NAME:
Ellis, Coleman Neil
DATE:
08/05/2025
CHARGES:
AGGRAVATED SODOMY – COMMIT SODOMY WITH FORCE AND AGAINST PERSONS WILL OR PERSON
INCEST
INCEST
RAPE
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 08/05/2025, I, Deputy N. Beetley #531, while actively employed by the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office assigned to the Uniformed Patrol Division, was requested by the Gilmer County Communications Center to call them. I spoke with a Communications Officer who stated there was a female located at the North Georgia University (Dahlonega) Campus Police and an officer was requesting a welfare check on a male named Coleman Ellis at the address of [3200 BLOCK] Hwy 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536.
The communications officer advised me the female, later identified as [REDACTED BY AGENCY], told campus police that her and her father were in an argument the night before and stated that Mr. Ellis threatened to hurt himself. I was then advised campus police were also requesting me to ask Mr. Ellis not to contact [REDACTED BY AGENCY] again. I was also requested to contact Sgt. Teeter (campus police officer) after contact was made with Mr. Ellis. I was provided with Sgt. Teeter’s contact information and advised dispatch that I was enroute to the location.
I responded code 1 (no lights or sirens), in my marked patrol vehicle 321. As I approached the driveway I noticed a female standing near the end of the driveway. I did not know if the female at the end of the driveway was involved due to the fact that [3200 BLOCK] has a shared driveway with [3200 BLOCK]. I slowly pulled into the driveway and rolled my driver side window down to make contact with the female. I told her I was there to check the welfare of a man who lived at [3200 BLOCK].
The female identified herself as [WITNESS #1], the wife of Coleman Ellis. She appeared to be disturbed as she maintained a completely straight face when I greeted her with a smile. She seemed to be unsure of what to say at first and stood in place, not coming directly up to my window, staring at me with a concerned look.
She then said, “Last night my son and I walked in on my husband having sex with my daughter.” I immediately activated my body worn camera to capture audio and video, because this was not at all the dispatch information I received. I told her the information I was given by the communications officer to ensure her I was not responding to her information in a rude or uncaring manner.
Mrs. [WITNESS #1] stated they were scared after I told her this information and stated [REDACTED BY AGENCY] had left last night. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] again stated her and her son witnessed her husband having sex with their daughter and that it had been going on for years but she did not know until “recently.” Mrs. [WITNESS #1] stated they came home from a trip last night and she asked [REDACTED BY AGENCY] not to.
Mrs. [WITNESS #1] stated that [REDACTED BY AGENCY] said “I have to.” Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised that everyone had gone to bed and then her and her son came up and caught them. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised [REDACTED BY AGENCY] was terrified and left the home. It was then stated apparently this has been going on for a long time and she [REDACTED BY AGENCY] has been too afraid to say anything. The son that witnessed this with Mrs. [WITNESS #1] went with [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to report this to campus police.
Mrs. [WITNESS #1] stated her other son who did not witness the incident was still at the home and she wasn’t sure on what to do. I asked Mrs. [WITNESS #1] if there were weapons and she stated “yes” but was not sure if he had any on him. She advised they (but did not specify who) tried to put the weapons up in a back room.
I asked Mrs. [WITNESS #1] if he knew law enforcement was coming to which she replied “no.” I advised Mrs. [WITNESS #1] that I was going to make a phone call real quick, as the nature of the call was different than originally dispatched. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] advised that she told her son and husband she was going down to check the mail and was concerned they might start looking for her as she had been down by the mailbox for some time. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] then stated she did not want to go up to the home yet.
I called my supervisor, Sgt. Pim 553 for direction. Due to the fact this call was not dispatched over the radio, I filled her in with all of the details that I knew up to that point, including the information I had received from the communications officer. During the phone conversation Mrs. [WITNESS #1] stated her husband and son were working on motorcycles together in the driveway. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] then corrected me when I told Sgt. Pim that she found out last night by saying, “No, I knew a few days before.” Mrs. [WITNESS #1] confirmed that her and her son found her husband having sex with their daughter at [3200 BLOCK] Hwy 52 East, which is located in Gilmer County, GA. Sgt. Pim advised she and Deputy Ellington 522 would be enroute to me.
