Photo courtesy of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office

STAFF REPORT :::

A man being sought after allegedly fleeing from law enforcement Thursday has been apprehended.

Pike County Sheriff Jimmy Thomas on Thursday reported that his agency was involved in a vehicle pursuit that began in Meriwether County and crossed over into Pike. Pike County deputies joined the pursuit of the suspect, now identified as Michael Chase Moore, in the area of River Road.

Authorities say the “recklessness of the driver and his disregard for the safety of citizens” led to multiple pit maneuver attempts on the vehicle.

Officials say Thomas successfully executed a PIT maneuver on the vehicle for the final time as the driver attempted to cut through a resident’s yard.

After reportedly striking their fence, the driver fled the scene on foot.

A passenger in the vehicle was turned over to the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office.

The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit assisted in searching the area and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office provided additional bloodhounds to attempt to track Moore, but he was not immediately located.

The search for Moore continued into the night and he was ultimately apprehended when he was found hiding in a draining ditch.

Moore remains in custody with charges pending.

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STAFF REPORT :::

A man being sought in connection to a violent home invasion has been apprehended by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office.

According to Sheriff Darrell Dix, 27-year-old Taveyez Brown was taken into custody after his office received a lookout on him from the Griffin Police Department.

Brown, who had several outstanding warrants for his arrest, was arrested June 18 after a brief standoff.

Dix said deputies from the SCSO Uniform Patrol Division and Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement (CAGE) Unit worked together and developed leads that led them to 1714 Summerwoods Lane.

“Before attempting to contact Brown we set up a perimeter around the residence to contain him if tried to flee and due to the severity of his charges. Once the perimeter was in place, deputies approached the residence and attempted to make contact. Other Deputies on the perimeter team saw two occupants, one of which was positively identified as Taveyez Brown, run to the back door and try to exit,” Dix said. “When they saw the deputies waiting on them outside, they stopped, began closing window blinds, and refused to exit the house. Now knowing that Brown and others were inside the house, deputies continued their attempts to communicate with the occupants and get them to come out. There was still no response from inside. The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was called to respond to the scene as a search warrant for the residence was being obtained.”

While awaiting the SWAT Team’s arrival, personnel on scene continued trying to communicate with Brown and the others inside the residence. They were ultimately successful in deescalating the situation.

“For more than 30 minutes we continued making attempts to communicate with the Brown and the other occupants and continued to ask them to come out and surrender. Just as our SWAT team officers began arriving on scene, Brown and 5 other occupants exited the house and surrendered to deputies,” Dix said. “Brown was taken into custody without further incident. The other five occupants were temporarily detained until they were identified and checked for warrants. One of them, identified as Kytavious Price, 18 years of age, was arrested for an outstanding family violence warrant, the others were released after being questioned.”

Brown was arrested on charges of home invasion, aggravated battery, two counts of battery under the Georgia Family Violence Act, simple battery under the Georgia Family Violence Act, cruelty to children, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, two counts of criminal trespass, criminal damage to property, fleeing and attempting to elude, seatbelt violation and unlawful use of a telecommunications device during the commission of a crime.

He is being held in the Spalding County Jail.

Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
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Photo of Ray Harps Muhammad captured from Facebook live video

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

A Facebook live video recorded by Griffin resident Ray Harps Muhammad has been forwarded to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and potentially to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix and Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates both say they perceived a statement Muhammad made as a threat against them.

“I heard what he said. He said, ‘If y’all move on me, Sheriff Dix and Chief Yates, I’ll kill you. Move on me – whatever that means,” Yates said. “We are aware of his comments. We have made note of them and we will handle them appropriately.”

Yates said he believes that statement “would meet the context of a terroristic threat and act.”

Dix concurred with Yates’ assessment of Muhammad’s statement.

“Yes, I did. After viewing other videos that he’s posted and the comments that he has made, yes, I take it very seriously. I watched the video and I perceived his comment as being a threat to me, and as soon as I was made aware of it, I contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), as far as I know, has been contacted, as well,” Dix said. “Since I’m an elected official, I felt that it would be better if an outside agency looked at this so there will be no claims of misconduct, prejudice or abuse of authority.”

Dix said he is uncertain if a formal investigation is being conducted by either the GBI or FBI.

