Author: Staff Reports

Samantha Pantoja of Douglas has graduated from Valdosta State University. Samantha has received a B.A. in Biology with a minor in Spanish. After graduation, Samantha plans to continue working with the Latino/Hispanic community through nonprofits to help reduce disparities that exist in their communities. When asked how she has surprised herself while in college at VSU, Samantha says “I came out of my shell, shyness? Yeah we don’t know her!” She also believes that her education at VSU has helped her build skills that will be valuable in the future, among them communication, software use, presentation…

A Manchester High School sophomore football player, Brandon Smith, 17, has been found dead the day before the Manchester High Blue Devils play in the Class A Division II state championship game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Smith had been reported missing on Saturday, according to news reports and social media posts. Sunday, Smith was found deceased and an investigation into his death began. Authorities have not released a cause of death. Manchester High School administration released a statement regarding Smith’s passing on the school’s web site. The statement is as follows: “Meriwether County…

A Douglas man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fire that occurred on July 4, 2023, on North Peterson Avenue in Douglas. Wednesday afternoon, officers arrested Randy Neal DeLoach, 41, and charged him with four counts of first-degree arson. DeLoach operated The Liquidation Market store, which was located on North Peterson across the road from Lott Builders Supply. Just before midnight on July 4, the store caught fire, completely destroying the building and damaging other properties located nearby. As firefighters fought the blaze, True Life Ministries, which was in the same building, suffered damage as…

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If you’re going to drive around with your headlights off after dark, it’s best not to be carrying illegal drugs in your vehicle. Allegedly, of course. On November 27, a deputy stopped a vehicle driving with no headlights at around 8 p.m. The stop took place on Highway 441 South and Osbon Mill Road. The driver was identified as Emmanuel Tanner and the officer discovered that he had an active warrant for his arrest. During the stop, the officer also found a quantity of suspected methamphetamine. He was arrested and charged with possession of a Schedule…

A suspicious vehicle investigation led to an arrest on drug and gun charges last week. According to a report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, a detective checked out a vehicle that was on the side of the road on Thompson Drive near Cotton Gin Road. During the investigation, the detective found that Willie Matthews, 72, had what appeared to be a crack pipe. The detective continued the search and discovered two grams of suspected crack cocaine, four guns, and nearly $6,000 in cash. Matthews was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance,…

Something must have been in the air on Tuesday in Coffee County. Officers from the sheriff’s department investigated a pair of shootings that took place in the county — one on Hickory Lane in eastern Coffee County and the other on Second Avenue in Oak Park. The first shooting happened around 5 p.m. on Hickory Lane, just off Burl Mill Road near the race track. An incident report from the sheriff’s office states that the alleged shooter, Antonio Guerrero Rivas, told officers that he left work that afternoon and noticed someone was following him. Rivas said that in…

An otherwise quiet Sunday night saw its tranquility spoiled around 10:30 p.m. when an armed robbery occurred at the Marathon store on West Ward Street between Harvey’s and Coffee Regional Medical Center. Authorities were on the scene quickly. They didn’t release any information or a statement regarding the incident — except that an armed robbery took place and the suspect got away. Douglas police officers were inside the store investigating the scene while deputies and DPD officers waited outside for a description of the subject. DouglasNow will provide more information as details are…

A Douglas man is behind bars on a rather impressive list of charges following a traffic stop. On Monday, November 27, 2023, a Coffee County detective received word that Walter Jaden Bryan, 27, had been arrested for a traffic violation, along with Jeremy Hersey, 30, and Bradley Barton, 30. According to a report on the stop, officers allegedly found guns, unlawful suppressors, and a methamphetamine pipe. Officers searched Bryan’s home and found suspected methamphetamine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone on the property. Additionally, officers found over 50 guns, according to the report. Bryan had previously been arrested on…

Officers are on the scene of a serious traffic accident on Highway 135 (Willacoochee Highway). The two vehicles, a mid-sized dark-colored Nissan SUV and a white Ford pickup, collided head-on between Pa Bill’s Barbecue and Optima Chemical. Authorities have not released a statement regarding the accident; however, the driver of the SUV did not survive the accident. The driver of the Ford pickup was injured but his injuries were not life-threatening. The roadway is closed in the vicinity of the accident. If you are headed either into or out of Douglas on Highway 135 you will…