Author: Staff Reports

Deputies from the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office spent the latter portion of December tracking down wanted fugitives and alleged drug dealers, at least one of which had a Douglas address. On December 16, 2024, the Georgia State Patrol conducted a traffic stop and requested assistance. Jeff Davis Sheriff’s deputies responded and arrived on the scene. During the traffic stop, officers found a quantity of marijuana, several illicit prescription medications, and a gun. Cody Hughes was arrested and charged with possession of Schedule IV drugs (clonazepam) with intent to distribute, possession of Schedule IV drugs (alprazolam) with intent to distribute,…

Two years ago, on December 22, 2022, Gavin and Mandy Brown’s family grew by one when they welcomed their son, Cooper, into the world. The Browns live in Australia; Mandy, however, is a Douglas native whose parents, Mike and Katherine Gaskins, still live here. Mandy has been living and working in Australia for over seven years and recently became a dual citizen. At Mandy’s 12-week ultrasound, Mandy and Gavin learned that Cooper was different. He appeared to have an issue with his lower right leg. Initially, doctors thought it was clubfoot. However, when Cooper was born, he had no right…

Earlier this month, a Douglas police officer arrested an individual who was allegedly living in a vacant apartment at Deerfield Apartments. Apartment personnel had asked the suspect to leave several times before calling police. According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, on December 12, 2024, at around 9 a.m., an officer responded to Deerfield Apartments in reference to a possible criminal trespass incident. An employee told the officer that a man, identified as Brandon Adrian Tarrant, 26, of Douglas, had been staying in a vacant apartment for several days. He had been asked to leave multiple times but…

On Friday, a Lanier County jury convicted two suspects in the 2022 murder of Savion McRae, 19, of Douglas. A third suspect had pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 20 years in connection with McRae’s death. Rodarious “Rod” Swanson, 26; Travion Snell, 24; and Shamond Campbell, 20, all of Douglas, had been arrested in 2022 and charged with murder and aggravated assault for their alleged roles in fatally shooting McRae. The shooting took place on June 19, 2022, on Highway 221 near mile marker 12 in Lanier County. McRae, Takevion Strozier, and Tremayne Newton were in a vehicle traveling from…

A 43-year-old who allegedly violated an out-of-county protection order was arrested on aggravated stalking and other charges after he showed up at the victim’s home and began beating on the door, according to a report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office. After deputies showed up, he allegedly fled then swallowed a quantity of methamphetamine. On December 6, 2024, shortly after 9 a.m., officers responded to a Chancellor Road address in response to a domestic incident. The report states that the suspect, identified as William Chauncey, 43, of Douglas, came to the residence and started beating on the door, to the…

An ongoing investigation by Coffee County Sheriff’s Office detectives involving jail officers smuggling contraband into the Coffee County Jail and distributing the items to inmates has resulted in a second arrest. On December 17, 2024, Brandon Reed, 19, of Douglas, a former jail officer, was arrested and charged with giving inmates prohibited items. A week before, officers had arrested another former jail officer, Terrell Styles, 26, and charged him with the same thing. Nearly two weeks ago, detectives received information that illegal drugs and other contraband were being brought into the jail and distributed among inmates. Detectives believed that jail…

On December 10, 2024, Jeff Davis County authorities responded to the area of W.H. Smith Road near the Coffee County line in reference to a Department of Natural Resources agent out with a vehicle. Once at the scene, a JDSO deputy spoke with DNR officer Luke Rabun who stated that he was in the area for routine patrol at Flat Tub WMA when he came across the vehicle towing a trailer without a tag or taillights. Rabun stated that he stopped the vehicle and made contact with the driver. The driver and the vehicle matched the description of a person…

A former Coffee County Jail officer has been arrested and charged for allegedly bringing contraband into the jail and distributing it to inmates. According to a report from the sheriff’s office, on December 6, 2024, detectives received information that drugs and/or other contraband was being brought into the jail and given to inmates. A jail officer was allegedly bringing in the illegal items. On December 10, 2024, during an interview with detectives, jail officer Terrell Styles, 26, admitted to smuggling in and distributing the contraband. Styles was arrested and charged with giving inmates prohibited items. He was booked into the…

Demetrius Seshawn Eady, 30, of Douglas, was arrested on two charges after he allegedly refused to speak to Douglas police officers who attempted to talk to him while he was walking on North Pearl Avenue near Alunza Street at 2 a.m. on December 13, 2024. During the investigation, officers discovered that Eady was a suspect wanted in connection to an aggravated assault that took place in November, according to a report from the Douglas Police Department. The report says that an officer saw Eady walking on North Pearl. The officer attempted to talk to Eady but Eady wouldn’t give the…

A Bonaire man remains in the Coffee County Jail after he allegedly took his three-year-old son from the child’s mother’s home in Douglas and attempted to take him back to Bonaire. Houston County authorities arrested the man, identified as Lemoria Jay Moses III, 33, after Coffee County officials notified them that Moses may be headed to Houston County with the child. According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, just before 4 a.m. on December 6, 2024, an officer responded to a call on Pinecrest Drive. In the report, the complainant stated that at 3 a.m., Moses came to…