When asked if he believes statements such as that made by Muhammad may incite others, Yates said it could have the potential to encourage violence.

“It’s always possible that his rhetoric could adversely affect someone and contribute to them doing something foolish,” he said.
In response to the same question, Dix stated, “Yes, I do. I actually do because there are people across this country openly calling for LEOs to be killed, and yes, I take it very seriously in light of current events.”

Dix explained there is a fine line between expressions protected by the First Amendment and threats. As a law enforcement officer and elected official, he is accustomed to harsh criticism, but said threats will not be ignored.

“You can dislike me. You can hate me, and you can talk ugly about me. That comes with the job. That’s part of it and that doesn’t bother me at all, but when it gets to the point that you are threatening me, that is a totally different ballgame. Lots of times, people walk a very thin line between the two,” he said.

Asked if he believes Muhammad’s statement crossed that line, Dix said, “To me personally, I believe it crossed the line. Whether the courts view it that way or the people investigating it view it that way is a totally different thing.”

Dix later added, “A lot of what he said and the way he said it, it’s going to be open to interpretation of the law and how it applies to what he said as to whether it was a criminally chargeable terroristic threat or somebody just reacting to what’s going on in the country right now.”

Muhammad staunchly denies having threatened any act of violence against anyone, particularly Dix and Yates. He says to assume he did so would require his statement to be taken out of context.

In the Facebook live video posted Friday, June 19, a few hours prior to a protest in downtown Griffin organized by Muhammad, the activist first spoke extensively to community members, particularly Black residents.

Leading up to his statement regarding Dix and Yates, Muhammad, addressing Black men and women, said, “Leave me alone. Let me be about the business of my Father’s work or I’ll come and see your ass on another level. Leave me the hell alone. And I hope I’m perfectly clear to all of you negroes down here. I don’t care what religion you’re in. I don’t care what your ethnicity is. I don’t care what your gender is. I’m about the business of trying to save the lives of Black people and when you anger a peaceful man – I am a very peaceful brother. I really am. I ain’t started nothing down here. I try not to violate their law. I may speed from time to time and you give me a ticket when I speed, but if you make any moves on me, g**damnit. You make some moves this way, we’ll kill everything. Don’t make a move on me, bruh. I’m not that type of brother, but if you have that sick mind and that sick mentality, we will send you back to your maker. You’d best leave me alone and let me be about the business of trying to help our people because if you make a move on me, g**damnit, we’ll tear this g**damn town up. And I want to be perfectly clear with that. I’ve got men in the field. You don’t even know who backs me up. You don’t even know who loves me down here that I have to hold them back when they think you’re bothering me. These young brothers love me down here because they see me as the voice that they’ve been waiting to hear. And some of you scared to death preachers, chicken eating and biscuit eating ni**ers. Leave me alone, brothers. Leave me alone. Let me be about the business of trying to help our people, because if you, I’m telling you.”

Muhammad then specifically addressed Dix and Yates with the same admonition.

“And I know Sheriff Dix is listening to this. I know Chief Yates is listening to this, but I’m going to say it publicly. You make a move on me, and you come after me, we’re going to kill your ass. I promise you that. God as my witness on that one,” Muhammad said. “Don’t make a move on a peaceful man. Don’t make that move. I wouldn’t make that mistake if I was you. You’d better listen to what I’m telling you because I’ll give a war cry down here in a minute if you bother me, man. You make a move on me physically, we will destroy this g**damn town.”

In a subsequent interview with The GRIP, Muhammad repeated sentiments he had expressed Monday in a separate Facebook live video in which he denied having threatened direct harm to anyone.

“Here’s the thing. There’s been a lot of threats coming at me from white people. It seems like my page has become the Spalding County Discussion Page. It’s the things you would expect when you’re confronting a racist system of things that needs to be changed,” he said. “It was in that vein that we were having that discussion. I was telling them that if these people who have made these threats come at me. The bottom line was because of so many death threats coming at me, so many threats of bodily harm coming at me. It’s because we come at this systemic racism that people are angered and are threatening me.”

Muhammad remains unapologetic for his statements and is insistent he was merely responding to others’ threats including some referencing a tank being driven through his home and other that he said mentioned him hanging by a noose.

