Author: Staff Reports

A Telfair State Prison officer was arrested this week on multiple charges after allegedly attempting to sneak contraband, including drugs and tobacco, into the facility. Officer Labaron Hughes was attempting to enter the prison on May 2, when staff noticed a smell of marijuana on his person, the Georgia Dept. of Corrections stated in a news release. Prison staff searched Hughes and found the following contents concealed within a cup of noodles in his possession: 66 grams of tobacco, 68 grams of marijuana, and 19 grams of crystal meth. Hughes’ vehicle was also searched and the following contents were confiscated:…

The Douglas Police Department took to Facebook Monday, seeking the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in an ongoing case. The unknown male subject is wanted for questioning in reference to an incident that occurred at the Douglas Wal-Mart store last week. Anyone who knows who the individual is or has any information as to his location is asked to contact the Douglas Police Department at (912)384-2222 or through the anonymous tip line at (912)260-3600. A number of people responded to the police department’s initial Facebook post, with several of them giving authorities the same name for the…

The Hospital Authority of Irwin County, which is comprised of several physicians currently practicing in the Douglas area, will pay $520 thousand to the government after reaching a settlement to resolve allegations of false claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid. The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following press release Wednesday: Michael J. Moore, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, and Samuel S. Olens, Attorney General for the State of Georgia, announced today they have reached a civil settlement with the Hospital Authority of Irwin County (ICH), Dr. Mahendra Amin, Dr. Ashfaq Saiyed, Dr. Romana Bairan, Dr.…

Sheriff’s authorities made an arrest this week when they inadvertently discovered a large amount of narcotics and possible stolen property at a residence while searching for a wanted person. Officials stated Thursday that on April 29 the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) arrested 38-year-old Ramon Ortiz at his home on Sand Hill Church Road. The arrest followed an attempt by sheriff’s deputies to arrest a wanted person believed to be at Ortiz’s residence. Officers did not locate the wanted person, but did discover a quantity of prescription pain pills, anti-depressants, ecstasy, and over two and a half ounces of…

“The Trying,” a locally-produced, Christian-based short film from Creative Corner Productions, will have its public premiere Saturday, May 16, at the Coffee High cafetorium beginning at 7 p.m. The public is invited to walk the red carpet in your movie premiere attire as you attend the first viewing of “The Trying.” Photos will be taken at the event, and everyone is encouraged to take pictures and post them online to help promote the film. “The Trying” is a Christian-based short film about a teenager, Daniel, who seems to have one thing after another pop up in his life. One night…

A 39-year-old Douglas man was jailed last week after his mother complained to authorities he was harassing her habitually and was on her property despite a court order to stay away. Douglas police responded to a residence on W. Cherry St. after receiving a call from the 60-year-old victim in reference to a disorderly person. When officers arrived, the mother presented them with a judicial order stating the son was not allowed to be within 500 yards of her. As a result, the son, identified as Antwone Ashoford, was arrested at the scene and now faces one felony count of aggravated…

Coffee and Telfair County law enforcement agencies were on the lookout over the weekend for individuals wanted in connection with two incidents of attempted carjacking in which the alleged perpetrators masqueraded as police officers. Around 12:20 a.m. Friday, Telfair 911 was contacted in reference to a report that two separate vehicles had been pulled over on U.S. Hwy. 441 South by unknown subjects using a pick-up truck equiped with a blue lights, Tealfair authorities reported. Deputies were dispatched to the area and were unable to locate any vehicle matching the descriptions given. Coffee County 911 was also contacted and no…

Douglas City Manager Terrell Jacobs has been named as one of five finalists for the Albany city manager’s position, officials reported Friday. Interim Albany City Manager Tom Berry released the names of the finalists in an e-mail. Berry stated that the Albany city commission would continue with diligence to find the best city manager. Along with Jacobs, the other contenders for the job were named as Reginald Edwards, Mike McCoy, Patrick Salerno and Sharon Subadan. Jacobs was not available for comment at the time this story was published on DouglasNow.com Friday evening.

A Douglas man faces two charges of child molestation after admitting to authorities he had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female who was reported missing from Florida after recently running away from a group home for victims of human trafficking. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office stated today that on April 15, a detective conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was stopped in the middle of the intersection of New Forest Hwy. and Mahogany Rd. During the investigation into the traffic stop, authorities determined that one of the three occupants of the vehicle was a 14-year-old juvenile wanted out…

A Fitzgerald physician was arrested and jailed earlier this week after authorities said he assisted another person with illegal narcotics distribution. Dr. Ed Jones, a Fitzgerald family medicine practitioner, faces charges of being a third party to a crime. Officials say he allegedly helped another person, identified as , obtain and sell prescription drugs. Benedict has been charged with three counts of selling scheduled narcotics and three counts of possession with the intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school. The investigation into the case is being conducted by the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Georgia Bureau…