STAFF REPORTS :::

Matthew Brian Lane, age 36, of 2784 Beeks Road, Williamson, the owner of Open Box Freight located at 1420 Meriwether St., has been arrested by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office on numerous felony charges.
According to Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, agents of the SCSO Special Operations Unit on Friday, Dec. 18, executed a search warrant at Open Box Freight.
Its owner, Lane, had been arrested Dec. 17.
At the time of Lane’s arrest, investigators say he was in possession of 41.7 grams of methamphetamine.
As a result of the search warrant on Open Box Freight, Beam said approximately $20,000 worth of stolen items were recovered and an additional 114 grams of methamphetamine was located.
Lane has been charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a Schedule II narcotic (hydrocodone), possession of a Schedule II narcotic (oxycodone), possession of drug related objects, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, obscured tag and no license on person.
Lane is being held without bond in the Spalding County Jail.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

The Griffin-Spalding County Hospital Authority has entered into a memorandum of understanding that will result in Spalding Regional Hospital being purchased by WellStar, a non-profit entity. As such, WellStar will not pay property taxes, resulting in a total local tax digest decrease of $750,241.47.
Based on 2015 information from Spalding County Tax Commissioner Sylvia Hollums, when the personal and property taxes are combined, Spalding County’s loss will be $281,370.21, the city of Griffin will decrease $138,646.44 and the Griffin-Spalding County School System will be cut by
$329,384.16.
According to Hospital Authority Treasurer Cal Oxford, who on Monday made a presentation regarding this matter to the Spalding County Board of Commissioners, this negative impact
was taken into consideration during the negotiation process
with WellStar.
“Now, the issue that everybody has asked me about and I have tried to remain silent is the question about taxation. As I said, WellStar is a non-profit and as such they’re entitled to take the properties off the tax record and I’m sure they’ll do so. Had we bought it, I guarantee you we would have taken the property off the tax record. It’s just not feasible for a non-profit to pay property taxes. That’s one of the reasons non-profits are designed – they’re designed to put money back into the community,” Oxford said
before later adding, “I have gone about as far as I want to go with this at this point, but I think what the Hospital
Authority has been able to do for this community should be applauded because we really didn’t have a lot of leverage.
We really didn’t have a lot of things to deal with, but fortunately, Tenet and WellStar recognized that this community is going to have some needs and they stepped up to help us make this happen, so I think we’ve got the best possible agreement we could have.”
The “best possible agreement” Oxford referenced was detailed Monday and includes short term voluntary tax payments by WellStar.
“What they’ve agreed to do is year one, to pay the full
amount of whatever taxes are due up to a maximum amount of $900,000 the first year. The second year, they’ve agreed to pay this community $600,000 flat, no matter what. The third year, $300,000,” he said.
Despite the loss of local tax revenue, Oxford said the Hospital Authority believes WellStar is the best possible
option for Griffin-Spalding County.
“I’ll tell you, WellStar is the best possible operator of
this hospital we could have picked. They are going to be a welcome addition to this community. They support communities and put 100 percent of their money back into the community. They’re committed to a service area that is designed by the northwest quadrant of Georgia…we’re the anchor leg of the south, this hospital will be,” he said. “We are in a very desirable position geographically to grow as a WellStar community and the people at WellStar are very impressive. They’re committed to community. They’re
committed to growing their hospitals, and as such, they’ve agreed to make some voluntary payments to this community in lieu of taxes, which they’re not obligated to do, and you have to understand that. They aren’t obligated to do anything in that regard.”
Oxford also discussed other benefits the Hospital Authority
believe will result from the purchase by WellStar.
“The community is getting something in return. The community is getting a great, great hospital operator…
these guys seem to be in a league of their own,” he said. “I think if WellStar does what they verbally tell me they’re going to do and what they’re going to do in this agreement – putting up to $40 million in capital improvements, they’re going to spend up to $40 million
guaranteed – they may spend more than that, but that’s what they’ve guaranteed to spend…that could create jobs. There’s a lot of good that could happen out there.”
Oxford stated the Hospital Authority, as representatives of the city of Griffin and Spalding County, did not specify the division of the monies WellStar will voluntarily pay through 2018, and explained that city, county and school systems officials will need to enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to determine the split.
“What I had envisioned is that it would be prorated as it currently is, but I don’t know if that’s necessarily what you want to do with it. The money will go to the tax commissioner. It’s not hers; it’s yours. You’ve got to
figure out how to split it up,” Oxford said.
In a later interview, Spalding County Manager William Wilson said this tax digest decrease will impact the county, but he believes the Hospital Authority represented
taxpayers well.
“I think the authority did a good job negotiating the contract and protecting the taxpayers. The way they staggered the impact on the tax digest will assist everyone
to making that adjustment,” Wilson said.
He said he was aware contract negotiations had been ongoing, but was not privy to the specifics of those discussions prior to Monday evening. He said the information did not come as a surprise, but the impact is
important and will have to be addressed.
“I believe it’s roughly $280,000, which is about one-fifth of a mill. That’s county only, that’s not the school, that’s
not the city,” Wilson said. “If you look at our CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report) online, they’re our
second largest taxpayer and our second largest employer, so it is a major blow, but the way they’ve staggered will help everyone to adjust. With the size of our general fund, it is something that’s going to have to be dealt with. It isn’t a major hit or a major loss, but it does have an effect on the budget. I guess you could call it a major loss. That’s really semantics.”
Oxford agreed with Wilson’s assessment that the contract provides local governing bodies some time to adjust to the tax digest decrease.
“Look, I tried to get it (the voluntary tax payments) continuous. I tried to get 20 years. I tried to get five years, but we did get three years and that’s more than they
were obligated to do. That does give you some time to plan. That gives you some time to try to shift, plan, whatever you’ve got to do. You know there’s a shortfall coming; you know there’s a hole, but it isn’t next week. That’s the beauty of it. You’ve got some time to plan,” Oxford said.
The sale is expected to close the first quarter of 2016.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