“You’re speaking about killing me, about bringing harm to me. If you come at me to bring harm to me, we will fight back. We will kill you,” he said. “If you attack, then we defend. It was never about we’re going to attack for no reason. As a Muslim, we have no right to fight unless in defense, so it was in that vein – having received so many threats from white folks.”

He insists he has no violent intentions and wants to bring about change peacefully.

“I don’t want harm to come to anyone. I don’t want this to be about Ray and violence. I want this to be about peace, but I believe them when they say they’re going to do something to me,” Muhammad said.

He said he has not been contacted by the GBI regarding any investigation of his recorded statements, but he did respond to learning it had been turned over to the state law enforcement agency.

“Well, here’s the thing as it relates to being investigated for speaking the truth. As you go through history, you can recall Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Angela Davis, Marcus Garvey, Fred Hampton and the Black Panther Party, Kwame Ture, who was Stokely Carmichael during the 60s, and all the way back to Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. You can list all the Black people who have moved for progress and equality. They’ve all been investigated,” he said. “I’m just trying to do in my little short time on earth what all these ancestors did.”

Muhammad said he believes he is led by God to speak out and take action, just as the others he mentioned where “commissioned by God to do this job, too.”

“You’re putting it all on the line when you’re fighting for justice and equality for black people who have been oppressed since our sojourn here,” he said. “It seems to me the system is feeling threatened based on truth. It isn’t based on anyone going out and killing someone. In fact, all the names I just listed don’t have any history of going out and killing anyone, but there is a history of the system going out and killing these people who have spoken out against injustice. I see it as the price that one must pay for speaking the truth.”

Muhammad expressed that the reactions of some white Griffin residents, along with the views expressed by Dix and Yates, were unsurprising to him.

“So, when you go after a system that’s been out there for over 400 years, it’s going to produce a lot of powerful enemies. It’s going to produce anger in those individuals who would love for the system to remain the same. It’s going to produce death threats and propaganda,” he said. “It appears that J. Edgar Hoover is still alive because the tactics he used in the 50s and 60s are alive and well today. When someone begins to disturb the status quo, the propagandists begin doing what they do.”

Dix said he has been taken aback by statements made by Muhammad, who he once met with at the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office.

“The meeting I had with him in I believe 2017 was very productive and we covered a lot of ground. We had quite a lengthy conversation and I thought it went well. That’s what makes what’s going on now so difficult to understand. I know he puts out a lot of hate about me, but he hasn’t spoken to me again since our original meeting in 2017,” Dix said.

Like Muhammad, Dix also expressed his desire for peace in the Griffin-Spalding County community and said he urges those upset by Muhammad’s comments to remain calm.

“I have been inundated with phone calls, text messages and social media messages about this threat and this video and I’m asking everybody to just stay calm about it and let things run their course, don’t overreact to it and everybody just stay calm about it. I have a duty as a constitutional officer to respect everyone’s First Amendment rights whether I agree with what’s being said or not. The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, but it does not give you the right to go around threatening to kill people. You have freedom of speech, but there’s also responsibility involved in that,” Dix said. “My goal in this whole thing is for everything to be peaceful and for everything to be calm and for people to be able to sit down and have an honest dialogue about things. That is the only way we’re going to be able to hash out these problems we have, and that’s across the country. We have to be able to sit down and have honest dialogue and put aside all the rhetoric.”

While Dix and Yates say they do believe Muhammad’s statements constitute a credible terroristic threat, neither law enforcement executive has been deterred.

“I’m out and about in this community all the time and if anyone wants to find me, I’m not that hard to find,” Dix said.

“It’s not the first time that I’ve had threats like that made and you take them all with some seriousness, but you have to consider the source,” Yates said. “In the context of the rhetoric of what he usually spews, I don’t really take it differently than what he usually does but he usually isn’t so specific in it. From looking at his videos, he seems to be a little unhinged, so that adds some air of caution to it.”

Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
While the news will always be free for all, it is far from free to produce. That’s why The GRIP needs your support.
Your support will enable The GRIP to continue to provide relevant news in your community and beyond. It’s quick and painless. Just click this link: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16902623
All support will be greatly appreciated, whether a small one-time donation or recurring monthly gift.
Thank you!

