Author: Staff Reports

A Georgia Dept. of Corrections inmate being transported to another facility managed to shut down U.S. Hwy. 221 just north of Douglas Thursday night after he managed to kick out several windows in the vehicle and threatened to harm himself with the broken glass. Coffee County Sheriff’s Office officials states deputies responded to Hwy. 221 and George Deen Rd. after a request for assistance from the Superintendent at Appling Integrated Treatment Facility in Baxley. Deputies were advised that an inmate that was being transported from the facility in Appling County to another prison facility in Valdosta had become disorderly and…

The Coffee County District Attorney’s Office earned a second victory this week after jurors returned guilty verdicts in a 2014 case involving a man who was already serving a parole sentence at the time for kidnapping and aggravated assault. A Coffee County jury on Thursday returned guilty verdicts against Hubert Coates on four counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of marijuana, less than one ounce. The trial, which began Thursday morning, showed that in May of 2014, officers with the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit executed a search warrant at Coates’ residence and uncovered four firearms…

A Coffee County jury returned guilty verdicts Wednesday against Jeffery Moore, Alvin High Jr., and Kevin Coney for a January, 2014 armed robbery and home invasion that occurred at a residence on Yellow Brick Rd. Assistant District Attorney Ian Sansot stated trial testimony showed that on January 21, 2014, all three defendants entered the residence and demanded money from the owner. While brandishing weapons, the three proceeded to attack the homeowner and subsequently fled from the house. Inside the defendants’ escape vehicle were two additional co-defendants. These two co-defendants previously entered pleas and agreed to testify at the trial. After…

A Coffee County mother who sustained a gunshot to the head over the weekend has passed away, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Authorities stated Dorothy Leighann Reardean died late Monday afternoon after being in criticial condition since the incident, which occurred Sunday around 7:30 p.m.. GBI officials say Rearden was shot by her four-year-old child while the two were parked in a car at their residence on Cutter Rd. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office is refusing to comment on the incident, even though there has been some public concern since the victim was reportedly in a relationship with…

A 31-year-old man was charged with multiple offenses after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through two counties late Friday night. Officials with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office say deputies attempted to stop Michael Prescott on Ga. Hwy. 32 East just prior to 11 p.m. for allegedly driving recklessly. Prescott led deputies and Georgia State Troopers up U.S. Hwy. 441 through Broxton and into Telfair County. The chase ended around 11:15 p.m. when GSP performed the precision immobilization technique on Prescott’s vehicle, commonly referred to as the “PIT” maneuver. Prescott allegedly attempted to flee the scene on foot, but…

According to a report today in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Georgia public health investigators have determined Planned Parenthood Southeast and four other abortion providers in the state are properly disposing of fetal tissues after abortions. Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, Commissioner of the Department Public Health, told Gov. Nathan Deal in a letter that her agency had completed the inquiry that he ordered last month after videotapes surfaced of national Planned Parenthood officials talking about harvesting fetal remains. Read the full story from the Atlanta-Journal Constitution by clicking here.

A convicted child molester residing in Douglas is listing his residential address as a room at the local Days Inn motel, according to information provided by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday. Michael Antwon Spearman was convicted of child molestation in Forsyth County in 2004. He has been registered as a sex offender in Coffee County since 2014 and had a previously-listed address on Brunswick Ave. in Nicholls. Under Georgia law, all sex offenders are required to register with the local sheriff’s office annually and must provide any personal change of information such as place of employment, address, phone numbers,…

A 31-year-old Douglas woman already incarcerated in the Coffee County Jail has been charged in connection with the theft of $3,500 cash from a local store after authorities caught her on camera committing the act prior to her incarceration. Coffee County Sheriff’s officials stated on July 22, a deputy responded to Bethel Grocery on the Willacoochee Hwy. in reference to a theft. The victim advised the deputy that someone had taken a box containing approximately $3500 in cash from the ATM machine located inside the store. A report was made, and the case was turned over to the office’s criminal…

A woman currently serving on probation was arrested last night on numerous drug charges after sheriff’s authorities responded to the report of a fight. Deputies responded to a residence on Clyde Kirkland Rd., where they made contact with 44-year-old Verdie Lynn Gaskins of Douglas, who they determined was currently serving a probation sentence. Authorities stated a search of Gaskins yielded a quantity of methamphetamine, syringes filled with methamphetamine, two different strengths of Lorcet and Xanax prescription tablets, bags commonly used for packaging illegal drugs, and scales. Detectives also seized over $1,300 in cash. Gaskins was arrested at the…

Christians from throughout Coffee County crossed denominational and racial lines Monday night to join together in a candlelight vigil to offer prayers for the local community and nation. Hundreds of citizens gathered at the Coffee County Courthouse in what became one of the largest public declarations of unity in the area in recent history. “We’ve reached the point where we’re tired of taking a back seat,” local citizen and father of three Robert Moore told reporters from WALB-TV. “We want to be out front because this is where Christians are suppose to be.” The following pictures of last night’s event…