Author: Staff Reports

An early morning traffic stop on Sunday landed two people in jail on multiple charges, along with the discovery of cocaine and other illegal drugs. Officials with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office reported that an officer from the Douglas Police Dept. conducted a traffic stop for violation of headlight requirements on U.S. Hwy. 441 South at T & M Food Mart shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday. The two occupants in the vehicle were identified as 40-year-old Antonio Pedraza Lopez of Douglas and 28-year-old Farrah Stone, also of Douglas. During a search of the car, officials stated officers discovered Stone was…

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The Douglas Police Department is attempting to identify the individuals shown in these photos in reference to an ongoing case and is asking the community’s assistance in identifying and locating them. Anyone with information that could help is asked to contact the Douglas Police Dept. at (912) 384-2222 or the Tips Line at (912) 260-3600. Information can also be shared on the Department’s Facebook page. Police did not provide any details regarding the case.

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Alma police reported Thursday the arrest of a Douglas woman for her suspected role in a theft at the Alma Huddle House restaurant. NaTesha Taylor (23) of Douglas was arrested Jan. 13 after reportedly stealing an undisclosed amount of money from the restaurant over the weekend. Officials stated Taylor was an employee of Huddle House prior to her arrest. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Alma Police Department in arresting Taylor, who was located at the Ole Times restaurant in Douglas.

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Wallace David Lee, who is accused of the Nov. 19, 2015 murders of 33-year-old Meghan Bowen and 39-year old James Harden, was denied bond for a second time Wednesday in Coffee County Superior Court. Lee appeared in front of Judge J. Kelly Brooks Wednesday afternoon at the Coffee County Jail, where he has been incarcerated since the murders. Brooks denied Lee’s request for bond based on the defendant’s potential to commit a new felony while awaiting trial and cited him as a danger to other people in the community. Lee faces two counts of malice murder and one count of…

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At Monday’s regular city commission meeting, and the first meeting of 2016, the commission elected Ward 3 commissioner Olivia Pearson as mayor pro-tem. “It’s just a blessing,” Pearson stated in her closing remarks at the end of the meeting. “It’s really a blessing to be here. It’s a blessing to serve. I’d also like to say thanks to my fellow commissioners for electing me as mayor pro tem. We’ve just got a lot of work to do and I feel confident that we will do a great job.” The light department recommended the approval of a bid for new transformers…

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The Alma Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating Daron Davon Smith, aka ‘Veezy’, in connection with a residential burglary which occurred on January 3. Investigators have secured an arrest warrant for Smith for the offense of burglary. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of Smith, please contact the Alma Police Department at (912-632-8751) or the Bacon County 911 center.

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After almost a month on the run, a third suspect in a home invasion/armed robbery that occurred Dec. 14 is finally in custody. Coffee County Sheriff’s officials reported Sunday morning that Kenneth Powell Jr. was apprehended earlier this week. Investigators received information that Powell could possibly be located at a residence in Groves Mobile Home Park on U.S. Hwy. 441 just south of Douglas. Authorities responded to the location and received consent from the home owner to enter and soon discovered Powell hiding under the kitchen sink. Powell was taken into custody without incident. Also arrested in this case the…

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One suspect was arrested following an early morning shooting Saturday Alma that also resulted in two individuals being jailed on numerous drug charges. Alma Police Chief Michael Leslie reported that officers responded to a shooting at 141 Briteblue Dr. around 1 a.m. One of the victims, identified as Marcus Batton, had been shot several times, and his wife, April Batton, had been beaten. The victims told authorities the shooters were demanding money during the assault. APD followed up on information provided by the victims and were able to make one arrest, but Alma police have not released the name…

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An investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in regards to alleged criminal misconduct on the part of City Commissioner Olivia Pearson may not have been nearly as thorough as city officials led the public to believe in a press release they issued earlier this week. Documents obtained by Douglas Now through an open records request also seem to show a some frustration by the district attorney’s office due to the GBI’s handling of the matter. Pearson has come under public scrutiny lately after it was learned she involved herself personally during a felony traffic stop conducted by the…

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Douglas city officials issued a press release Thursday afternoon in defense of Commissioner Olivia Pearson in regards to her questionable interfernce with a recent traffic stop conducted by Douglas police. Despite incident reports filed by Douglas police who stated Pearson’s actions endangered the lives of officers and citizens, officials say she did no wrong and will not face any criminal charges. A complete detail of the incident, along with video footage, can be viewed on DouglasNow.com by clicking here. The press release issued by the city on Thursday states, “Initially, City of Douglas officials reviewed the details of this incident…

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