The Griffin Police Department on Wednesday executed a series of search warrants in connection to an alleged property theft case involving Reece’s Open Freight Crate located 330 E. Solomon Street.
The initial search warrant in the case was conducted at the business, where three individuals were taken into custody. Two additional search warrants were soon after conducted at local residences associated with individuals connected to the business.
According to Investigator Todd Howard, of the GPD’s Criminal Investigation Division, the search warrants resulted in the recovery of a significant quantity of allegedly-stolen merchandise.
Two of the individuals taken into custody were released later the same day. The third, Rebecca Rogers, remains in custody, having been booked into the Spalding County Jail.
He said the investigation, which was initiated following the receipt of information from Special Agent Josh Pitts, of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, was aided by Home Depot.
“Everything that was removed from that store today, the victim, which is Home Depot, had a team of people come in and they were able to verify that the property was, in fact, stolen,” Howard said, describing the merchandise as power tools. “Stolen property was also recovered from a building located on the (residential) property.”
A warrant for felony theft by receiving will be taken against Rogers Thursday, Howard said.
“She is in jail and as of right now, it’s theft by receiving,” he said, confirming that Rogers is associated with Reece’s Open Freight Crate and also lived at one of the residential properties where merchandise was recovered from a large storage building.
The investigation remains active and ongoing with interviews remaining to be conducted.
Still being sought for information is Ben Reece, who Howard classified as a person of interest in the case.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Ben Reece is asked to contact Howard at 770.229.6450 or by email at thoward@cityofgriffin.com.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

A 78-year-old man was critically injured Thursday when he was struck by a vehicle in the parking lot behind Ryan’s Steak House.
According to Griffin Fire-Rescue Chief Tommy Jones, a vehicle was backing out of a parking place when he struck the elderly man.
“He hit his head on the asphalt. Since he was elderly and had a head injury, they flew him out. He had a pretty significant head injury,” Jones said. “One of my off duty firefighters, Jeremy Cousson, he was at the fireworks stand buying fireworks. The man had no pulse when he found him. He started CPR and got his pulse back.”
In addition to Cousson, the elderly man received treatment at the scene from personnel of Spalding Regional Hospital Emergency Medical Services.
On duty Griffin Fire-Rescue personnel also responded to the incident and established a landing zone from which the victim was flown by Life Flight to an Atlanta trauma unit.
Jones is uncertain of the elderly man’s condition, but said after he was resuscitated, he was stabilized.
“They didn’t say he was conscious, but they got a pulse back and his vital signs were stable before he was transported,” Jones said.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

The GRIP received information from a confidential source alleging the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit in 2012 con­ducted an illegal operation involving the placement of a Global Position­ing System (GPS) tracker on a vehicle without court ordered authorization. The GRIP conducted an investigation based on that allegation and the fol­lowing is the second in a series of ar­ticles detailing its findings. Due to the nature of and dangers associated with narcotics investigations, The GRIP WILL NOT be identifying the citizens who were involved in this incident or the exact locations of the various ac­tivities involved in the operation.
Conflicting statements regarding details of a November 2012 Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit narcotics operation in which a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) tracker was placed on a vehicle leave unanswered questions.
Among the information The GRIP received was the vehicle’s tag number, and the alleged name and address of the owner, a female Spalding County resident.
The SCSO’s response to an initial Open Records request seeking information on the operation alleged the owner was a male confidential informant. It also stated the GPS tracker was never activated, which contradicted another piece of information The GRIP received from its confidential source – a 112-page tracker report indicating the device was active on the vehicle from Nov. 8-13, 2012.
Based on these contradictory statements, The GRIP sought further information. After requesting information from a separate law enforcement agency involving a vehicle bearing that same tag number, it was learned a traffic stop had been conducted earlier in 2012. The male driver of the vehicle at that time provided the officer with the same address The GRIP had been provided for the alleged female owner of the vehicle.
Further investigation revealed the male driver had been incarcerated by the State of Georgia. One of the charges for which he had served time was possession of methamphetamine. The crime commit date listed on the state of Georgia Offender Registry was Nov. 8, 2012 – the same date the tracker was placed on the vehicle he was known to have driven earlier that year.
With that information, The GRIP submitted to the SCSO an Open Records request for all case information involving that male subject for the month of November 2012. The results of that request included a report for a traffic stop conducted by Sgt. John Corley Nov. 8.
According to Corley’s report, he and Cpl. Howard Spitzer executed a traffic stop on the vehicle “around 7:28 p.m.” as the driver pulled into the driveway of her Griffin residence “because Corley saw that the front seat passenger was not wearing his seat belt and that he was (name and date of birth), who Corley had a warrant on for possession of marijuana less than one ounce.”
Through a separate Open Records request, The GRIP later learned the wanted male subject cited as probable cause for the Nov. 8, 2012 traffic stop had been involved in a previous October 2012, traffic traffic stop on the same vehicle. It was at that time Corley alleged this male subject had claimed possession of a misdemeanor quantity of marijuana. Records indicate a warrant for his arrest was not then taken, but was obtained more just over one month later and just prior to the traffic stop that resulted in the GPS tracker being placed on the vehicle involved in both incidents.
Corley’s report states the driver voluntarily consented to a vehicular search during the Nov. 8, 2012 traffic stop, resulting in narcotics agents locating a “small clear tied up corner baggie of suspected methamphetamine in the floorboard.”
Corley alleged the baggie of suspected methamphetamine was discovered in the rear of the vehicle in the vicinity of the male subject who was later imprisoned as a result of the traffic stop. Seated in the back seat next to the male was a female learned to be related, also the woman The GRIP’s confidential source previously identified as the vehicle’s owner.
The report also stated, “Both subjects showed interest in assisting with some drug investigations so Corley listened to what they had to say. Both (names of male and female subjects) gave some names of some meth dealers that Corley was interested in arresting. While Corley was talking to (male subject) away from his mother, (male subject) stated that the meth was not his that it was his mother’s but he would still be to assist on some drug investigations to help his mother out. Since (male and female subjects) showed interest in assisting with some drug investigations, they were not charged with possession of methamphetamine at the time.”
Corley reported he continued to speak with the male and female subject “for approximately a month… but they never did assist with any drug arrest.”
At no time in his report did Corley document placing the GPS tracker on the vehicle or cite having received authorization to place it on the vehicle that, but the tracker report indicates it was activated at a separate location a few miles away from the site of the traffic stop five minutes after the approximate time listed for the traffic stop.
After obtaining the report on the initial traffic stop – a report from which the Sheriff’s Office did not redact any information pertaining to the male and female subjects offering to provide agents with assistance in other methamphetamine cases – The GRIP submitted a request for the two individuals’ Confidential Informant packets, which are required to be maintained on subjects working for narcotics agents in that capacity.
According to the SCSO’s official response emailed by Lt. Laurie Littlejohn, “There are no packets, documents, reports, photographs, videos or any other information relating to (male and female subjects’ names) as confidential informants. They have never provided any information that led to the seizure of any illegal substance nor have they ever provided information that led to the arrest of any individual.”
In response to another Open Records request from The GRIP in which information pertaining to the placement of the tracker was sought, Littlejohn reported, “I have made contact with members of the Special Operations Unit and they advise there is no documentation that indicates a time or location as to the tracker being placed on a vehicle bearing Georgia license plate (number).”
In response to all requests seeking any specific records related to the use of the GPS tracker on this vehicle, the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office has alleged no records whatsoever exist.
Publisher’s note: In its Jan. 11, 2016, edition, The GRIP will detail multiple official and contradictory statements made by the Sheriff’s Office in relation to this narcotic operation as well as delve into how those statements correlate with policies and procedures.