Photo of Ray Harps Muhammad captured from Facebook live video

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Griffin resident Ray Harps-Muhammad will not be facing a criminal charge of terroristic threats related to a video posted on his Facebook page last week.

The GRIP learned today that Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder determined Harps-Muhammad’s actions did not meet the statutory requirements for prosecution.

“Marie and the Sheriff and others involved in all this discussed it. I believe Marie consulted with the GBI about it, as well,” said Chief Assistant District Attorney David Studdard. “The consensus was that Mr. Muhammad’s comments did not rise to the level required by the statute to charge him with terroristic threats.”

Studdard explained this decision was reached after a careful review of Harps-Muhammad’s precise statements.

“I know that sounds crazy to the layperson who hears someone ranting, ‘If you do this I will…’ But the statute is clear on this. The threat can’t be conditional. It’s a tricky statute,” he said.

He then elaborated on the difference between constitutionally protected speech and that which may result in arrest.

“You certainly have a First Amendment right up until you risk or put other people in danger or put someone in reasonable fear or apprehension that you’re going to kill or do something to harm them. I mean, you can’t yell fire in a theater and cause everything that may flow from that. It’s the same analogy,” Studdard said. “And hence the terroristic threat statute. I think that’s why the legislators wrote the law the way it is, because the First Amendment is a sacred thing. I think that’s why the bar is so high.”

Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix requested the GBI investigate to determine if statements Harps-Muhammad made violated Georgia law.

While the GBI did consult with Broder, Public Affairs Director Nelly Miles said Friday that the state law enforcement agency “did not open up an investigation.”

Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates, who also perceived Harps-Muhammad’s statements to be a terroristic threat, responded to the DA’s decision not to bring a criminal charge.

“Prosecution of these matters are at the discretion of the State be it the State Court Solicitor or the DA; whether I agree personally or not is a moot point,” Yates said.

Dix said he also accepts Broder’s determination that Harps-Muhammad’s statement did not constitute a crime.

“You have to apply the letter of the law to the action that’s taken and you have to look at the law and how it applies to what you believe the offense is and if it doesn’t apply – if the law doesn’t say it’s a violation of the law – as much as you might not like it, that’s why the law is written,” Dix said. “This is exactly why I didn’t rush out and want to start taking warrants on people or any of that stuff. I wanted someone from the outside to look at it and see if the law applied. That’s why I took this approach. It made a lot of people mad and it disappointed me that this would be said about me and the Chief, but you have to abide by the letter of the law. I stand by and support the decision of our district attorney.”

When informed he would not be facing prosecution, Harps-Muhammad responded with gratitude.

“Well, first of all, I would like to say I appreciate whoever made that decision. I did not think I did anything that warranted prosecution. I did not threaten the Sheriff or the Police Chief. What they did do, however, is take my words out of context. If they had paid closer attention, what I did was respond to a lot of threats that were coming my way. Responded to them based on what they were saying to me about taking a tank through my house, and I even got some comments about nooses – about me hanging by a noose. And then there were the racial epithets – being called a ni**er. That’s what I was responding to, but again, I never threatened the Sheriff of the Police Chief,” Harps-Muhammad said. “I am thankful that the DA has taken a look at that and determined they won’t move forward with prosecution.”

Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
While the news will always be free for all, it is far from free to produce. That’s why The GRIP needs your support.
Your support will enable The GRIP to continue to provide relevant news in your community and beyond. It’s quick and painless. Just click this link: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16902623
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Suspect photo courtesy of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office

STAFF REPORT :::

Officials say a drug deal gone bad resulted in an armed robbery in Pike County Friday afternoon.

Deputies of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of an armed robbery at a Coggins Street residence just past 3 p.m.

The alleged victim reported having been robbed at gunpoint of several hundred dollars.

Authorities say they determined the robbery resulted from a drug deal gone bad.

According to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect was alleged to have been delivering marijuana to the man when he instead pointed a handgun at his head and demanded his money.

They say that after obtaining his wallet, the man fled the scene in a silver Mustang.

Investigators identified the suspect as 19-year-old Anthony Watts, of Spalding County.

The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and assisted PCSO investigators who went to a Spalding residence in an attempt to locate Watts.

