Author: Staff Reports

A shootout in Broxton around 6:30 last night has left one person injured and officers searching for the suspect. Broxton police responded to gunshot wound call early Monday evening. When they arrived, they found Cornelius Frederick with a gunshot wound in his leg. Frederick had been taken from the scene of the shooting to his home. Officers went to the scene of the shooting, which took place near Broxton’s famous – or infamous – Tree of Knowledge, located on Highway 441 on the north end of town. The suspect in the shooting is William Champ of Fitzgerald, who had been…

A 39-year-old man was killed Thursday night after allegedly fleeing from Nicholls police when authorities attempted to stop him for running a stop sign. Nicholls police attemted to stop Julian Walter Thomas after for failing to yield to a stop sign on N. Liberty Rd. around 10 p.m. Officials say Thomas led officers on a short chase before overturning his truck several times after he failed to navigate a sharp curve. The Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate the incident.

A man who shot and wounded a Douglas police officer in July of last year after robbing a local store a gunpoint was sentenced to life in prison Thursday in Coffee County Superior Court. Christopher Barnett pled guily on Oct. 19 to robbery and the subsequent shooting of Officer Larry Carter on July 10, 2014. At the hearing before Judge Kelly Brooks, DPD Sergeant Robert Sprinkle testified that Barnett admitted to brandishing a pistol at Flash Foods and running away with a few hundred dollars in cash. Officer Carter testified that he initiated the stop on the vehicle Barnett…

A 19-year-old man already serving a probation sentence was jailed again Friday on drug distribution charges following a traffic stop conducted by the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU). Officials reported that DCDU K-9 officers stopped a vehicle on S. Gaskin Ave. at E. Baker Hwy. in Douglas for a traffic violation. As they approached the vehicle, they noticed the passenger appeared to have something in his mouth, and officers were able to recover seven bags of marijuana he allegedly attempted to swallow. A search of the vehicle revealed more marijuana, Xanax tablets, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia.…

A 63-year-old man was killed Friday after becoming trapped under a tractor wheel while he was clearing land in the northeastern section of Coffee County. Coffee County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a wooded area off Parkwood Rd. in West Green just before 4 p.m. Friday in reference to a male subject, identified as Jimmy Lee Williams of Axson, being trapped under the wheel of a tractor. The landowner became concerned about Williams, who was running a piece of equipment and clearing land around a field, and went to check on him. Authorities say the landowner found Williams trapped under…

Coffee County Sheriff’s Office officials stated Monday that 48-year-old Jeffrey Doyle Young of Douglas was recently arrested on child pornography charges following an investigation by their office with assistance from the FBI and the Southeast Georgia Child Exploitation Task Force. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Young’s residence in August of this year, where they allegedly discovered evidence of child pornography after forensic investigations of computer hard drives were done. Investigators secured arrest warrants on Young on Oct. 13 and, when they went to his reisdence to arrest him, they Young was standing in his bedroom with a large…

City of Douglas officials reported Wednesday afternoon that water department crews responded to a 10” water leak on West Walker St. between Hwy. 441 and Chester Ave. While crews worked to repair this leak, some citizens experienced a temporary disruption in water service. Officials stated the breach in the water line was due to aging infrastructure. Customers who experience water discoloration are advised to run the cold (tap) water for 15 minutes until it runs clear or call 311 or (912) 384-3302.

Coffee County authorities searched Wednesday for escaped inmate George Michael Cato, who apparently disappeared after walking off a work detail early this morning. Sheriff’s officials were notified just before 9 a.m. that an inmate had walked away from his work detail in the area of the General Coffee State Park and Ga. Hwy 32 E. Cato is described as a 47-year-old white male, approximately 5’10”, 150 lbs., with green eyes and salt and pepper hair. Officials stated Cato was wearing khaki jail uniform pants and a white t-shirt when last seen. He was in jail for parole and probation violation…

City of Douglas officials stated Tuesday that CSX crews will be working on the railroad crossings located at South Daughtry and South College Avenues through 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16. Crews will be milling and adding approach tapers to each side at these crossings. Officials have received a number complaints regarding the conditions of the crossing at S. Gaskin Ave. following some recent work by CSX. “We have spoken to CSX regarding citizen concerns about the crossing at South Gaskin,” City Manager Terrell Jacobs stated in a press release. “As a temporary fix for the crossing, the City of Douglas…