Author: Staff Reports

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office has released a statement regarding the discovery of a body floating in a pond in Oak Park. The body has yet to be identified. The sheriff department’s statement is featured below in its entirety: On Monday April 6, 2015 at approximately 10:56 a.m., deputies of the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to 252 Mahogany Road in Douglas with reference to a body floating in a pond behind this residence. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the property owner. He stated that while cleaning up rental property he noticed an unusual object floating in a pond behind…

Former Douglas Police Officer Brittany Coleman , who was arrested and charged with financial transaction card fraud last month, will never see a courtroom after prosecutors decided to drop the charges against her this week. Coleman was arrested on March 17 after authorities said she used a man’s credit card to make hundreds of dollars in unauthorized purchases without his permission. Prosecutors say she has since repaid the victim in the case and, citing insufficient evidence to convict her beyond a reasonable doubt, they have dismised all criminal charges. Coleman had been with the Douglas Police Department less than two…

You could make a strong case that Riccardo Ingram is the greatest athlete Coffee County has ever generated. Certainly he is on the short list, in the top three or four at most. Last night, Ingram passed away at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. Below is an article written by David Dorsey of the Fort Myers News-Press (www.news-press.com). Mr. Dorsey granted permission for us to re-print his story in honor of one of Coffee County’s finest. The story can be seen on the News-Press’s Web site here: http://www.news-press.com/story/sports/mlb/springtraining/2015/03/30/twins-coach-riccardo-ingram-renews-cancer-battle/70691434/ Former Fort Myers Miracle manager Riccardo Ingram, who was given…

Two Nicholls men are facing charges of child molestation and other sexually-oriented criminal acts in Brantley County after authorities say they used social media sites to lure their victims. James Harold Johnson, 47, was charged with child molestation and aggravated sodomy and Michael Ray Taylor, 23, was charged with child molestation, sodomy and statutory rape. The investigation was launched on March 15 after law enforcement officials in Brantley County recieved a complaint of child molestation. Authorities say the alleged offenders made contact with the victims through social media sites SnapChat and Kik. Officials with the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office told…

The ongoing search for missing Douglas man Jose Mendez Diaz continued Tuesday, leaving law enforcement officials with no further answers or leads in the case. The Region 8 Georgia Search and Rescue Team, along with investigators and officers from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, the Coffee County Fire Department and an officer with a cadaver dog staged in the Oak Park community Tuesday to perform a more extensive search of the areas surrounding the last known location of Diaz. Sheriff’s officials stated despite numerous rumors that circulated throughout the day, Diaz was not located. Investigators will continue to work leads…

Investigators with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol amped up their efforts this week in the search for missing Douglas man Jose Mendez Diaz, who disappeared from the Oak Park area last Sunday after visiting friends. Law enforcement went door-to-door in the neighborhood and conducted both ground and aerial searches of the area. Diaz was last seen around 11 p.m. on March 22 at a residence at 756 Spring Oak St., Lot 14. He reportedly left the location and stated he was going home. Diaz is described as a Hispanic male, 5’02”, 120 lbs., with black…

A Douglas man will spend the remainder of his life behind bars after being convicted of murder by a Coffee County jury late Wednesday afternoon. Claron Carter was sentenced to life without parole for the 2013 murder of Daquavious Reed. Reed was found dead inside a residence on East Ward St. on July 11, 2013, the victim of two gunshot wounds. Carter is one of three individuals charged with the crime. The other defendants, Claudin Pubien and Carter’s brother, D’Andre Carter, are still awaiting trial.

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a 52-year-old man they say has been missing since leaving his home to visit friends last Sunday. Officials state Jose Mendez Diaz reportedly left his residence at 139 Spanish Oak Street on March 22 around 8 p.m. and went to a friends house at 756 Spring Oak St. Lot 14. According to friends at that location, Diaz, as well other friends, was drinking and watched a soccer game until approximately 11 p.m. Diaz reportedly left the location and stated he was going home. He has not been seen since. Diaz is described…