To read the first two articles in this series, please follow these links:

http://the-grip.net/2015/11/25/sheriffs-office-narcotics-unit-investigation-raises-questions/

http://the-grip.net/2015/12/09/sheriffs-office-narcotics-operation-raises-questions-part-ii/

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Following the Dec. 7 publication of an article citing the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office’s request for a GBI investigation regarding a confidential source that provided information to this newspaper, The GRIP learned the SCSO is denying having made that request.
After speaking with GBI Region 2 Special Agent in Charge Fred Wimberly, but prior to running that article, The GRIP attempted to reach Capt. Tony Ranieri, head of the SCSO Criminal Investigation Division, and Sheriff Wendell Beam by phone and email, respectively. Neither responded to The GRIP’s attempts to make contact regarding this issue.
Meanwhile, The GRIP also submitted an Open Records request seeking information on a Nov. 30 request for a GBI investigation pertaining to the confidential source who provided this publication with a GPS tracker report associated with a November 2012 narcotics operation. It was in response to that Open Records request that officials of the SCSO denied requesting a GBI investigation in this matter.
According to an email from Agency Administrator Lt. Laurie Littlejohn, “No official request was made to the GBI for an official investigation on Nov. 30, 2015, nor has there been any official request made to them.”
Asked what type of request was made to the GBI regarding the GPS tracker report, Littlejohn stated, “They were asked if information were released from the Sheriff’s Office without authorization, would that be a criminal offense.”
She later reiterated, “An investigation was not requested. A question was asked.”
Upon receiving this email correspondence, The GRIP again contacted Wimberly, who maintains his office did and continues to perceive the SCSO’s inquiry as a request to investigate.
“On our end, it could be perceived to be a request. Just to put it bluntly, when a Sheriff’s Office or someone calls us with case-related information, if we deem it’s not going to be criminal, then technically, on our end, we’re basically denying investigating the case because there’s nothing we see that’s criminal,” Wimberly said. “If you want to play on words, you can, but you know, from our perspective, a request was made.”
As of this edition’s Dec. 21 press time, neither Beam nor Ranieri have responded to The GRIP’s Dec. 8 requests for comment on this matter.

Publisher’s note: To read the first article related to the Sheriff’s Office request for a GBI investigation that was published Dec. 7, 2016, please visit http://the-grip.net/2015/12/15/gbi-declined-sheriffs-request/.

STAFF REPORTS :::

A Griffin teenager has been arrested in connection to alleged threats made on the Internet involving taking over Spalding High School and shooting students.
According to Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, Brennan Turbyville, age 17, of 665 Maple Drive, was arrested Jan. 7, and is being held in the Spalding County Jail on a charge of terroristic threats. Bond has been set at $1,000.
“I want to thank all of the concerned parents and citizens who reported this incident to school officials and to the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office,” Beam said. “I urge all citizens to report any suspicious or criminal activity to law enforcement officials immediately.”

