Members of the Valdosta City Council have approved the purchases of 13 new vehicles for the Valdosta Police Department. Citing the need to preserve public safety Chief Brian Childress pointed to the high mileage on the old patrol cars and stated that the cost was well worth it. The new vehicles will also enhance officer safety.
County government departments and various agencies have made their budgetary requests to members of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners. The final budget is expected to be in place by June 30th.
Deputies with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department took into custody a suspect that barricaded himself inside his residence near Dasher. An arrest attempt was made in the 4000 block of Highway 41 after deputies recovered stolen property and a warrant was issued. The identity of the man was not released and no injuries were reported. More details as this story unfolds.
Linda Harris the former Mayor of the city of Meigs has once again been taken into custody. According to the report from the Thomas County Sheriff’s Department, Harris was arrested for giving false statements and writings. She is also accused of filing a false statement to the court alleging indigent status. In recent court action she was convicted on charges of theft by taking and for violation of her oath of office. If indicted and convicted on the latest charges she could face up to five years in prison on each charge.
Narcotics agents with the Valdosta Police Department pulled over a vehicle on St. Augustine Road, driven by a man that identified himself as 50 year old John Demore. However, a check of his identity revealed that he was actually 42 year old Daniel Demore. When drug agents searched his vehicle they uncovered a large stash of various narcotics including LSD, Oxycodone, Methamphetamine and other illegal substances. He was taken to the Lowndes County Jail and formally charged with multiple violations.
Agents with the Douglas Coffee County Drug Unit had to arrest a fellow officer after a drug sting operation. A former jailer identified as 26 year old Cory Harrelson was charged with two felonies after he attempted to purchase Methadone from a former inmate. Harrelson was summarily fired and booked into the jail where he formerly worked but was later sent to another lockup.
A murder that took place in 2016 has led to the arrests of Austin Stephens, Anthony Jordan and KeyOlivia Richardson; they are charged with felony murder and aggravated assault in the death of 20 year old Jalon Jackson age 20 whose body was found last October. Valdosta Detectives working with the GBI announced the arrests.
CBS 46 reporter Johnathan Andrews writes that two Georgia inmates who used smuggled cell phones and enlisted relatives on the outside to steal the identities of dozens of victims and collect money by filing fake tax returns have been sentenced. Enrique Toribio and Marcus Burke have been sentenced to four years in federal prison after they gave more than 60 victims’ names and Social Security numbers to tax preparers, who prepared the fraudulent tax returns over several years. They were already serving time for aggravated assault and manslaughter. Both tacked on four more years for the tax fraud scheme. Toribio’s mother and sister, also pleaded guilty.
34 year old Larry Hamilton was playing the music in his car so loud that he attracted the attention of a sheriff;s deputy in Cordele. Hamilton gave the officer a false identity and attempted to flee but crashed his vehicle. During a search officers found cocaine, MDMA and cash. Hamilton faces multiple charges.
