According to a Floyd County Police Department incident report, On June 11th, 2023, at 11:32 PM, Officer Dollar responded to the area of 2595 Lakeridge Circle in reference to a shooting and gunshot wound victim. Officers were advised that the suspect was running toward Circle K at Garden Lakes BLVD and Redmond Circle. The Rome Fire Department arrived in the area and advised dispatch there was a male running down Tyler Street. Officers located the male at 3 Tyler Street. The male was taken at gunpoint and detained. Officer Dollar reported, “While placing the male in handcuffs, he was stating that he did not shoot anyone. The male began stating that he was attacked, too, and asked why we were handcuffing him. Due to this male matching the description of the male from what the victim described, [I] began conducting a Terry Frisk of his person to ensure he did not possess a firearm. While conducting the Terry Frisk, the male stated that someone handed him all kinds of stuff, and he just ran with it. While patting his right shorts pocket, [I] felt numerous bulky items that [I] could not identify whether was a weapon or not. Due to this, [I] began to enter his pocket. [I] retrieved an item, and while removing it from his pocket, [I] located a plastic baggie containing a white crystal substance suspected of being meth. After completing searching his right pocket, [I] began searching his left shorts pocket. [I] recovered a glass smoking device containing a white, burnt residue.” The male identified himself as Mark Paul Dawson Sr., 30, of Rome. Captain Johnson asked Mark if he would explain what happened. Mark stated that he and a guy were fighting. He was struck with an umbrella, heard gunshots, and then he started running. Officer George and Officer Lanier located the firearm, a 22-long rifle, in a military green, large duffel bag, which contained a picture of Mark on a phone. Mark spoke with Captain Robinson about what occurred at the police department. Mark lied about the events that were advised by several witnesses and the victim. Mark was transported to the Floyd County Jail, and charged with aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug-related objects, pointing a gun at another, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
Rome man found with meth after shooting man during altercation at home in Floyd County
