Author: Staff Reports

On June 18, 2024, two individuals — a male and a female — were caught allegedly stealing tires and rims from M and R Truck Accessories on South Peterson Avenue. After being discovered, they left and allegedly dragged an employee down the road, causing injuries that required medical treatment then caused an accident and left the scene. The two suspects, Megan Lukes, 42, and Richard Shannon Jewell, 51, were arrested and jailed a short distance away. According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, the incident happened around 8:30 a.m. on June 18. Employees of M and R noticed…

For the second time in three years, the same group of girls from the Douglas-Coffee County Parks and Recreation Department won a GRPA state softball championship. The 10U girls rolled through the districttournament without dropping a game then continued with another undefeated performance at state. In district, the 10U girls scored 55 runs and allowed just 12 in four games. They defeated Wayne County for the district title. In four more games at the state tournament, they scored 62 while allowing 12. Andeight of those 12 runs came in the championship game which saw the Douglas girls defeat Lyons 10-8.…

Georgia has declared war on squatted trucks. Starting today – July 1, 2024 – squatted trucks are illegal. According to a statement posted on the Douglas Police Department’s web site, it’s against the law to drive trucks with the front end raised significantly higher than the rear. The DPD says the new law’s goal is to improve highway safety “by ensuring better visibility and control.” The statement says it is unlawful to alter the suspension system of any motor vehicle which may be operated on a highway in such a manner that the frame height is elevated or lowered more…

Terrence Warren, 30, of Douglas, was arrested and later released from jail after he allegedly took a friend’s car without permission the lied to police and resisted arrest, according to a report from the Douglas Police Department. The report states that on June 12, 2024, Warren took the keys to a friend’s car and left Georgian Woods Apartments to go to work. The victim stated that she told him not to take her car, the report says. The officer went to Warren’s work but he had left before the officer arrived. The officer then received a call that Warren was…

Mitchell Lee Garland Kelly, 29, remains in the Coffee County Jail after he allegedly threatened to cut someone’s throat then attempted to break into the victim’s home on Church Street. This is Kelly’s second brush with the law in the last few months. On April 14, he was arrested and jailed after he allegedly stole a pickup from Dollar General on McNeil Drive and crashed it a short distance away. According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, the incident took place on June 19, 2024, around 11:30 p.m. The complainant stated that he heard his dogs barking that…

Dannie Ingram, 21, of Douglas, remains in jail after he was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill his mother and sister. According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, an officer arrived at an Adams Street address at 2 a.m. on June 14, 2024, in reference to a disorderly person. The victim stated that Ingram had threatened to kill her and his sister. Both she and the second victim stated that after making the threat, Ingram went into the kitchen, began putting items in the oven, then turned the oven on, which filled the home with smoke. Both victims…

A Ty Ty woman has been charged with theft by deception and jailed after she allegedly took a commission for a cargo trailer sale that she had fraudulently set up. According to a report from the sheriff’s office, in April, a local cargo trailer dealer hired Kerri Graham Burnam, 48, of Ty Ty, to sell cargo trailers. The report says that after being hired, Burnam set upa deal to sell three trailers worth $38,000. Her commission from the sale was $3,000. Burnam had allegedly created a fake invoice and set up the transaction fraudulently. The dealer made a phone call…

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson has announced that all of Georgia’s regional commissions reported a rise in May unemployment rates. “We are witnessing a shift within Georgia’s retail sector and several major industries as companies change the way they do business,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “Alongside these industry changes, thereis a growing influx of students and recent college graduates entering the job market, pursuing both temporary and full-time employment. This seasonal increase in workforce participation significantly impacts summertime unemployment rates across communities statewide.” Please see a synopsis of the Southern Regional Commission, to which Coffee and Atkinson counties belong, below:…

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania knows about Coffee County, Georgia. The Coffee Weightlifting Team sent 20 lifters — the most of any team — to the USA Weightlifting National Championships in Pittsburgh. Of the 20 lifters, 12 were competing in their first national championship and five were girls, the most a Coffee team  has ever sent to nationals. The Coffee lifters weren’t there just to say they participated. They were there to win and win they did. Overall, local lifters broke 46 individual personal records on their way to 10 individual medals. Three lifters were perfect in going six for six in their…

Saturday night, Angel Louis Arbelo, 28, of Brooklyn, NY, was arrested on numerous charges in connection with a chase that took place in the city around 8 p.m. Deputies from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office attempted to initiate a traffic stop on several motorcyclists who were in town for an event (not the charity poker run that also took place on Saturday; that was a completely different group) at a clubhouse in the Oak Park community. When officers attempted to stop the bikes near Anderson Ford, they allegedly fled in different directions. Arbelo headed through town, ended up on Peterson…