I then asked Mrs. [WITNESS #1] if she would like to get in my patrol vehicle. I asked her more than once trying to get her attention as she was now on a phone call. I asked because I did not want Coleman to see her with me if he came looking for her. My in car camera had already been activated by this time for video and audio recording. I activated the rear lights of my parked patrol vehicle and backed out of and away from the driveway onto the shoulder of Hwy 52E.
I called Sgt. Pim again and notified her Mrs. [WITNESS #1] was now in my vehicle. Sgt. Pim asked me clarifying questions which I answered through Mrs. [WITNESS #1]. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] then confirmed [REDACTED BY AGENCY] is both the biological daughter of Coleman Ellis and herself.
Mrs. [WITNESS #1] then advised me the son that is with Coleman was about to leave the property on his motorcycle because he did not want to be around. Mrs. [WITNESS #1] also stated she did not want to go back up the driveway either because she did not want to be around. I called Sgt. Pim to relay the information and seek direction.
While on the phone with Sgt. Pim, I watched Mrs. [WITNESS #1]’ son leave the driveway and drive east on Hwy 52 East on a yellow motorcycle. Sgt. Pim confirmed the original dispatch information to check welfare. Sgt. Pim directed me to take Mrs. [WITNESS #1] to Gilmer County’ Criminal Investigation Division building so Coleman would not know law enforcement was already involved in the situation and to have a Detective begin to gather further information.
Mrs. [WITNESS #1] was very concerned that Coleman would figure out law enforcement was involved if all of a sudden no one was at the home with him and he didn’t know anyone’s whereabouts. I tried to explain the reasoning to calm Mrs. [WITNESS #1]’ apprehensiveness. I notified Gilmer County Communications that I was transporting Mrs. [WITNESS #1] to CID and gave them my beginning mileage.
While enroute to CID, I called the communications center and if they could make contact with Sgt. Teeter at the University of North Georgia to ask [REDACTED BY AGENCY] to stay at the Campus Police Office. I requested this due to the high probability the detective would need to know [REDACTED BY AGENCY] whereabouts as well as her brother who is the second witness.
Upon arrival to CID, I notified dispatch of my ending mileage. I walked Mrs. [WITNESS #1] inside and met with Gilmer County Detective Daves 598. I gave what information I knew to Det. Daves who then took over interviewing Mrs. [WITNESS #1].
Shortly after 16:00hrs on the same date, Deputy Ellington who was watching the driveway from a distance reported that a Red Ford Escape was leaving the driveway. Detectives gained information this was the same color and type of vehicle that was reported to be at the house by Mrs. [WITNESS #1]. I responded with other deputies while Deputy Ellington called out his location. By this time, a felony warrant for incest had been applied for by Gilmer County Detectives and signed by a judge.
Upon arriving to the location of Deputy Ellington and the Ford Escape, Sgt. Perigo advised over the radio that he positively identified the driver as Coleman Ellis. I activated the lights of my marked patrol car along with other deputies in the intersection of River St. and First Ave. A felony stop was conducted and Coleman was ordered out of the vehicle by other deputies. While the other deputies were handcuffing Coleman, I removed a pocket knife that was clipped to Coleman’s right front pocket. I later gave the pocket knife to Sgt. Perigo. Coleman Ellis was taken into custody without any further incident.
I remained with the vehicle that was cleared from the intersection with Deputy Scott 532. Sgt. Pim advised me to remain with the vehicle and she would be transporting Mrs. [WITNESS #1] to pick it up. When Sgt. Pim arrived, I handed the keys to Mrs. [WITNESS #1] and turned the vehicle over to her.
[End of Narrative]
