It may be the hottest summer in a long time — and maybe the hottest summer ever — but the temperature didn’t have anything to do with an explosion at Sambo’s in Willacoochee Sunday afternoon. According to the Atkinson County Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency, there was a gas leak at the walk-up hamburger restaurant. Something in the air conditioning unit caused the gas to ignite, causing an explosion that could be heard several blocks away. Firefighters responded quickly and shut off the gas. Once the gas leak was off, firefighters went inside to make…
Author: Staff Reports
On July 16, a deputy responded to a call made by Heather Whitley, 50, claiming that a family member was allegedly beating her. When deputies arrived, she reported that this family member was not allowing her to eat and had beaten her with some type of board. As stated on the incident report, she told the deputy that the relative had hit her on the back. After observing the area where she claimed to have been struck, the deputy did not see any visible marks to support her claims. After further discussion with the deputies on scene, Whitley…
It’s always a good idea to obey all traffic laws if you allegedly have illegal drugs in your vehicle. A Douglas woman found that out the hard way on July 12. Officers from the Coffee County Drug Unit were patrolling Highway 221 North when they noticed a gold GMC Yukon turn on to Lakeside Drive. Officers noticed that the driver wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. The Yukon also had a cracked windshield. They stopped the vehicle on Lakeside Drive. The occupants, Shannon Taylor and Kenneth Weldon, gave consent to search the Yukon. The officers found suspected methamphetamine…
Late last month, officers from the Douglas Police Department arrested a 40-year-old Douglas woman for allegedly stealing a family member’s car. The suspect, Justine Damore, grabbed the victim’s keys when they fell out of her pocket in the bathroom, jumped out of a window, then took the car, according to a Douglas Police Department incident report. The report states that an officer responded to the call at an apartment complex on North Wheeler Avenue. The victim stated that the suspect, Justine Damore, does not have permission to use the car because she’s stolen it in the past. The…
Tyreek Hill is calling his shot. The Miami Dolphins wide receiver has vowed to surpass 2,000 receiving yards this season. That’s a mark that no NFL wide receiver has ever reached. The single-season record stands at 1,964, which Calvin Johnson set for the Detroit Lions in 2012. (It’s also worth noting that Johnson set the record in a 16-game season. As of last year, NFL teams now play a 17-game regular season.) Hill made the statement on his podcast “It Needed to Be Said.” He also all but guaranteed a Super Bowl win for the Dolphins.…
A 39-year-old Douglas man who had been released from prison on July 3 went back to jail on July 4 following a domestic dispute. A report from the Douglas Police Department states that an officer responded to an East Mitchell Street address around 11:30 a.m. on July 4 in reference to a domestic incident. As the officer neared the address, he noticed a female juvenile waving him down. The juvenile said that the suspect, identified as Robert Linton, 39, was inside hitting her mom. The officer went inside and saw the victim, who looked…
On July 6, officers from the Douglas Police Department arrested Christopher Crosby, 30, and charged him with aggravated assault by strangulation following a domestic dispute with his girlfriend. A report from the police department states that officers arrived at a home on Pineview Drive after getting a report of a domestic dispute. According to the report, the victim checked on Crosby’s mother, who was also at the house, then went into the bedroom where Crosby was. They ended up arguing and Crosby started choking her, the report states. She got away and ran to another room, where she…
Add giving a dog beer to one of the things that will land you in jail. On July 7, an allegedly intoxicated pedestrian identified as 32-year-old Adan Ramirez, poured beer into his and hand attempted to give it to a dog on Spring Oak Street. According to an incident report from the sheriff’s office, Ramirez walked up to an individual on Spring Oak Street and asked if she wanted a beer. She said no so, she stated, he poured some beer into his hand and gave it to her puppy. The dog did drink some of…
A Douglas man is in jail after allegedly breaking in and trashing his ex-girlfriend’s house. According to an incident report from the sheriff’s office, the incident took place on June 21. However, the suspect, Anthony Droll, 31, of Douglas, wasn’t arrested until July 6. The report states that on June 21, the victim reported that Droll had broken into her house, “destroyed” it, and also damaged her vehicle in the backyard. While he was at the house, the report states, Droll took five birth certificates and one death certificate from the home. The victim…
The Coffee Weightlifting Team brought back three team national championships, several individual medals, and a number of top-10 placings at the USA Weightlifting Youth National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colorado. These young athletes traveled over 1,500 miles to compete against the best weightlifters in the country. Stepping on the weightlifting platform right by yourself with the entire country watching can be an intimidating experience, especially for first timers. The Coffee lifters showed poise, confidence, and, of course, strength when it was their turn. They did not disappoint. The Coffee team brought home three team national titles…