Author: Staff Reports

A Douglas man was jailed last Friday after authorities allegedly spotted him driving a vehicle that was reported stolen earlier that day. Coffee County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on Jonathan Vaughn Rd. on Jan. 15 in reference to a stolen 2010 GMC Sierra K1500. A report was made of the incident, and the vehicle was observed in the Oak Park area later in the day by the reporting officer. A traffic stop was performed, and the driver pulled into the parking lot of the Dollar General store off U.S. Hwy. 221 in Oak Park. The individual driving…

Coffee County Sheriff’s officials reported Sunday the following recent drug-related arrests: On January 15, at approximately 3:10 p.m., detectives from the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit, the Coffee Co. Sheriff’s Office ,and K-9 deputies conducted a search at 64 White Oak Street, located in the Oak Park community. Upon the search, officers located methamphetamine and marijuana, along with a set of scales. Jimmy Lee Hester Jr. (31) was arrested and will be charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Patricia Hester (54) was also charged with possession of methamphetamine. Also on Jan. 16, deputies…

An early morning traffic stop on Sunday landed two people in jail on multiple charges, along with the discovery of cocaine and other illegal drugs. Officials with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office reported that an officer from the Douglas Police Dept. conducted a traffic stop for violation of headlight requirements on U.S. Hwy. 441 South at T & M Food Mart shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday. The two occupants in the vehicle were identified as 40-year-old Antonio Pedraza Lopez of Douglas and 28-year-old Farrah Stone, also of Douglas. During a search of the car, officials stated officers discovered Stone was…

The Douglas Police Department is attempting to identify the individuals shown in these photos in reference to an ongoing case and is asking the community’s assistance in identifying and locating them. Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact the Douglas Police Dept. at (912) 384-2222 or the Tips Line at (912) 260-3600. Information can also be shared on the Department’s Facebook page. Police did not provide any details regarding the case.

Alma police reported Thursday the arrest of a Douglas woman for her suspected role in a theft at the Alma Huddle House restaurant. NaTesha Taylor (23) of Douglas was arrested Jan. 13 after reportedly stealing an undisclosed amount of money from the restaurant over the weekend. Officials stated Taylor was an employee of Huddle House prior to her arrest. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Alma Police Department in arresting Taylor, who was located at the Ole Times restaurant in Douglas.

Wallace David Lee, who is accused of the Nov. 19, 2015 murders of 33-year-old Meghan Bowen and 39-year old James Harden, was denied bond for a second time Wednesday in Coffee County Superior Court. Lee appeared in front of Judge J. Kelly Brooks Wednesday afternoon at the Coffee County Jail, where he has been incarcerated since the murders. Brooks denied Lee’s request for bond based on the defendant’s potential to commit a new felony while awaiting trial and cited him as a danger to other people in the community. Lee faces two counts of malice murder and one count of…

The Alma Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating Daron Davon Smith, aka ‘Veezy’, in connection with a residential burglary which occurred on January 3. Investigators have secured an arrest warrant for Smith for the offense of burglary. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of Smith, please contact the Alma Police Department at (912-632-8751) or the Bacon County 911 center.

After almost a month on the run, a third suspect in a home invasion/armed robbery that occurred Dec. 14 is finally in custody. Coffee County Sheriff’s officials reported Sunday morning that Kenneth Powell Jr. was apprehended earlier this week. Investigators received information that Powell could possibly be located at a residence in Groves Mobile Home Park on U.S. Hwy. 441 just south of Douglas. Authorities responded to the location and received consent from the home owner to enter and soon discovered Powell hiding under the kitchen sink. Powell was taken into custody without incident. Also arrested in this case the…

One suspect was arrested following an early morning shooting Saturday Alma that also resulted in two individuals being jailed on numerous drug charges. Alma Police Chief Michael Leslie reported that officers responded to a shooting at 141 Briteblue Dr. around 1 a.m. One of the victims, identified as Marcus Batton, had been shot several times, and his wife, April Batton, had been beaten. The victims told authorities the shooters were demanding money during the assault. APD followed up on information provided by the victims and were able to make one arrest, but Alma police have not released the name…

An Alma man was arrested on multiple drug charges Tuesday after a Nicholls police officer initiated a traffic stop for a suspended vehicle registration. Authorities stated the traffic stop occurred around 9:35 p.m. Tuesday when the Nicholls P.D. stopped a vehicle driven by Brett Antoan Staten of Alma on McGowan St. Coffee County K-9 officers, along with the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit, assisted with the stop, and a subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 0.2 grams of methamphetamine, which was concealed inside a pack of cigarettes, a small amount of marijuana, and several prescription pills that…