While at the Spalding County residence, Watts was spotted driving the silver Mustang on Old Atlanta Road.

After spotting law enforcement officials, Watts allegedly fled the area. The vehicle pursuit ended when a PIT maneuver was performed by a Spalding County deputy.

Watts was taken into custody and will face charges of armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

He is being held in the Pike County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

Watts will face additional fleeing and attempting to elude charges in Spalding County.

Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
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SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix has responded to community concerns following a Friday night incident at Griffin Skate Inn.

Dix said he can confirm a fight occurred, but stated he is unaware of the involvement of any weapons.

“As far as I know – this is what was reported to us – there was a large fight involving multiple people. I have not seen any report or heard anything from my deputies that a shot was fired,” Dix said. “The call came out to the 911 center as a large fight with no weapons involved. I do know that for a fact.”

The fight was reported to authorities just before 11 p.m.

Dix referenced and forwarded to The GRIP a social media post attributed to Griffin Skate Inn that also denied gunshots were fired during the incident.

“We would like to address what happened last night at the rink. 10 minutes before closing we had a fight start and law enforcement was called. At no point was a gun pulled out or anyone shot. We take the safety of our customers very serious. We have put a new system in place for drop offs to be signed however we encourage parents to come out and stay with their children. We have security and cameras that record everything but at the end of the day the kids need to know not to fight. Again NO SHOOTING, NO GUN (sic all) (emphasis theirs),” the statement read.

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The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
While the news will always be free for all, it is far from free to produce. That’s why The GRIP needs your support.
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SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

The GBI investigation of Lt. Josh Pitts, of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, is ongoing. The GRIP first reported June 8 that Pitts is being investigated by the GBI at the request of Sheriff Darrell Dix.

As the case is ongoing, Dix has newly confirmed that Pitts’ status is unchanged.

“Josh is on paid administrative leave,” he said, confirming no further action has been taken against the narcotics agent. “There has been no administrative action against Josh Pitts. He has not been demoted. He has not been transferred. He has not been fired. He is on administrative leave until the investigation is over with.”

A second deputy involved in the incident – Conner Dix – has been the subject of disciplinary action.

“As part of the investigation, I became aware of a policy violation. He (Conner Dix) was suspended for three days without pay and the policy, as written, was reviewed and rewritten so that it would not be vague in the least bit. But the policy was rewritten,” Sheriff Dix said. “He is not being investigated by the GBI.”

Deputy Conner Dix, who served in the SCSO Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement (CAGE) Unit at the time of the incident, has since been transferred to the Warrant Division, but Sheriff Dix said that move was unrelated to any disciplinary action.

“Conner moving out of the CAGE Unit and into the warrant division had nothing to do with the complaint made that is being investigated by the GBI on Josh Pitts. They are unrelated. Conner was there when the incident happened and for his part, disciplinary action has been taken. His move out of the CAGE Unit was not part of the disciplinary action,” Sheriff Dix stated. “Conner transferred voluntarily to the Warrant Division. That’s it. Nobody has been fired. No one has been disciplined outside of what we have talked about. All the talk about Josh being fired and prosecuted, none of that is true. Period.”

Sheriff Dix then addressed the elephant in the room – the fact that Conner Dix is his son.

“He faced disciplinary action just like any of my other deputies would facing the exact same circumstances. He has been cleared by the GBI. He did not violate the law. It was a policy violation. He was interviewed and he was cleared. Based on what I saw, it was a policy violation and so I suspended him without pay,” Sheriff Dix said. “You can’t prosecute someone criminally for a policy violation, but you can discipline them, and he was disciplined just like anyone else would be. Probably harder, actually, because he does have my last name and people look at that more harshly. For the policy violation, there was no verbal warning to him. There was no written warning to him. I suspended him for three days without pay. Like I said, I went straight to suspending him. I was probably more harsh on him than I would have been on anyone else.”

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STAFF REPORT :::

Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency in response to an increase in violent and property crimes in the city of Atlanta.

According to a press release issued by Kemp’s office, he made this declaration “following weeks of dramatically increased violent crime and property destruction” including more than 30 Georgians wounded by gunfire with five confirmed dead over the July 4 weekend.

Kemp’s state of emergency authorizes the activation of up to 1,000 Georgia National Guard troops.

“Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous, destructive agenda. Now, innocent Georgians are being targeted, shot and left for dead,” Kemp said. “This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city. I have declared a State of Emergency and called up the Georgia Guard because the safety of our citizens comes first. This measure will allow troops to protect state property and dispatch state law enforcement officers to patrol our streets. Enough with tough talk. We must protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians.”

National Guard troops will provide support at state buildings including the Georgia State Capitol, the Georgia Department of Public Safety Headquarters and Governor’s mansion. Their support will allow state law enforcement personnel to increase patrols on roadways and throughout communities, especially those in the city of Atlanta, officials said.

Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
While the news will always be free for all, it is far from free to produce. That’s why The GRIP needs your support.
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All support will be greatly appreciated, whether a small one-time donation or recurring monthly gift.
Thank you!

STAFF REPORT :::

Spalding County K9 Deputy Sheriff Matthew Everett was seriously injured in a wreck Tuesday afternoon while driving home from work.

Sheriff Darrell Dix says Everett’s in-car camera recorded the incident and indicates the deputy was not at fault in the collision.

According to Dix, the video showed a pickup truck hydroplaning on the wet roadway, spinning out of control and crossing into Everett’s lane of travel. Authorities say Everett did everything he could to avoid the crash and describe his actions as potentially life-saving – both his own and that of the other driver.

Everett was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital where he is receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the wreck.

“What we know as of now is that he has suffered a break in his C-2 vertebrae, has a broken leg, and a gash on his head that required more than 30 stitches to close. There is no paralysis and surgeons are weighing options for treatment of the spinal break,” Dix said, adding that due to COVID-19, visitors are not permitted, including Everett’s wife. “She was transported to Grady by SCSO Lt. Michael Storey yesterday morning and when they arrived to see Deputy Everett they were informed that they would have to leave. His wife cannot even wait in a waiting room.”

The driver of the pickup, John Desnoyer, of Thomaston, received treatment for minor injuries.

Desnoyer was cited for driving too fast for conditions and failure to maintain lane.

Everett’s K9, Gracie, who was in the patrol vehicle, was not injured.

Everett’s injuries, although severe, were lessened by the attention and help he received from the citizens who saw the crash, stopped, and began rendering aid to him, Dix said.

“On the video you cannot see their faces, but you can hear their voices. We as an agency, and his family, owe a debt of gratitude to them, Pike County Sheriff Jimmy Thomas and the first responders of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office, Pike County Fire, Georgia State Patrol, and Grady EMS who responded, treated, and secured Deputy Everett for transport,” he said. “We are asking the community to please keep Matthew, his wife Kristy, and their family in your prayers as he recovers, and they work through the healing process.”

Everett’s family on Wednesday expressed appreciation for the community’s support and gave Dix an update on his condition.

“I spoke to Mathew’s wife Kristy this morning and she said that he is in a lot of pain and doctors are having a difficult time getting it under control. She wanted me to pass on to everyone that they are thankful for the prayers and support from our community. She said that she did not know they had so many friends and people who cared and supported them. She asked for continued prayers for Matthew and their family,” Dix said. “Matthew is a strong guy and he has a strong family, agency, and community supporting him. We know it’s going to take time, but we all look forward to his full recovery and return to work.”

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STAFF REPORT :::

A woman was killed and a man seriously injured early Sunday morning in a one vehicle wreck in Pike County.

Deputies of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) responded at approximately 3:26 a.m. to the scene on Highway 109 in the area of Weems Road.

Officials say a Kia Sorento was travelling westbound when it left the roadway and struck several trees.

The passenger, 27-year-old Christina Payne, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, 29-year-old Jacob Norton, was airlifted to an Atlanta trauma unit for treatment.

PCSO traffic investigators have not yet determined the cause of the wreck. A blood sample was collected from Norton for blood alcohol and toxicology testing, which will be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab.
Ch
Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
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STAFF REPORT :::

An arrest has been made in the Saturday night murder of 38-year-old Munteshia Brown, whose body was located in a church parking lot. Donald Colquitt, Brown’s boyfriend, has been arrested and will be charged in her death.

According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Brown was found at approximately 9:20 p.m. in the parking lot of Macedonia Baptist Church at the intersection of Old Atlanta and Baptist Camp roads.

