On Saturday morning at around 5:21, Bartow County 911 told Cartersville Police that a male had knocked out a juvenile and had left the scene. 911 further advised that they dispatched EMS due to teeth hanging out of the juvenile’s mouth.
CPD discovered the victim on Public Square by the water fountain. The child’s mother stated that the child’s father, 44-year-old Marion Shug Thomas of Rome, had run them off the roadway, causing them to wreck. Officers noted that the child had a bloodied mouth with one front tooth loose and another missing.
The woman stated that earlier, she had been at Thomas’ residence on Mayflower Circle. She said that while there, he allegedly grabbed her by the shirt and yelled at her.
She stated she left the residence with her child, went to the Citgo on Cassville Road and North Erwin Street, and saw Thomas in his Cadillac Escalade. The woman said she went down Cassville Road toward Cherokee Avenue with him following her and ran a stop sign to get away from him.
While on West Avenue at North Erwin Street, Thomas allegedly rammed his Escalade into her Nissan Altima. He reportedly intentionally hit her vehicle at least two more times, and she lost control. She stated she ran over a curb on West Cherokee Avenue by North Public Square and hit a light pole.
The child, who had been in a car booster seat in the rear passenger seat, was thrown forward into the front seat, where he struck his face on the dash.
EMS took the woman and child to Piedmont Cartersville Medical Center for treatment.
Cartersville Police arrested Marion Thomas at his residence for two counts of aggravated assault, criminal damage to property in the second degree, obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer, aggressive driving, reckless driving, and following too closely.