Author: Staff Reports

The Douglas Police Department recognized Officer Joseph Brackett as its employee of the quarter on Wednesday. “Officer Brackett’s dedication to duty, professionalism, and service to the City of Douglas garnered him the award this quarter,” police officials stated in a post to the department’s Facebook page Wednesday afternoon. Each quarter, police department employees are asked to nominate one of their peers for the special recognition, along with a brief explanation of why they should receive it “If you know Officer Brackett, or happen to see him in town, please take the time join us in congratulating him for this honor,”…

Bryson Bryant, 25, son of Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes, was arrested in Douglas on June 16 on charges related to check forgery. According to a report on AJC.com, Bryant, who has had numerous run-ins with the law, was charged with giving false name and information to police. The arrest took place at McDonald’s in Douglas, where police noticed an individual, identified as Inginac Walter Theodore of an Athens, Ga., address, making fake Taco Bell payroll checks with a laptop and printer. The AJC reported that Bryant, who was with Theodore, had a fake check on his person…

One of the city’s newest businesses, Assured Air, was welcomed today with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce. Assured Air is located at 2504 Ga. Hwy. 32 East. Call them at (912) 384-9254.

One man is behind bars and another is currently recovering in a Macon hospital following a shooting that occurred Tuesday night in Ocilla. Thirty-year-old Caitlin Wynn suffered multiple gunshots during the incident, which occurred just prior to 8 p.m. around the 900 block of North Carver St. Wynn was taken to Central Georgia Hospital in Macon, where he is recoverying from his injuries. Around 2 a.m. Wednesday, 36-year-old Anotonio Bivens surrendered to Ocilla authorities as the sole suspect in the incident.

Phone scammers have been hitting Coffee County residents hard over the last several days attempting to attain debit card information from local bank customers. Officials with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office stated Tuesday they have received numerous complaints this week involving phone calls advising citizens there is a problem with their bank debit card. The problem may be described as anything from the card being compromised to just needing to change the pin number. The number calling may be displayed as a number as small as only three numbers to a toll free number. The caller may ask for…

A memorial fund has been established to assist the family of Miss Julia Cheyene Lynch, the 13-year-old Coffee County student who tragically died last week, with funeral expenses. Services for Julia will be held Friday, June 12, at 11 a.m. at the chapel of Crosby Funeral Home in Alma. Interment will follow in Elizabeth Chapel Church Cemetery. To learn more about how you can help Julia’s family, please see the image following this article.

Douglas Now was saddened today to learn of the passing of former Coffee County Schools Superintendent Rev. Dahl McDermitt, Sr. Born in Irwin County, Rev. McDermitt spent a number of years as a pastor and educator in the Coffee County community. Following is Rev. McDermitt’s obituary, courtesy of Townsend Brothers Funeral Home in Dublin, Georgia: Rev. Dahl McDermitt, Sr., age 77 of Dublin, passed away Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at Marie Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Chauncey Cemetery. Rev. Bobby Hutto, Rev. Wayne Cobb and Rev. Dahl…

An investigation that began last week after a couple was arrested for buying marijuana in the presence of their two infant children led to the arrest of a suspected drug dealer last night. Officials reported that Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit detectives and K-9 officers, along with Coffee County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Georgia State Patrol, executed a search warrant at 704 Sellers St. in Douglas Wednesday evening. As a result of their search, 20-year-old Lewis Wilcox was arrested with two ounces of marijuana, which were individually packaged in 55 baggies, and digital scales. Wilcox has been charged with…

Coffee County Sheriff’s investigators say Francis Lee Grantham abandoned over one pound of methamphetamine after authorities attempted to stop him for a traffic violation yesterday. Grantham fled on foot and officials are asking the public’s helping in locating him. Tuesday night, a deputy with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop the driver of a reckless ATV on Wood Pecker Trail outside of Douglas. The driver, identified as Francis Lee Grantham, fled on foot after his ATV broke down. He left behind a backpack containing over one pound of methamphetamine, along with his state-issued identification. Detectives with the…

One man allegedly involved in a shootout that occurred Tuesday afternoon is behind bars this morning on unrelated charges, though officials state they expect to be obtaining warrants soon for his involvement in the incident. The Douglas Police Department issued the following statement: On June 9, 2015, officers from the Douglas Police Department responded to the area of S. Gaskin Ave. and Pine St. in reference to at least two individuals shooting at each other. Officers from the Coffee County Sheriff’s (Office) and the Georgia State Patrol also responded. On arrival, officers located 21-year-old Kavozia Sirvante Walker, who stated that…