REMERTON, Ga. – On October 2, 2019, at approximately 12:15 p.m., Valdosta Police officers responded to the area of the 1300 block of JoRee Street about suspicious subjects walking around in the area.

Some in the area reported they had heard a gunshot.

As a Remerton Police Department Patrol officer arrived in the area, he found the subjects walking down the road and they fled on foot when he tried to make contact with them.

At approximately 12:40 p.m., a citizen called 911 and advised that subjects were trying to break into her apartment in the 800 block of Baytree Road. As a Valdosta Police officer arrived at the apartment, he observed a subject, later identified as Damian McMillian, in the backyard. McMillian fled on foot but was apprehended after a short foot chase.

Witnesses in the area including staff at Big Nick’s and Subway on Baytree reported that the heavy police presence scared them and they locked their doors and windows.

While officers were searching the area, they found Demetrius Cooper hiding in a shed behind Big Nick’s. He was arrested without incident. Through investigation, it was determined that McMillian and Cooper were two of the subjects that ran from the Remerton Police Officer.

Both Cooper and McMillian were transported to Lowndes County Jail where they are being held on the following charges:

• McMillian- two counts of misdemeanor obstruction of an officer and one count of misdemeanor criminal trespass; and
• Cooper-one count of misdemeanor obstruction of an officer and count of misdemeanor criminal trespass.

Throughout the investigation, there was no evidence located that any shooting of a firearm occurred. Numerous law enforcement agencies responded to the area to assist in looking for the offenders. The case is still being investigated by the Valdosta Police Department and further charges may be pending. 

If anyone has any further information on these cases, please contact the Valdosta Police Department at 229-242-2606.