Author: Staff Reports

A Douglas man remains behind bars after he was arrested on aggravated assault and aggravated battery charges following a domestic dispute during which he allegedly broke his girlfriend’s eye socket. The call came in around 7:30 a.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024. According to a report from the Douglas Police Department, an officer responded to a McNeil Drive address where a domestic dispute had been taking place. When the officer arrived, he spoke with the victim, who had visible injuries consistent with a physical altercation of some kind. The victim said that she and her boyfriend, Darius Ellerton, 29, of…

A search of a suspected drug dealer’s property resulted in two arrests and the discovery of suspected illegal drugs, cash, and a gun. According to a report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, detectives with the Coffee County Drug Unit searched the property of Joseph Scott Elliott, 39, whom they had heard was involved in the sale of illegal drugs. During the investigation, they also learned that Elliott, a convicted felon, had an active warrant for a probation violation. During surveillance prior to the search, detectives saw what they believed to be drug transactions taking place at Elliott’s home on…

Four Chinese nationals have been arrested in Pierce County in connection with what officials are calling the largest marijuana operation in Pierce County history. Wednesday, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and Pierce County Sheriff Ramsey Bennett announced the seizure of 11,153 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $22.3 million following an investigation into an alleged food manufacturing facility located in Pierce County. Authorities had initially thought that the facility was processing food; however, when they arrived, they quickly discovered that it wasn’t food that was being manufactured. The following individuals were arrested: Zhu Sheng Bing of a Brooklyn,…

The CCA Patriots opened the 2024 baseball season with a 7-3 win over the Lanier County Bulldogs at home Monday afternoon. The Patriots scored one in the first then two in the second, third, and fourth innings. The Bulldogs plated one in the third, the sixth, and seventh. Blake Bryant started for CCA and wen three innings, giving up a hit and run (earned) while striking out seven. Thomas Gentry also went three innings in relief. He struck out eight and gave up a run (unearned) in a solid first outing of the year. Sam Ables made also made an…

Earlier this month, deputies from the sheriff’s office arrested fugitives wanted from Florida and Alabama. On February 13, 2016, an officer arrested Curtis Thomas, 24, of Albany, around 4:25 p.m. Thomas was wanted on a probation violation from Leon County, Florida. A report from the sheriff’s office states that Curtis had allegedly violated his probation when he was arrested and charged with offenses in Worth County, Georgia, on July 22, 2020. On February 16, 2016, an officer arrested McDarious Woods, 49, of Columbus, Ga., around 10 a.m. on that Friday. During the investigation, the officer discovered that Woods was wanted…

The Coffee Trojans scored in every inning except one Saturday afternoon on their way to a run-rule win over the Christian Heritage Lions of Dalton. The Trojans are now 6-0 on the season. Coffee plated two in the first, three in the second, two in the third, and three in the fifth to finish things off in five innings. The game lasted a little more than an hour. Sophomore Ben Fussell started for Coffee. He gave up two hits, struck out two, and didn’t walk anyone in three innings of work. Junior Connor Stewart threw the last two innings. He…

The Coffee Trojans improved to 5-0 Friday night with a 5-2 win over the Richmond Hill Wildcats at Charles Wilson Field. Junior Michael Strickland (2-0) got the win and went 1-3 with a solo home run (2) in the first inning. Senior catcher Payton Bryant put the Trojans up for good with a two-run home run (1) in the bottom of the fourth. Bryant was 1-3 with a pair of RBI for Coffee. The Wildcats scored two in the top of the first after a Trojan error. Strickland cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame with…

Is a foot chase considered a low speed pursuit? Either way, that’s exactly what happened on February 16, 2024, when deputies encountered Howell Leroy Minshew, 49, on Highway 32 West. Officers received a tip that Minshew, who had active warrants, was walking on Highway 32 West near a mobile home park. They found Minshew and approached him. When they did, an incident report from the sheriff’s office says that Minshew fled. It didn’t long for deputies to catch Minshew and place him under arrest. During the arrest, officers found suspected methamphetamine, two glass pipes, and a digital scale. The substance…

Valentine’s Day wasn’t a particularly happy occasion for two individuals allegedly involved in the illegal drug business. According to a report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, detectives arrested Matthew Corey Zanders, 32, of Douglas, and Carla Marie Mullinix, 32, of Manning, South Carolina, on illegal drug charges following a brief investigation in the Oak Park community. The report states that Mullinix attempted to hide a quantity of methamphetamine in her vagina to avoid arrest. Officers from the drug unit were observing several different drug distribution locations at Oak Park when they saw Zanders traveling south on Highway 221. Officers…

On February 15, 2024, based on videos circulating social media depicting a male subject beating and slamming a dog to the ground, a deputy from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office arrested John Lee Jr., 22, of Baxley, on animal cruelty charges. The incident report from the sheriff’s office describes the videos (one of which is posted below) then outlines the details of Lee’s arrests. After watching the videos, a deputy went to the home at 650 Leon Sapp Road in Douglas, which is where the incidents occurred. The report says the incident occurred over a year ago and Lee has…