Author: Staff Reports

Two local residents were the proud recipients this week of free Yeti coolers, courtesy of Burger King restaurants in Douglas and Hazlehurst. Ellie Morrison and Michael Whitley claimed their prizes after each person was picked randomly from a recent drawing. Ellie Morrison Michael Whitley

Officials with the Douglas-Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) reported Thursday that the mother of a four-year-old was arrested recently after she took her child with her to conduct a drug transaction in a public parking lot. Authorities say Isabella Taft was one of three indivduals jailed Monday, June 29, after officers intercepted a cocaine delivery in the K-Mart parking lot in Douglas. Detectives stated Taft had the child with her during the drug deal and they subsequently contacted the Department of Family and Children Services. The child was later turned over to a family member who had responded to the scene.…

Clauden Pubien, the last remaining co-defendant charged in connection with the 2013 murder of Daquavious Reed, pled guilty to a lighter charge Wednesday in Coffee County Superior Court and walked away with probation. Pubien pled guilty to robbery by force and, as a result, the district attorney’s office opted to not prosecute the murder charge against him. In an e-mail sent to Douglas Now Wednesday night, Assistant District Attorney Ian Sansot stated,”(Pubien’s) two co-defendants were the primary conspirators and have already been convicted and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The reason for this difference in sentence is…

Investigators with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office believe they have caught two thieves in the act and are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying them. Officials say the two men are persons of interest in a theft that occurred recently at a residence in Coffee County. The men were captured on a video surveillance camera, and the sheriff’s office has released footage of the incident on the department’s Facebook page. If you recognize the individuals or have any information that would assist investigators in identifying and locating these persons, please call the sheriff’s office at (912) 384-4227, the Tip Line…

Douglas native and current Valdosta attorney Amy Holbrook was recently selected as a board member for the General Practice and Trial Law Section of the State Bar Association of Georgia. The General Practice and Trial Law Section proclaims itself as “Georgia’s Largest Law Firm.” It is one of the largest sections of the State Bar of Georgia, bringing together practitioners from all across the state. Amy will represent District 2 on the Board for the 2015-2016 term. Amy attended Valdosta State University, where she received her undergraduate degree in Political Science. During her time at Valdosta State University, she served…

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office today released a public notification regarding the recent release of a convicted sex offender who will be residing in the Coffee County area. Billy DeWayne Benefield was released from Johnson State Prison this week after serving almost 14 years of a 30-year sentence on two counts of aggravated child molestation, according to records obtained through the Georgia Department of Corrections. Benefield, 49, is described as a white male, approximately 5’8″, 142 lbs., with brown hair and blue eyes. Sheriff’s officials have registered his current address at a residence on Michael Peterson Road in West Green.…

The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning this afternoon of yet another ongoing phone scam currently targeting area residents. Officials stated the calls are being received from the number (202) 738-1394. The caller claims to be from the federal government and states that the person has to pay a certain amount of money or go to jail for 45 days. Authorities say the number has been determined to be a cell phone number from the Washington, DC area. According to the sheriff’s office, the federal government does not collect money or handle business in this manner. They urge residents…

A 24-year-old father is facing multiple charges after his 11-week-old daughter suffered life threatening injuries in what police believe was an intentional act of brutality. Douglas police reported Friday that, on June 20, authorities responded to Coffee Regional Medical Center in reference to a possible case of child abuse. Officers were advised the infant female had sustained multiple life threatening injuries that included trauma to her head. Due to the severity of the child’s condition, the infant was transported to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville Fla., where an examination determined her injuries were non-accidental in nature. The child suffered two…

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…