Three Coffee County men were jailed recently, charged with an array of sex-related crimes to children as the result of investigations into separate incidents. Sheriff’s Office officials report that deputies responded to a location in the northeast section of the county in reference to someone allegedly sending nude pictures to a juvenile through Facebook. The victim’s father told investigators someone was sending nude pictures of his private parts to his daughter, along with other personal messages. John Ralph Lott, Jr. of Douglas was arrested and charged with one count of enticing a child for indecent purposes as the result of…
Author: Staff Reports
At least three businesses in Douglas’ downtown district were targeted overnight by vandals, causing extensive damage to storefronts and thousands of dollars in clean-up costs and repairs. Business owner Steve Gentry, who operates Douglas Peddlers on South Peterson Avenue, stated someone had evidently used a ceramic statue outside his store to smash the front window. “Nothing was taken from the store,” Gentry said, “but it’s obviously going to cost us to have to replace the window.” Just two shops over from Douglas Peddlers, another business, Tater Bugs, had also been vandalized in the same manner. The perpatrator(s) also struck several…
A high speed chase that occurred late Tuesday night in the southern region of the county ended abruptly with the wreck of one motorcycle and the arrest of a Coffee County man. According to Sheriff Doyle Wooten, law enforcement officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a silver-colored motorcycle, driven by Tommy Hancock of Douglas, in the Green Acres community of Coffee County, when Hancock allegedly took off, attempting to outrun the officers. A pursuit ensued, leading officials up U.S. 441 North and weaving through a number of small county roads, reaching speeds of up to 130 miles per…
Douglas police officials have released surveillance camera still shots of suspects wanted in an armed robbery that occurred last week at the Flash Foods store on East Baker Highway. Police officers responded to the robbery last Saturday, June 28, and were told by the attending clerk that three black males entered the store brandishing handguns and donning apparel which masked their heads and faces. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken during the incident, and the alleged suspects fled on foot towards the area of Roundtree Park off South Gaskin Avenue. Investigators are asking anyone who may have information that…
The Satilla Regional Library Board welcomed Congressman John Barrow and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Douglas Monday, June 30, to commemorate the recent receipt of a $25,000 grant from the USDA to the library system. The USDA Community Facilities Grant will be utilized to improve tech services and Wi-Fi access at the Douglas-Coffee County Public Library. More specifically, funds will go towards installing infrastructure to boost public wireless access, purchase a wireless projector system, and replace the computers used to provide library services. Additional computers will be purchased for teaching computer skills classes, and gaps in the…
A Coffee County man is charged with two counts of child molestation after allegedly exposing and fondling himself while he was babysitting neighborhood children. Representatives with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office are reporting that deputies responded to a location in the northwestern area of the county after receiving a complaint of sexual assault. Witnesses stated 70-year-old Billy Wade Adams had exposed himself to children, touched his private parts and reportedly fondled himself while in their presence. As a result of their investigation, county law enforcement officials arrested Adams and charged him with two counts of child molestation. He is currently…
Chef Roman Coley Davis will making an appearance this Sunday, June 29, on the popular Food Network program “Cutthroat Kitchen.” Born in Douglas and raised in Denton, Georgia, Davis is a veteran of the U.S. Army and a graduate of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu school with a degree in classical French culinary arts. In addition to his career in the culinary world, Davis works tirelessly as an advocate to eliminate childhood hunger through his efforts with the No Kid Hungry campaign. The all-new episode of “Cutthroat Kitchen” featuring Chef Davis will air Sunday, June 29, at 10 p.m. and…
Summer events and ongoing activities through the City of Douglas were the focal point of an otherwise humdrum regular meeting of the city commission on Thursday. Main Street Coordinator Patti Merritt addressed the commission following the business portion of the meeting, noting several continuing programs along with major events scheduled in the near future. The annual 4th of July Freedom Fest is slated for next Friday at Jardine Stadium/J.C. Adams Municipal Park. Gates will open at 5:00p.m. Parking and entertainment is free, and the fireworks disply will begin shortly after dark. In August, the South Georgia Outdoor Expo returns to…
A Coffee County man was arrested and incarcerated last week after detectives with the Douglas-Coffee County Drug Unit (DCDU) discovered a quantity of crack cocaine and marijuana at a Douglas residence. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that on June 20, detectives executed a search warrant at 615 South Daughtry Avenue, Douglas, after receiving a tip and conducting a subsequent investigation into the matter. While on scene, they were able to recover an unspecified amout of suspected marijuana and crack cocaine. Twenty-nine year-old Bashiri Jujuan Lewis of Douglas was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine with…
Coffee County Sheriff Doyle Wooten confirmed this week that a pedestrian was tragically killed after being hit by a moving vehicle shortly after the individual had bonded out of the Coffee County Jail. Sixty-year-old Gary Wayne Smith left the jail on foot during the early morning hours of Saturday, June 21, after being released on a charge of disorderly conduct. Sheriff Wooten stated law enforcement officials initially came in contact with Smith Friday evening when an officer with the Douglas Police Department stopped him on suspicion of a traffic violation. “The officer thought (Smith) might have been having some mental…