Author: Staff Reports

An early morning traffic accident at Pope Drive and Bowens Mill Road SW on December 17, 2024, sent the alleged at-fault driver to jail after he allegedly left the scene of the accident. According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, the accident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on December 17 when a beige 2005 Lincoln LS struck another vehicle while making a turn. The report says that the driver of the second vehicle was in the far right lane on Bowens Mill Road SW heading east. Vehicle one, driven by Kenneth John Crandell, 43, of Douglas, was in the…

Two individuals on a four-wheeler, a 50-year-old and a 17-year-old, were arrested and jailed after they allegedly chased a car, struck the vehicle with the four-wheeler, fled the scene, and threatened the driver along the way. According to a report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident took place on December 14, 2024. The two suspects, identified as Michael Truesdell, 50, and Trevor Bell, 17, were on a four-wheeler stopped in the middle of Palmetto Road when a female driving a car with her child in the vehicle went around the four-wheeler. In the report, the victim stated that…

A 30-year-old Denton man was arrested on stalking charges after allegedly taking pictures of female customers and employees at Walmart on December 16, 2024. According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, an officer responded to the Walmart store at around 1:30 p.m. on December 16. When the officer pulled into the parking lot, a Walmart associate pointed toward a man in a red hoodie who was walking toward his vehicle. The officer approached the suspect, identified as Dominick Duane Maldovan, 30, of Denton, and told him Walmart wanted him to leave the property. The officer also questioned Maldovan…

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…