Author: Staff Reports

An employee of a Douglas motel was jailed recently after authorities allegedly discovered prepacked bags of marijuana in a room he was occupying at the location. Coffee County sheriff’s officials reported today that the The Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) was called to assist the Douglas Police Department around 5:30 p.m. on June 8 after receiving a complaint of trafficking in marijuana at the Fountain Inn, 1007 North Peterson Ave. After Douglas patrol units completed an initial investigation, they and the DCDU agent searched Room 225 at the motel and discovered an excess of an ounce of marijuana packaged in small…

A Broxton man was jailed earlier this week following a multi-agency investigation that led authorities to the discovery of around 400 marijuana plants and the drug Ecstasy. Around 3 p.m. Thursday, June 9, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit requested assistance from the Georgia Governor’s Task Force Drug Suppression Team to conduct aerial surveillance over areas in the county suspected to be involved in growing marijuana. As a result of their coordinated efforts, approximately 400 marijuana plants were discovered at a residence in Broxton. Authorities secured a search warrant for the residence of 37-year-old Jason…

There is an urgent need for O Negative, O Positive, and AB Plasma blood donors following a mass shooting in Orlando, Florida. Dozens of people have been injured and taken to area hospitals. The need for blood continues. All eligible O Negative, O Positive and AB donors are urged to donate today. The Oneblood Douglas Donor Center is located at 1214 N. Peterson Avenue, and a full list of other area centers and blodd drive locations can be found by clicking here. Generally, healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. To…

Long time play-by-play announcer of Coffee High Trojan football Gene Wade was honored in Atlanta Friday during the Georgia Association of Broadcasters’ GABBY Awards. Wade and the staff of Broadcast South were given the Merit Award in the category of Best Play By Play Sports Announcing in the State of Georgia. Pictured above are Wade, Jane Wade, Candace Reed and Broadcast South Managing Partner John Higgs. “Gene’s talent for play by play is well known in and around South Georgia,” said Higgs. “I am glad to see The Voice Of the Trojans, Chief Engineer Ryan Hannah, and the staff of…

A Coffee County man will serve the maximum sentence allowed by law for dogfighting, following a conviction handed down today. Jurors convicted Roger Oliver in an incident that occurred in 2013. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ian Sansot. The evidence presented at trial showed that on the night of November 24, 2013, officers with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the county after receiving reports of a dogfighting event. Upon Deputy Chris Rozar’s arrival, individuals on scene scattered, some of them fleeing into the nearby woods. Deputy Rozar testified that, upon his arrival,…

Alma police reported Thursday the arrest of one man who allegedly broke into a local businesses, one of several property crimes that have occurred in a short period of time. Cameron Smith (20) of Alma and charged with second degree burglary. Early Monday morning, authoriites say Smith drove onto the property of Alma Pro Wash, covered the surveillance cameras with tape, and attempted to break into the money boxes. When Smith’s efforts failed, he allegedly broke into a vending machine and stole an unknown quantity of air fresheners. Due to the proactive efforts of the business owner, Smith and his…

The construction of a 52-unit affordable housing development at 902 N. Wheeler Ave. was approved by city officials Monday, following action taken during a regular meeting of the city commissioners. Just over 39 acres was approved to be rezoned to accomodate the Heritage Pointe Planned Development project, which is being funded through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and developed by Affordable Equity Partners, Inc. out of Atlanta. The rezoning request was made by landowner Jerry Harper, who has pledged to sell 5.9 acres of the 39-acre tract to Affordable Equity Partners, Inc. for the development of the Heritage Pointe…

Aerial surveillance of Coffee County led to the arrests of two local residents last week after officials allegedly discovered a small marijuana growing operation. While conducting aerial surveillance on May 31, agents discovered what appeared to be marijuana plants growing behind a residence. Contact was made with an individual identified as 48-year-old Steve Grimes, who admitted to growing marijuana and led agents to the grow site. Grimes was subsequently taken into custody for manufacturing marijuana. After further investigation, it was discovered that Tammy Leighann Grimes (52) rushed to another marijuana grow site and destroyed approximately five more marijuana plants. …

Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies arrested four Coffee County individuals Thursday morning as part of an investigation that began in the fall of 2015. The four subjects, all males, were arrested on charges related to the sale of crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription medication. According to Agent Jamie Jones of the GBI Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, officers arrested Tadesses Butler on two counts of selling methamphetamine; Anthony Whitfield on three counts of selling cocaine; Shaquille Rashon Sharpe on one count of selling Oxycodone; and Tyrone Gifford on one count each of selling cocaine, selling a Schedule II controlled…

Douglas police stated Thursday there has been an increase in the amount of counterfeit money being reported by local retail establishments over the last several weeks. Law enforcement encourages retail managers to train employees in the detection of counterfeit money and to closely inspect each bill they receive. Customers should also be aware of this increase and inspect currency they receive from merchants. If a merchant unknowingly accepts counterfeit money as payment, it could be passed along to unknowing customers, officials say. Anyone who comes in contact with counterfeit money or persons passing counterfeit money is asked to contact Coffee…