Publisher’s note – At this time, The GRIP will not disclose the identity of minors involved in this incident.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Additional information is available in the arrest of 17-year-old Brennan Turbeyville, the Griffin teenager who was on Jan. 7, arrested and charged with terroristic threats following what the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office described as “threats on the Internet to take over one of the schools and shoot students.”
According to an incident report written by Deputy J.D. Cape, he responded on Jan. 2, to a complaint submitted by a father who stated his 17-year-old daughter, Turbeyville’s former girlfriend, had received text messages said to be “disturbing and threatening.”
Cape was provided with the girl’s cell phone with text messages she had received from another male juvenile. The deputy reported that the minor male initially was attempting to obtain phone numbers that would enable him to contact members of “Kain,” also known as Turbeyville.
“(Male minor) would not initially tell (female minor) what the problem was. It was later discovered that (male minor) told (female minor) that ‘Kain’ was planning on shooting up the high school and that he had proof,” Cape reported. “(Male minor) describes that ‘Kain’ was trying to employ his help in the matter, so he told him the plan. (Male minor) was actively speaking with ‘Kain’ on his phone, and he took screen shots of the text messages flowing back and forth in this conversation and forwarded them to (minor female’s) phone. From my reading of the texts, this was being planned to occur around graduation of 2017.”
Cape then transcribed some of the text messages and they follow verbatim:
(Male minor) – “When we go into the school, who so we need to make sure doesn’t die?”
Turbeyville – “This is a while away, what’s wrong bro? Why do you act like it’s tomorrow.”
(Male minor) – I just want to know, I’d like to know all the details man, you can’t expect me to want to do this if you haven’t told me anything.”
Turbeyville – Uh, hard to tell right now. (Male student), (male student), (male student). So far, that’s it.”
(Male minor) – “Nice.”
Turbeyville – “I know what we are going to do. We are going to walk in I”m gonna yank the mic from the fag**t senior kid. I’m gonna tell them all to shut the f*ck up and not to move. Your gonna take a phone with a 10 hour loop of the Allahu Akbar song and plug it into the speakers. Then I say in the mic Koon Teh 2017 and we fire away.”
Cape reported this was the final screen shot of the conversation sent to the girl’s phone.
“After this, (male minor) goes into telling (female minor) other things such as he had been going along with it to get proof. At one point, (male minor) tells (female minor) that he even set up a fake Skype account posing as a hit man to see how far he (Turbeyville) would go. (Male minor) describes that ‘Kain’ wanted to hire him to kill (female minor) and that he made a price and everything,” Cape wrote. “Later in the conversation, (male minor) tells (female minor) that ‘Kain’ sent (another male subject) a bunch of pictures of the Columbine shooting and about how he worshiped the shooters.”
All the text messages described in Cape’s report were printed off the girl’s phone and were included in his report, Cape stated.
The deputy reported he girl denied Turbeyville had ever behaved violently during their approximately three-year-long relationship. Furthermore, the minor female expressed concern for Turbeyville’s mental health.
Turbeyville was subsequently arrested Jan. 7, on one count of terroristic threats. He has since been released on $1,000 bond.
The girl’s father reported to Cape that prior to contacting the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, he had spoken with Griffin-Spalding County School System regarding his concerns.
Cape stated, “(The father) advised that he had contacted a Col. Sylvester with the Spalding County High School ROTC program because he knew him, and the information contained in the texts was concerning the school. It was recommended that after the Colonel contacted his boss that the police be called.”
It is not know at this time if the Spalding County School System reported this incident to local law enforcement officials. The GRIP submitted to the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office an Open Records request seeking to obtain “all reports and records currently available pertaining to the Jan. 7, 2016, arrest of Brennan Turbeyville.”
The sole report released to this publication was the report filed by the teenage girl’s father.
Griffin-Spalding County School System Executive Director of Communications and Partnerships Judy Parker did not immediately respond to The GRIP’s attempt to seek clarification on this matter.
This newspaper will continue to follow this story and additional information will be reported as it becomes available.

Publisher note: It is The GRIP’s policy to not routinely report on suicides or attempted suicides. However, this incident involves a family member of a local law enforcement officer and is under investigation by the GBI. The information contained in this report was released by the Griffin Police Department, and The GRIP will follow up with additional information as it becomes available.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

According to Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris DeMarco, of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Region 6 Office, the investigation into the alleged suicide attempt by the wife of a Griffin police officer remains active and ongoing.

It is not uncommon for a GBI investigation to be requested under such circumstances.

In this incident, DeMarco said the gunshot injuries were caused by Griffin Police Department Officer Matthew Boynton’s service weapon.

“We were just requested because it involved a Griffin police officer and obviously his wife who appeared to have attempted suicide – used his service weapon – so just based on those factors, the Chief decided to request our assistance,” DeMarco explained.

Matthew Boynton’s wife, Jessica, was discovered inside a locked closet early Friday with a gunshot wound to the right side of her head.

Authorities say at approximately 1 a.m. Friday, personnel of the GPD responded to 53 Ashford Place Apartments in reference to a person threatening suicide. As police officers, Griffin Fire-Rescue and Spalding Regional Hospital Emergency Medical Services units were responding, one of the residents of 53 Ashford Place Apartments, Matthew Boynton, arrived and then responded via his police department issued mobile radio that he heard two shots possibly from his apartment.

Lt. Curtis Keys along with additional GPD officers arrived at the scene. Officer Boynton met these officers outside his apartment. Officers then entered the apartment and searched for Officer Boynton’s wife.

Officers subsequently located Jessica Boynton inside a closet with a locked door which they had to forcibly open.

DeMarco said the closet had been locked from the interior.

“(It was locked) from the inside. I think that’s the only way you can lock that particular door is from the inside. I don’t think you can lock it from the outside,” he said.

DeMarco confirmed Matthew Boynton was not on duty at the time the shooting happened.

“He was off duty at the time it occurred,” DeMarco said. “His radio was inside the apartment when he got there, so he just used the radio when he got into his apartment. It was sitting on the battery charger being charged.”

Jessica Boynton was flown by air ambulance to the trauma unit of Atlanta Medical Center. Her condition was initially reported by the GPD as critical.

Later Friday evening, DeMarco said, “Last I heard of her condition was that considering, she was doing fairly well, but I can’t tell you, I don’t know if she’s stable, critical or what. I’ve just heard that she was doing much better considering she has a head injury.”

Investigators cannot say how many gunshot wounds Jessica Boynton sustained.

“Right now I can’t say that for certain because one, we haven’t, meaning the GBI, hasn’t seen her or her injuries yet because obviously right now, she needs to get stable, so I can’t even tell you how many injuries she has on her right now,” DeMarco said.

Asked if he could confirm reports the couple had been discussing divorce, DeMarco said, “I can confirm that we’ve been advised they’d recently discussed going through the divorce proceedings.”

STAFF REPORT :::

According to Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, an April 28 traffic stop resulted in the seizure of a kilogram of heroin and a loaded handgun.

Beam said Eliseo Cervantes, of 32 Old Post Road, Jonesboro, was initially stopped for a traffic violation, and K9 Ludo allegedly alerted to the odor of drugs in his vehicle.

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, agents of the SCSO Special Operations Unit located the heroin and weapon.

The street value of the heroin is in excess of $100,000.

