A 32-year-old Prichard man was taken into custody Thursday afternoon after Mobile police accused him of assaulting a woman near Springhill Plaza Court, and officers said they also found marijuana in his car when he was located a short time later.
According to the Mobile Police Department, Tyler Goff, 32, is alleged to have assaulted a woman at a home in the 500 block of Springhill Plaza Court. Officers were dispatched to the area shortly before 1 p.m. and arrived at the scene at approximately 12:43 p.m., where they found the victim suffering from minor injuries.
By the time officers reached the scene, Goff had already left the area, police said. Officers later found him, along with marijuana inside his vehicle, according to the department.
Charges and booking
Goff was arrested and booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, jail records show. He was charged with first-degree domestic violence and possession of marijuana.
In addition to the new charges, Goff was served with two outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest, one for speeding and one for driving without a seatbelt, according to police.
The arrest came after a midday response that began with a report of an assault at a home in the Springhill area of the city. Police did not release additional details about the relationship between Goff and the victim, and the department has not said whether additional charges are expected.
What first-degree domestic violence means in Alabama
First-degree domestic violence is the most serious tier of Alabama’s domestic violence statutes, set out in the state’s criminal code. The charge applies when an enumerated offense, such as an assault, is committed against a person with whom the accused has or had a qualifying domestic relationship, such as a current or former spouse, a parent or child, a person with whom the accused has a child in common, or a current or former household or dating partner.
Because the charge is classified as a felony, a conviction can carry prison time measured in years rather than months, along with fines and other penalties the court may impose. Prosecutors in Mobile County handle domestic violence cases through the District Attorney’s Office, and judges routinely impose conditions such as no-contact orders while a case is pending.
How these cases move through the system
After an arrest like Thursday’s, the accused is typically booked at the Mobile County Metro Jail, where charges, bond amounts and court dates are logged into the public jail docket. From there, the case moves to Mobile County District Court for an initial appearance, where a judge reviews the charges, addresses bond and can issue protective conditions on behalf of the alleged victim.
Felony-level allegations are then bound over to a grand jury, which decides whether the case advances to Circuit Court for trial. The process can take months, and charges may be amended, reduced or dismissed along the way depending on the evidence.
Goff had not yet appeared in court as of the time of this report, and no attorney information was immediately available in jail records.
Police ask for tips
The Mobile Police Department investigates hundreds of domestic-related calls each year across the city, and detectives said Thursday’s case remains part of that active caseload. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211, or text an anonymous tip to 844-251-0644.
Help for domestic violence victims
Advocates note that victims of domestic violence in Alabama can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline around the clock at 1-800-799-7233, or by texting START to 88788. Emergency protective orders can be requested through local district courts, and Mobile area shelters and advocacy organizations provide confidential support to those in immediate danger.