Two men currently serving on parole were jailed Monday on various charges after leading authorities on a foot and vehicle chase just north of Douglas. Officials reported that a deputy with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle for reckless driving on U.S. Highway 441 north of Douglas near the Green Tree Lakes community after the deputy observed the vehicle passing other motorists against a double yellow line. As the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver fled on foot. The deputy chased the fleeing driver about one quarter of a mile on foot before another vehicle stopped, picked up…
Author: Staff Reports
The building at 2161 Industrial Boulevard has undergone a complete transformation as Don Wildes of Don’s Body Barn claims it for his new location. Connie Peacock initially showed Don the property in February, and it was in a state of disrepair. Renovations began in April and late last week, the Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for the business. Don Wildes has been repairing vehicles since he first began as a mechanic in his backyard 34 years ago. He has owned his own business since 1984, the same year he got out of the military, and has done auto…
Officials with the Douglas – Coffee Drug Unit (DCDU) reported today the recent arrests of three individuals on varying drug possession and distribution charges. Last Saturday, November 7, the Nicholls Police Department stopped a vehicle on Rich St. for a traffic violation. Authorities stated a search of the vehicle revealed an assortment of pain pills, and Nicholls police contacted the DCDU. As a result of the incident, James Eldon Metts, 40, of Nicholls was arrested on two counts of possession of a scheduled controlled substance and issued traffic citations for no insurance and failure to stop at a stop sign. …
One person is dead following an overnight residential fire that occurred in Douglas. Officers from the Douglas Police Department responded early Monday morning to 402 Whispering Pines Dr. in reference to assisting the Douglas Fire Dept. with a house fire. Authorities reported that, upon entering the home, a 63-year-old white male, identified as Thomas Prewett, was found deceased in a rear room of the residence. The fire was also found to be isolated in the same room as the deceased. Investigators from the police deparment and the state fire marshal’s office are currently investigating this incident to determine the cause…
Local dignitaries gathered at Coffee High School for a joint Board of Education, City commission, and County commission meeting last week. Commissioners from the City of Douglas; Coffee County; school board members; and the mayors of Douglas, Nicholls and Broxton were all in attendance. The group discussed several upcoming projects, recent accomplishments, and challenges the community is facing. Dr. Morris Leis, superintendent of the Coffee County School System, praised the rising graduation rate at Coffee High School, citing a graduation rate of 74 percent in 2015. He also described a new renovation project for the high school including a performing…
Emotions ran high as Tony Paulk was declared the winner of the race for mayor in the Douglas municipal election November 3. Supporters, campaigners, and family members cheered and celebrated inside and outside the Coffee County Election’s Office. Paulk replaces James Dennis as the Mayor of Douglas after winning 53% of the votes, 1633 to 1432. It was a close race, but as Tony Paulk stated not long after learning he had won, “With God and family, the sky is the limit.” Over 3,000 of Coffee County’s 5692 registered voters voted in the election. The election included not only the…
A man who complained of being assaulted at a local doctor’s office last week was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs just one hour after filing a report with authorities. Douglas police responded to the office of Dr. Conrad Harper, 102 Bowens Mill Rd. SW, last Tuesday, Oct. 27, just before 3 p.m. in reference to a verbal argument. The alleged victim, identified as 62-year-old Wayne Francis Parker of Douglas, told officials an individual had grabbed him by the throat and pushed him backwards. No arrest was made at the time. About 4 p.m. the same day, Douglas…
Douglas police are looking for several suspects they believe to be responsible for a string of recent thefts in which the thieves got away with a pickup truck, cargo trailer, and several high-dollar lawnmowers. Officials say that on Oct. 24 several individuals were involved in the theft of a truck and cargo trailer from the parking lot of the Douglas Holiday Inn Express. The truck was a 2002 Ford F-250, dark blue in color, with a silver stripe at the bottom. The cargo trailer was a 20’ Diamond Cargo, silver in color. The truck and trailer were later used in…
The Fountain Inn, which has become notorious for being a hotbed of criminal activity locally, was the site once again last week for a drug arrest and violent incident. According to a report from the Douglas Police Dept., officers were dispatched to the location last Thursday, Oct. 29, around 11 p.m. Police met with a 44-year-old male complainant who stated the offender, identifed as 40-year-old Daniel Joseph Crenshaw, had punched him in the face. A search of Crenshaw allegedly revealed an undisclosed amount of methamphetamine. Crenshaw was arrested at the scene and charged with simple battery and possession of a…
A 26-year-old Douglas woman was jailed last week after officers discovered she was driving with two toddlers, ages one and three, without safety restraints. Douglas police initiated a traffic stop last Monday, Oct. 26, just before 8 a.m. when they observed Shanda Yvette Hughes allegedly run a stop sign at the intersection of Thrash Circle and McDonald Rd. Officers observed the two children were riding unrestrained in the vehicle, and a roadside check of Hughes revealed her license was suspended. Hughes was cited for child restraint violations and arrested for driving with a suspended license.