Cervantes is being held in the Spalding County Jail. He has been charged with trafficking heroin, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana less than one ounce, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and window tint violation.

Special Agent Josh Pitts and K9 Ludo recently returned to Spalding County following six weeks of intensive training and certification with Ludo at the Vohne Liche Kennel in Denver, In.

Ludo, the K9 most recently added to the SCSO, is trained in both patrol work and narcotic detection.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

A Spalding County Jail use of force incident that was reviewed by a variety of supervisors and investigators with disparate findings ultimately resulted in disciplinary action being taken against two Spalding County Sheriff’s Office employees.

The incident occurred Nov. 21, 2015, and involved a female prisoner – Emily Gasaway – and initially, two female jail employees, Jamie Cain and Ivanna Washington.

According to a statement written by Capt. Ron Buchanan, the jail administrator, the matter was first reviewed by himself and Capt. Tony Ranieri, who heads the SCSO Criminal Investigation Division, the morning after the use of force incident.

“In this incident, inmate Gasaway was being moved from Booking HC 5 to ISO 1 due to kicking continuously on the cell door in booking. Inmate Gasaway was placed into ISO 1 by Deputy J. Cain and Deputy I. Washington. As the door was being closed, Inmate Gasaway attempted to exit ISO 1 by striking Deputy Cain in the face with her hand. Inmate Gasaway was taken to the ground inside of ISO 1. Inmate Gasaway continued to resist. In reviewing the tape, I did not observe any excessive use of force. I did note that the incident may have been de-escalated,” Buchanan wrote. “On Nov. 23, 2015, at 1045 a.m., I met with Capt. Tony Ranieri in my office. Capt. Tony Ranieri also reviewed the tape and was in agreement with my conclusion.”

At that time, Buchanan reported the incident would be reviewed with Cain and Washington and they would be counseled, including ways the incident could have been de-escalated.

Official SCSO documents indicate there was no additional action in this matter until Dec. 1, when The GRIP submitted an Open Records request for information into the incident.

On Dec. 2, Ranieri forwarded a packet of information pertaining to the Nov. 22 incident to Sgt. Vicki Massegale-Clift, of the Criminal Investigation Division, who was instructed to launch an Internal Affairs investigation into the use of force incident.

As part of her investigation, Massengale-Clift interviewed a number of SCSO employees who were present at the time of the use of force or who became involved later.

Despite Buchanan’s assertion that the video indicated excessive force was not used, several of those who witnessed the incident reported differently.

Deputy Robert French, who along with Cain and Washington escorted Gasaway to the isolation cell, was the first person interviewed. He confirmed Gasaway had reached out the door that was approximately three-fourths closed and struck Cain.

“He advised the incident should have ended there and the door should have been shut. French advised that Deputy Cain said, ‘Oh, no, she didn’t!” and Deputy Washington responded, ‘Oh, hell, yes, she did!” Massengale-Clift said. “Deputy French stated that he tried to shut the door, but couldn’t because Deputy Washington grabbed the door, and she and Deputy Cain went into the cell after the inmate. Deputy French stated that the inmate was backed up against the cell wall and he was yelling for Deputies Cain and Washington to come out. French stated ‘they beat the hell out of that girl,’ and ‘that’s not the way we do things.’”

French went on to say that as additional deputies arrived, they were unaware of what had previously occurred.

“All they knew was there was a struggle between the deputies and the inmate. French added, ‘It’s a wonder they didn’t hurt that girl…I’m from the streets… and that was a beat down,” Massengale-Clift wrote. “He stated that Deputies Cain and Washington were telling him to taser Ms. Gasaway, but he refused and told them, ‘She’s not resisting.’ He later in the inter­view advised he told them, ‘I should tase y’all. Stop!’”

French also advised that he later spoke with Sgt. Renee Dupree-Law and stated she should watch the video from the incident because it went “bad quickly.”

“Deputy French stated that he and Sgt. Law watched the of the incident together. Sgt. Law told him that she didn’t realize the incident was that bad; she just thought he was upset,” the report reads.

Massengale-Clift documented Law told French that the incident was wrong and that someone was going to be in trouble over this.

French stated that later during the same shift, he was summoned by Law to watch the video again, the second time with Deputies Cain, Washington, Rutledge and Shamlin.

“He (French) advised he was the only white person there and the comment was made (unknown by whom, possibly by Rutledge) that the reason why he didn’t use his taser on the girl was because she was white,” Massengale-Clift stated. “Deputy French stated since this, he’s ‘caught flack’ from his co-workers over this because some of them are trying to make it a ‘black and white thing.’”

Massengale-Clift’s investigation also involved reviewing the video recordings of the incident, which she described in detail.

Her description of the video, which shows inmate Emily Banks Gasaway being escorted from a holding cell in booking by Deputy Cain, Deputy Washington and Deputy Robert French, details the actions of each.

Massengale-Clift reported Gasaway appeared to be verbally assertive as she was being escorted to the isolation cell, but that she moved without any physical escort. Upon arrival at the isolation cell, Gasaway placed her back against the wall and crossed her arms across her chest, requiring Washington and Cain to place their hands on the prisoner’s arms and physically place her in the cell.

“Ms. Gasaway attempts to exit the cell, but Deputies Cain and Washington prevent her by pushing her with their hands back into the cell,” Massengale-Clift reported.

As the cell door was closing, the video shows Gasaway reaching out and striking one of the deputies in the face.

“As the door to the isolation cell is being closed by Deputy French, Ms. Gasaway quickly reaches outside the door and strikes Deputy Cain in the face. Ms. Gasaway then takes a couple of steps backward inside the cell away from the door,” the Internal Affairs report states.

Massengale-Clift’s investigation determined it was at this time that Cain and Washington used excessive/unnecessary force against Gasaway.

