Author: Staff Reports

Officials with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office reported today the arrests of three individuals believed to be involved in a home invasion last week that resulted in one victim being hospitalized with multiple physical injuries. Just prior to midnight on Dec. 12, deputies were dispatched to 76 Spanish Oak Street, Lot 3, in the Oak Park area of Coffee County in reference to an assault. Contact was made with a male victim at the residence, and authorities immediately observed he had been beaten and had several scratches and cuts on his face, as well as a severely swollen jaw. The…

The Citizens Christian Academy LEO Club participated last week in the Wreaths Across America project, honoring deceased American Veterans buried in the Douglas City Cemetery. Club members laid 700 wreaths on these known veterans’ graves. The American Legion Post 515 and Post 18 had the vision to bring this national project to Douglas. CCA’s LEO Club sent a special thanks to club sponsor and parent volunteer Angie O’Steen for being so passionate about this tribute to our veterans.

Lt. Michael Leslie, Commander of the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit, announced Monday he is resigning his current position effective Friday, Dec. 18. Leslie will be joining the City of Alma Police Department, after recently being hired as the city’s police chief. “I have lived in Alma for almost six years,” Leslie stated. “My wife is an Alma native, as well as an educator in Alma. All of our children attend school in Alma, except for our youngest child and my oldest daughter , who graduated in June of 2015. I am looking forward to becoming a part of the…

Most people know that Dolly Parton is a country music megastar. Those same individuals may not, however, know just how influential Parton has been, not just in country music but throughout all of popular culture. Beginning this week, NBC will begin telling that story, and Douglas’s own Jennifer Nettles will play a key role in the narrative. Thursday night at 9 p.m., NBC will air “Coat of Many Colors,” the first in a series of television movies based on several of Parton’s hit songs. “Coat of Many Colors” focuses on the relationship Parton had with her mother, Avie. Nettles was…

A Douglas man is behind bars today after police say he intentionally ran over a female victim with his car. Police officials reported that officers responded to a report of aggravated assault at a residence on June Ave. late Sunday, Dec. 6, where they found the victim, identified as 24-year-old Ashlee Teel, laying in the yard. Officers also discovered a white Toyota Camry that had run into a ditch at the location. Teel and another witness stated the victim had been in the Camry with a male identified as Taurus Larenzo Young. Teel and Young had been parked at the…

An early morning shooting Saturday at a popular children’s recreational establishment resulted in the death of a local 19-year-old man. Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials stated that at around 1 a.m. Saturday, deputies with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to Just Jump for Kds, 3045 Highway 441 South, in reference to a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Gabriel Demetrius Douglas suffering from a gunshot wound. Douglas was transported to Coffee Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Douglas will be taken to the GBI’s Medical Examiner’s Office in Savannah where an autopsy will be conducted. This…

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported Wednesday the arrest of Jacksonville, Ga. Police Chief Charles Briley and his wife, Ashley, in connection to a theft that occurred last summer. The Brileys are accused of stealing a newspaper collection box that belonged to a community service organization and allegedly using it as a cover for a well. GBI officials have also accused the husband and wife of lying to officials during the investigation. They have each been charged with one count of theft by taking, one count of false statements and writings, and one count of violation of oath by a…

Thirty body cameras and related equipment will be purchased for the Douglas Police Dept. to replace units already in use and to upgrade the system to a more reliable unit, city officials said in a press release issued Wednesday. “We want to keep our officers and citizens safe,” says Police Chief Gary Casteloes. “The purchase of these new on-body cameras will help provide positive accountability for our officers as well as the public. Body cameras provide a helpful insight at interactions between officers and the public.” Body worn video (BWV), also known as body cameras, is a video recording system…

Telfair County Sheriff Chris Steverson reported Tuesday a jury took about an hour to convict a Florida man accused of murdering a woman and dumping her body in the Ocmulgee River two years ago. After listening to 18 days of testimony and looking at various items of evidence, the jury was returned a guilty verdict against Joshua Lamar Helton for the murder of Judy Murrow of Tampa. “I would like to commend the investigators of the Telfair Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, as well as our law enforcement counterparts in Tampa and other jurisdictions in Florida for the…

Seven people were hospitalized Saturday afternoon following a multi-vehicle accident that occurred just east of Nicholls. Officials responded to Ga. Hwy. 32 in the area of Roberts Cemetery Rd. around 4:30 p.m. Officials with the Georgia State Patrol stated the accident occurred when one vehicle attempted to made a left turn and was hit from behind after another driver two cars back struck the vehicle in front of him. One driver, identified as 60-year-old Randall Holder, was charged with following too closely. Officiasl stated none of the injuries were serious.