Author: Jerry A. Hudson

My heart sunk today at the news of the death of another friend in what should have been the prime of his adult life, a victim of long-term substance abuse, depression, and many other life challenges. The last time we saw each other, he seemed on top of the world. He was on fire about his recovery and on fire about his relationship with God. We’d had many conversations over the last year and a half or so, most of which were concentrated solely on these two subjects. By all outward appearances, he was on the path to reclaim the…

A heated exchange between two coworkers at a local manufacturing plant ended violently Friday, with one person suffering a gunshot wound and another eventually landing in jail. Douglas police officers responded to Lark United Manufacturing, 1213 S. Wheeler Ave., just before noon in reference to a person being shot. The victim was identified as 37-year-old Ricardo Bradshaw, who was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center prior to the officers’ arrival. Witnesses also identified 42-year-old Andre Maurice Scott as the shooter. Scott fled the area shortly after the incident. Officers learned that Bradshaw and Scott, both employees of Lark United Manufacturing,…

The Fountain Inn in Douglas was once again the scene of a violent crime early Wednesday evening, following a shooting that landed one victim in the hospital. Officials with the Douglas Police Dept. stated the victim, identified as Jeremy Garlon Meeks, was shot in the leg during the incident and transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center for treatment. The suspect, Cedric Davis, was apprehended near the scene and has been jailed at the Coffee County Jail. Officials state the incident is still under investigation and charges against Davis are pending.

In the wake of the city’s refusal to take action on the recent indictment and arrest of a commissioner and the ongoing shenanigans of other personnel caught up in legal battles, Douglas officials broke their silence to address a much bigger issue plaguing the community: dumpster diving. “The City of Douglas urges citizens to help clean up Douglas by not littering or digging through dumpsters at businesses,” officials stated in a press release issued Wednesday. “Citizens who dispose of items in another person’s privately owned or business dumpster without the owner’s permission are committing a crime. It is illegal to…

The Broxton Police Dept. and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have secured arrest warrants on Dustin Ryan Steverson for his alleged role in a shooting Wednesday morning in Broxton that left him and two females injured. Officials have charged Steverson with four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, aggravated stalking, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Steverson remained hospitalized for his injuries as of midday Thursday. Officials state he will be transported to the Coffee County Jail upon his release. Officers with the Broxton Police Dept.…

City of Douglas Commissioner and Mayor Pro Tem Olivia Pearson was formally arrested Tuesday and charged with four felony accusations. Pearson was booked into the Coffee County Jail, where she was fingerprinted and processed before being released just after 8 p.m. on a preset bond. The commissioner faces two charges of improper assistance in casting a ballot and two charges of false swearing after being indicted by a Coffee County grand jury last week for her alleged role in election fraud activities that occurred during the 2012 general election cycle. Pearson’s indictment lists several witnesses for the prosecution including Coffee…

The shootings of three people that occurred early Wednesday morning in Broxton were apparently the result of an ongoing domestic dispute. Broxton police and the GBI continue to investigate the incident, but have released few official details. Mother and daughter Mary and Jerrilynn Myers each sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, which occurred in the area of Hunter Ln. in Broxton. Another individual, identified as Dustin Steverson, was also injured and is believed to be the primary aggressor. Douglas Now has learned that Steverson was recently arrested for terroristic threats against Jerrilynn Myers, but was released from jail after being…

City of Douglas officials gave their response today regarding the recent felony indictments against Mayor Pro Tem Olivia Pearson in a manner that has become commponplace when it comes to city representatives accused of lawlessness: do nothing. Pearson was indicted this week by a Coffee County grand jury on charges of alleged voter fraud. She faces two counts of improperly assisting in casting ballots and two counts of false swearing. “The City of Douglas has been made aware of the indictment of Commissioner Olivia Pearson. This matter does not involve a city election,” officials said in a prepared statement provided…

Douglas City Commissioner Olivia Pearson, along with three other local residents, faces numerous felony charges following an indictment handed down this week by a Coffee County grand jury. Pearson’s indictment, filed Wednesday in Coffee County Superior Court, stems from an investigation into her participation in alleged voter fraud activities that occurred during the 2012 general election cycle. She is charged with two counts of improper assistance in casting a ballot and two counts of false swearing, all felonies. The first two counts accuse Pearson of illegally assisting voters who were not physically disabled or illiterate on Oct. 15 and 16,…

Coffee County voters will head to the polls today to potentially decide the winners of several local nonpartisan offices up for grabs, along with choosing a number of local and statewide Republican and Democratic candidates who will square off in November. The following local races are on the ballot: Republican Primary: Clerk of Superior CourtErica Carver and Angela C Spell-Hutto (I) SheriffRex HarperSam Reed Tax CommissionerShanda R Henderson (I) SurveyorAdam H Evans CoronerBrandon K Musgrove Democratic Primary: SheriffDoyle Wooten (I) Tax CommissionerTabitha Paulk CoronerThomas “T.C.” Griffin Nonpartisan: (Nonpartisan races will appear on all ballots, Democratic & Republican) Judge of Superior…