“Deputies Cain and Washington then stop the cell door from closing, pull open the door and enter the cell. Deputy Cain attempts to grasp Ms. Gasaway’s left arm. Deputy Washington is seen pushing Ms. Gasaway’s chest and then making con­tact with Ms. Gasaway’s face with her hand. Deputy Cain appears to be trying to facilitate an arm lock to guide Ms. Gasaway toward the bench inside the cell. At the same time, Deputy Washington grasps Ms. Gasaway by the back of the neck and appears to be trying to pull Ms. Gasaway in the opposite direction, possibly trying to place her on the cell floor,” Massengale-Clift wrote.

Soon after, Washington, who has a rear-facing hold on Gasaway, pulls her backward into the corner of the cell as Cain crouches over them. As this scene is playing out, French can be seen standing in the cell doorway with his taser unholstered.

The report goes on to state that as numerous additional deputies arrive at the isolation cell, the video shows Cain leaning down and pulling Gasaway by her arms, causing her to slide on her back across the cell floor.

As Gasaway stands and leans with her back against the cell wall with her arms folded across her chest, French, Cain and Washington can be seen motioning for the prisoner to move to the bench.

As more deputies continue to respond to the isolation cell, Gasawacanbe seen gesturing in a questioning manner before Washington and Cain forcibly place her on the bench.

As Gasaway sits up, a third employee – Deputy Tonika Rutledge – became involved as she “pushes past deputies standing outside the cell door and enters the cell,” where she “grabs Ms. Gasaway by her head and forces her to lie back on the bench.”

A future scene demonstrates Deputy Victor Shamlin assisting in restraining Gasaway’s legs as Rutledge controls her upper body while Deputy Justin Zambujo further restrains the prisoner with handcuffs.

“Once Ms. Gasaway is handcuffed, Deputies Rutledge and Zambujo step away and Deputy Shamlin maintains control over Ms. Gasaway, who is no longer resistant. Ms. Gasaway is not lying still and face down on the bench as Deputy Shamlin keeps one hand on the handcuffs. The deputies converse amongst themselves for approximately 45 seconds. Deputy Shamlin now releases his control hold of Ms. Gasaway and she remains lying on her stomach and places each hand above her head on the bench as they are uncuffed,” the IA report states.

Gasaway is then left alone in the isolation cell.

For the second part of this story, including statements from involved deputies as well as additional witness accounts of what happened in the Spalding County Jail isolation cell, the opinion of the District Attorney’s Office and Spalding County Jail administrator’s response, please read the May 2 edition of The GRIP.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Local authorities are reporting that a missing Griffin child has been located.

The young boy, who had been missing since Thursday evening, was located Friday morning.

According to Sgt. Kelly McKinney, of the Griffin Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, the boy was unharmed.

“He was located this morning and turned over,” McKinney said. “He was fine and safe.”

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has completed its investigation into complaints filed by five female employees of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and released its findings regarding allegations against David Gibson, former captain of the Uniform Patrol Division, and Sheriff Wendell Beam, both of whom are being sued in their personal and professional capacities.

In letters of determination regarding each complainant, Director of the EEOC Atlanta District Office Bernice Williams-Kimbrough stated the Commission’s investigation disclosed sufficient evidence to support allegations of wrongdoing.

The letters pertaining to Melanie Bowen and Misty Piper state, “Charging party alleges that she was subjected to sexual harassment, a hostile work environment and retaliated against after she refused the sexual advances of her supervisor.”

The letters pertaining to Karen Law, Jessica Kelley and Kimberly Barnett state, “Charging party alleges that she was subjected to sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.”

The EEOC acknowledges that the respondent, Beam, denies his female employees’ allegations, the federal Commission stated its investigation “disclosed sufficient evidence to support” the five charging parties’ allegations.

Furthermore, Williams-Kimbrough stated, “The evidence shows that Respondent was aware of the sexually hostile work environment and failed to take corrective action.”

She went on to say, “Based on the foregoing, there is reasonable cause to believe the Charging Party has been subjected to discrimination, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.”

As part of its investigation, the EEOC requested Mary Katz, the attorney representing the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Wendell Beam and Spalding County, provide information. Among the records used in reaching the EEOC determination were the Internal Affairs report of investigation, the report of the administrative Internal Affairs investigation conducted by Capt. Ronald Brainard, of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and the report of the criminal investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The EEOC also requested a list of all employees during the relevant period – which was identified as Jan. 1, 2012 through Nov. 10, 2015. Among the information required to be provided was the name of all employees, contact information (last known address and phone number), date of hire, position title, current status (whether still employed, voluntary resignation, retirement, etc.) and date of discharge.

The complete personnel records to include any retirement and disciplinary documents of both Capt. David Gibson and Sheriff Wendell Beam were also required. Finally, the EEOC required the Sheriff’s Office to provide copies of all documented complaints of sexual harassment received by any and all departments within the organization from any employee from the Sheriff’s Office during the relevant period of Jan. 1, 2012 through Nov. 10, 2015.

Each of the charging parties – Melanie Bowen, Misty Piper, Karen Law, Jessica Kelley and Kimberly Barnett – have also filed federal lawsuits based on the allegations made in their Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints. Each of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office employees is seeking approximately $2 million in damages.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Publisher’s note – This is the second in a series of four articles about a use of force incident in the Spalding County Jail, its Internal Affairs investigation, the outcome and alleged ongoing racial tension at the facility. To read the first article, please visit http://www.the-grip.net.

An Internal Affairs investigation following a use of force incident in the Spalding County Jail resulted not only in confirmation that excessive force was used, but in complaints of hostility – including allegations of racial hostility – among some staff members of at least one shift.

During Investigator Vickie Massengale-Clift’s interview of Deputy Robert French, he also gave a detailed account of the isolation cell incident involving prisoner Emily Gasaway, Deputy Jamie Cain, Deputy Ivanna Washington and other jail employees.

“Later in the interview, Deputy French stated that during the altercation, he observed closed hand punches being thrown by Deputies Cain and Washington while they had the inmate in the corner. He also stated that he observed Deputy Rutledge strike the inmate two or three times,” Massengale-Clift reported. “He further stated that he felt that none of this would have ever been brought to light had he not pressed the issue with Sgt. Law. He stated that he didn’t understand why this issue took so long to be brought forward for an investigation.”

