Author: Staff Reports

At around 8 p.m.Monday, the City of Douglas received numerous red water complaints, which were centralized in the northeast corner of town. City officials stated Tuesday that, upon investigation, it was determined that well #4 on McNeil Drive had tripped out. This caused the other wells in the system to come on to compensate for the loss in pumping volume, which also caused the water to change direction of flow, they stated. “Because of the age of many parts of the distribution system, when water changes direction it can break apart iron build-up inside the pipes, thus causing the water…

A 27-year-old Douglas woman was jailed Sunday on multiple drug offenses after officers responded to a local business in what began as a report of shoplifting. Officials with the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) stated that Douglas Police Department officers responded to a shoplifting complaint at Flash Foods on N. Peterson Ave. During a brief investigation, officers discovered Jennifer Hearell was in possession of a quantity of the prescription painkiller Lorcet, methamphetamine, and marijuana. DCDU officers subsequently arrested Hearell, charging her with possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Later on Sunday, DCDU…

Friday, former Coffee High and Oklahoma State University standout football player and sprinter Tyreek Hill pleaded guilty in a Stillwater, Oklahoma, courtroom to charges stemming from a domestic violence incident that took place last December. Hill, who had just enjoyed a stellar first season with the Cowboys after spending two years in junior college, allegedly abused his pregnant girlfriend. The incident led to Hill’s dismissal from both the OSU football and track teams. Hill received three years’ probation. If he completes the probation without any further run-ins with the law, he won’t go to prison, won’t be a convicted felon,…

Guinness World Records has officially recognized Satilla Elementary School as world record holders for most people simultaneously hopscotching. Satilla achieved this goal on April 17, 2015 as 621 people played together simultaneously across multiple hopscotch courses. The record was recently certified by Guinness and announced today at the school. Douglas Now congratulates the students and staff at Satilla for their incredible efforts.

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.