camouflage jersey sitting on the ground who was later identified as James Ezra Taylor. I advised James Ezra to stay where he was due to individuals trying to go inside the residence.
I asked James Ezra if he had any weapons on him and he provided me with a green and black in color pocketknife as well as a brown and gold Old timers knife. The weapons were secured on my person for the time. Firefighters stayed with him while I helped Cpl. Bruce.
Sgt. Shannon Martin arrived on scene and told her that the integrity of the crime scene was at risk due to the possibility of a subject being inside the residence. Sgt. Martin and I then cleared the residence. Upon Clearing the residence, a [REDACTED] was found inside. [REDACTED] said he was asleep, and he was then escorted out of the residence.
Inside the residence, I saw blood spatter to be on the ground leading from the back porch area to a room that had a crib found inside. I saw drip stain to be on the door as well. Once the residence was cleared, Sgt. Martin took control of the scene. I escorted [REDACTED] to the front porch area where he sat with [WITNESS #1].
[WITNESS #1], who was hesitant at first, later told me that an altercation took place between James Ezra and [VICTIM #1]. [WITNESS #1] said that James Ezra told [VICTIM #1] to “get the fu*k out of my house” and that is when they started shoving each other. [WITNESS #1] said the knife was brought out because her dad (James Ezra) was drinking, and [VICTIM #1] told him that he was not scared. [WITNESS #1] said [VICTIM #1] had no weapons on him at all.
[WITNESS #1] said her dad is in the Army and when he is drinking, he changes to another person. [WITNESS #1] said James Ezra stabbed him with a knife twice in the left side of his side and neck. I then went over to James Ezra, conducted a search of his person for weapons and secured him by placing him in the rear seat of my patrol unit.
I was later advised by [WITNESS #2] that her eight-year-old juvenile son was missing. [WITNESS #2] said that her son was not at [WITNESS #3] house at this time and could possibly be in the back yard near the fire pit. I conducted a search of the area and found the juvenile male near the fire pit along with an unconscious male laying on the ground on his stomach.
The male appeared to be heavily intoxicated, and the juvenile male advised his name was [REDACTED] and that he was asleep. I tried to rouse the male but was unsuccessful. I advised dispatch to have EMS en route due to the male. The male then started vomiting and so he was put on his side. The male was later identified as [REDACTED]. EMS arrived on scene, and he was transported to Memorial Health Meadows Hospital.
Sgt. Martin interviewed other witnesses and I gathered their information. My body worn camera did not activate till approximately five minutes after being on scene. I transported James Ezra to the Vidalia Police Department and placed him in Interview Room 2 so that Sgt. Martin could conduct an interview.
Upon examining the green and black in color knife I observe blood to be all over the blade and part of the handle. All evidence was placed in locker #23 along with the evidence receipt. All forms were scanned and electronically attached to this report.
I was later called to the residence of [2200 BLOCK] Center Dr. at approximately 1:47 a.m. in reference to a removal of a subject and footage of the incident. I contacted [WITNESS #3] who advised that there was footage of the incident. I watched the footage on his cellphone and when asked how this footage came forward.
[WITNESS #3] advised Juvenile 1 took the video on her cellphone and was advised by [WITNESS #2] to lie to the police and not mention the footage. Juvenile 1 said she was scared and did not want to got the jail. I advised Sgt. Martin to respond due to a change in the incident.
Sgt. Martin responded to the scene, and I showed her the footage that was provided to me by [WITNESS #3]. Sgt. Martin and I then left the area to find James Ezra Sgt. Martin and I observe James Ezra at Center Dr. and Center Place. Sgt. Martin advised him that he was under arrest, and I placed him in handcuffs to the rear and double locked them.
I conducted a search of his person incident to arrest to which he yielded no contraband. James Ezra was placed in the rear seat of Cpl. Bruce’s patrol unit. Due to James Ezra suffering a cut to his right thumb he was taken to the hospital. The hospital stitched up his right thumb and pictures of his injuries were taken.
Cpl. Bruce transported James Ezra to the Toombs County Detention Center and turned him over to on duty jail staff without further incident. A copy of James Ezra medical release papers was scanned and attached to this report.
[End of Narrative]