Also interviewed was Deputy Anna Powell, who first encountered Gasaway as she was being booked into the jail.

Describing her as appearing to be lacking short term memory, Powell said it took effort to keep Gasaway focused. She said Gasaway later became “antsy” and began to tap the holding cell door with her foot, and she was instructed more than once to sit down.

“At this point in the interview, Deputy Powell became emotional and her eyes welled with tears. She stated, ‘…you just don’t know how hard this is on me…but right is right and wrong is just dad-gum wrong,’” Massengale-Clift reported.

Powell then recounted that after Law told Gasaway to sit down, Washington “went gung ho, grabbed the cell keys and said, ‘No, no, no, we ain’t gonna put up with this,’” the report read.

Washington, Cain and French then began to transport Gasaway to the isolation cell.

Soon after, a call for assistance was issued, which led to numerous jail staff personnel responding to the isolation cell.

Powell said that upon arriving at the isolation cell, she was unable to ascertain why a call for assistance had been made.

“She advised that when she got there, Ms. Gasaway was standing against the wall with her hands pulled up to her chest. Deputy Powell stated that she didn’t understand why there was a 10-78 (assistance needed) call when the girl was just standing against the wall with her hands pulled up against her,” Massengale-Clift said.

Asked what was being said at that time, Powell said Cain and Washington appeared to be “on an adrenaline high,” that French had his Taser unholstered and Washington was telling him to use his Taser on Gasaway.

Powell recounted not understanding why Washington asked French to Taser the prisoner when she had a Taser of her own that could be used if necessary.

“Deputy French told them, ‘No, I’m not going to Tase her. She’s compliant.’ Deputy Powell recalled that Deputy Washington told Ms. Gasaway something like, ‘You’re gonna get your ass on that bed,’ to which Ms. Gasaway replied, ‘I’m just standing here. I’m not doing anything wrong. Deputy Powell stated that Ms. Gasaway was still standing against the wall with her arms against her chest. Deputy Washington then said, ‘Oh, hell, no. You’re gonna get on that bed.” Next thing Deputy Powell knows, Deputy Washington lunges at Ms. Gasaway and grabs her.”

According to Powell, there were so many people in the isolation cell that she was unable to determine precisely what was happening, but from what she could tell, Cain, Rutledge and Washington had a hold of Gasaway.

As Deputy Victor Shamlin began to enter the cell, Powell discouraged him stating there were already too many people in there. Powell said Shamlin continued on and entered the cell, and Powell said, “Okay, there’s already too many in there and this is out of control bad.”

Deputy Justin Zambujo then entered the cell with handcuffs, and Powell told him they were unnecessary because Gasaway was down on the bed and compliant.

“Zambujo enters anyway and he and Deputy Shamlin put handcuffs on Ms. Gasaway. Deputy Shamlin then asks Deputy Cain, ‘Where is she going? Where are we taking her?”

Powell said when Cain responded that Gasaway was remaining in the isolation cell, Shamlin appeared to be shocked.

“Deputy Shamlin then asked if they were going to leave the handcuffs on her or not. Deputy Cain responds, ‘I don’t care. She can go to hell as far as I’m concerned,’” Powell reported.

She then tells Zambujo and Shamlin that Gasaway cannot be left handcuffed in the cell as she is compliant and not combative.

The handcuffs were removed and as the remaining deputies left the cell, Powell reported Rutledge said, “I hope she does because I wanna get a couple more good licks in on her anyway.”

Powell said she attempted to speak with Law, but during their conversation, Washington and Rutledge entered to tell their side of the incident.

Powell said she also encouraged French to speak with Law, but he expressed concern that he would “catch backlash.”

Powell also confirmed to Massengale-Clift that it is common policy for an inmate to be checked by medical staff any time there is a hands-on situation. That did not occur at the time of the Gasaway incident.

When asked if there is tension between employees on the shift, Powell said there was animosity at that time. She was asked if anyone in particular seemed to be a target.

“She hesitated and stated, ‘I need my little job…’ She then followed up and advised, ‘Yeah…You do have the, um, race thing,’” the report stated. “She was asked if that was present before the incident. She advised that it wasn’t as extreme before, but it was there. She also advised that a shift meeting was called by Sgt. Law several months (sic), where Sgt. Law advised them that she wanted to make it clear to her shift that there was not a clique on the shift and she was not in a clique. Deputy Powell stated that the meeting didn’t solve any of the problems and it didn’t help. She stated the ‘non-clique’ is an unspoken thing and everyone comes to work now and ‘just deals with it.’”

Please see the May 16 edition of The GRIP for the third article in this series.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Only two days remain in early voting for the May 24 General Primary.

According to Spalding County Election Supervisor Terry Colling, voters will have had 11 days prior to May 24 to cast their ballots in person, and absentee ballots may also be requested.

Spalding County residents may vote early at the Office of Elections and Voter Registration located at 825 Memorial Drive.

Registered voters may walk in at any time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday from now until May 20.

Saturday voting will be held at the same location from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14.

Spalding County Election Supervisor Terry Colling said residents must already be registered to vote to participate in Georgia’s General Primary.

“The deadline to register for that was last Tuesday (April 26),” she said.

Absentee voting is another option, but Colling said those wishing to vote absentee must submit an application. That application may be found on the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office website at http://sos.ga.gov/.

Colling explained that voters will have multiple ballots from which to choose.

“They can select nonpartisan, but that’s just the judicial candidates that don’t run with the party, but it is also on the party ballots,” she said. “Nonpartisan and independent are not the same thing. Nonpartisan is like the Superior Court judges, Probate Court judges, Board of Education, those type things. That is all that is on that ballot. There’s no Sheriff there’s no nothing else. If they want to vote of the County Commission, Sheriff, Clerk of Court, that type stuff, they have to either pick a Republican ballot or Democratic ballot.”

Photo identification will also be required of all voters.

That may include any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a free ID card issued by your county registrar’s office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services; a Georgia driver’s license, even if expired; a valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency or entity of the United States government, Georgia or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state; a valid U.S. Passport ID; valid U.S. Military photo ID or a valid tribal photo ID.

For additional information, please contact Election Supervisor Terry Colling at 770.467.4245 or tcolling@spaldingcounty.com.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

The Butts County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation of a late Friday night drive-by shooting that took the life of a Griffin teenager and left three others wounded.

According to Maj. Darrell Powers, of the Butts County Sheriff’s Office and the lead investigator in the case, the incident occurred on at approximately 12:30 a.m. at a graduation party being held on Levi Barnes Road.

“This party was a party for a young lady that was graduating high school that had recently moved here from Griffin. So, the people that were originally at the party, I didn’t speak to anybody last night – and I was the first investigator on the scene – that was from Jackson,” Powers said. “All were from Griffin, and as best as we can tell, the other crowd that showed up – that did the drive-by – was from Griffin, as well.”

Powers said the crowd at the party was estimated at between 150 and 175, and that multiple others are believed to have been involved in the shooting.

“At this time, we think that there were multiple weapons and multiple gunmen,” he said.

Powers did confirm investigators believe some of those in attendance at the graduation party returned fire on the drive-by gunmen.

Due to the early status of the investigation, Powers is withholding specific information regarding the types of weapons used and the number of casings recovered at the scene.

Cederrius Hastings, the 16-year-old killed in the incident, sustained a single gunshot wound to the chest. Hastings was a Griffin High School student and a member of the football team.

The three surviving victims also sustained a single gunshot wound each.

“They were transported to Macon. They were transported by ambulance, by bus,” Powers said. “None of the others have life threatening injuries. However, two of them do have serious injuries. The fourth was treated and released.”

When asked if the investigation has indicated this fatal drive-by shooting was gang-related, Powers said, “At this point, we cannot confirm that.”

He later added, “As soon as we have it confirmed – if we do confirm that it involved gangs – we’re gonna go head strong into it. We’re not going to back down.”

Powers said no one has been taken into custody, but the investigation has revealed useful information.

“We do have some leads in it and we do have some people of interest,” he said.

STAFF REPORT :::

Two individuals have been arrested in connection to a Friday night shooting in Jackson that took the life of Cederrius Hastings, a 16-year-old Griffin High football player, and left three others wounded.

At approximately 12:30 a.m. May 21, deputies of the Butts County Sheriff’s Office responded to persons shot at a residence on Levi Barnes Road. Upon arrival deputies discovered 4 victims that had been struck. Three of the victims are stable at this time. One of the victims is deceased. All four victims are from Griffin.

Butts County investigators have worked tirelessly since the incident and as of today, May 23, two suspects have been arrested and are being held at the Butts County Jail on charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Suspects are Gemarius “Gee” Oneal, a 19-year-old black male from Griffin, and Christopher “Ray Ray” Walker, a 19-year-old black male from Flovilla.

“As the investigation continues, we expect more arrests to follow. I want to personally thank District Attorney Richard Milam and his staff, Chief James Morgan and the Jackson Police Department, Chief Mike Yates and the Griffin Police Department, Sheriff Wendall Beam and the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office along with the citizens of Butts and Spalding counties for their assistance in the investigation. I commend my deputies and Investigators for their determination in identifying and arresting those responsible,” said Butt’s County Sheriff Gary Long. “My office has received questions about this shooting being gang-related. Our investigation has revealed this shooting was not gang related. This was student athletes from Jackson and Griffin fighting when the shots were fired, unfortunately striking the four victims. I ask everyone to keep the families affected by this senseless act of violence in your thoughts and prayers.”

STAFF REPORT :::

The age of technology has certainly made life more convenient, but also more dangerous. Prompted by requests from the public, the Griffin Police Department (GPD) has been looking for ways to make online purchases and exchanges safer for citizens of Griffin. On Monday June 6, GPD took a huge step toward this goal by offering their parking lot as a meeting place for shoppers who have purchased online.
“We’ve had several citizens reach out to us on social media over the past few months about their desire for us to provide an online purchase and exchange zone,” said Griffin Police Lt. Darrell Dix. “The parking lot has always been well-covered by surveillance cameras and with the recent addition of a new pan, tilt, zoom camera which covers the medication disposal box, we figured it was a good time to add the purchase-exchange zone as well.”
Installing the sign was inspired by the nearly 100 police departments across the country that have already created safe zones. 

“We saw how well these zones have been working in other places and decided it was time to create one here,” said Police Chief Mike Yates. “Our parking lot is already used as a safe zone for things like child custody exchanges, and it made sense to offer it as a safe place to exchange goods purchased online.”
In addition to multiple cameras covering the location, the zone is also strategically placed just feet from the entrance to the Police Department. Although the location is well lighted, secure and monitored by cameras, the department stresses that when making Internet exchanges, it is always important to make sure friends or family know where you are going, or to bring someone along with you.

For additional information about the city of Griffin, please visit www.cityofgriffin.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofgriffin and on Twitter @CityofGriffin.

STAFF REPORT :::

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:

Texting

Grooming

Reading, including maps

Using a navigation system

Watching a video

Adjusting a radio, CD player or MP3 player

Eating and drinking

The Griffin Police Department’s Distracted Driving Initiative has been enacted. The goal of the Police Department is to make the roads safer for everyone. Police officers will be looking for distracted drivers and issuing tickets for those who choose to drive while distracted. For example, weaving over the roadway may be a result of a person being distracted using a device. Keep in mind that texting while driving (or stopped at a traffic light, etc.), by itself is illegal and you could be issued a citation. The Griffin Police Department would like to remind all motorists that distracted driving is dangerous driving.

Driving while distracted will cost you the price of a ticket, but it could also cost you your life or the life of someone else.

Please arrive safe don’t drive distracted. Contact the Griffin Police Department if you have any questions regarding the law. (770) 229-6450.