“A Deputy had just conducted a traffic stop at the intersection when he heard people yelling at him and trying to get his attention and they directed him to the body. One of the witnesses told the deputy that he had been walking in the area, heard a gunshot, and saw a small black vehicle, possibly a Toyota, speed from the area. As he continued to walk, he saw the body lying in the parking lot and ran to a friend’s house to call for help. He and his friends were all going back to the lot to see if there was anything they could do when they saw the deputy and called out to him,” Dix said. “We immediately called for assistance from WellStar EMS and Spalding Fire. Deputies began checking for vitals on the victim but couldn’t locate a pulse. EMS arrived on scene and could not find any vital signs. They secured the crime scene as Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigators, Crime Scene Unit, and Spalding County Deputy Coroners Michael Pryor and Dwayne Norris were notified and arrived on the scene.”

Investigators were initially unable to identify Brown, but the use of technology aided in determining her identity and allowing officials to notify her family.

“Initially, as investigators began gathering evidence, they couldn’t locate any identification on the female victim or a phone. In this case we were able to use technology we have invested in to identify the victim. This handheld device allows us to take a fingerprint and almost instantly get an identification based on that print. That’s how we were able to identify the victim as 38-year-old Munteshia Brown. Once she was identified we were able to find her relatives in Barnesville and let them know what had happened,” Dix said. “At that point we were able to link her to her boyfriend, Donald Colquitt and link Ms. Brown to the vehicle that the first witness saw speeding from the scene. The vehicle turned out to be her car. We entered it as stolen and put a lookout on it.”

Officials say technology proved to be pivotal in the apprehension of the suspect in Brown’s murder.

“As the investigation continued, we obtained her phone number and began pinging it since it was not on her when she was found. We were able to track the suspect Colquitt believed to still be in her car, as he crossed Alabama and entered Mississippi. We notified the Eupora Mississippi Police Department to a location where we pinged the phone and they were able to locate Ms. Brown’s vehicle and Donald Colquitt at a McDonalds in their city. Colquitt was taken into custody for the stolen car, which is now secured in evidence at their agency. A Ruger 9mm handgun was found in his possession. He is currently in custody at the Webster County Jail. This afternoon Lt. Carrie Williams- James obtained a warrant on Colquitt charging him with Murder. We will obtain further warrants on him for other crimes related to this case as the investigation continues,” Dix said. “My Criminal Investigators, Crime Scene Investigators, and the Spalding County Coroner’s Office worked through the night to identify Ms. Brown, locate her relatives, and start piecing together what led to her death. It was the teamwork of those folks, the Eupora Mississippi Police, and the Webster County Sheriff’s Office that led us to capture Colquitt.”

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STAFF REPORT :::

The Griffin Police Department is investigating a murder that occurred overnight Monday.

GPD officers and personnel of WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital Emergency Medical Services responded at approximately 12:13 a.m. to a call reporting a person shot at 212 Melrose Avenue.

Upon arrival, a deceased man, identified as 46-year-old Robert D. Brown, of Clayton County, was located in the front yard.

Investigators are interviewing multiple people of interest in what is described as an active investigation.

The GRIP will follow this developing story and report additional information as it becomes available.

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STAFF REPORT :::

Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge W. Fletcher Sams has been selected to serve as administrative judge for the Sixth Judicial District of Georgia.

Sams, who was sworn in July 6, is the Griffin Judicial Circuit’s first representation on Georgia’s Judicial Council in more than 20 years.

He will continue to serve as a Superior Court judge while also now having a voice in statewide judicial policies and decisions.

“I am extremely honored and humbled by the faith placed in me by the distinguished judges of this diverse District, especially in light of our current judicial emergency,” Sams said. “I am thrilled to be in a position to provide additional service to the citizens of our District and State in advising and voting on statewide policy. I sincerely solicit everyone’s prayers for the Judicial Council members and for myself that we may serve with wisdom and common sense.”

The selection of Sams drew praise throughout the circuit.

The Honorable Christopher C. Edwards, Chief Judge of the Griffin Circuit, said, “We all heartily congratulate our friend Judge Sams on distinguishing the Griffin Circuit judiciary with his election by the judges of five judicial circuits to the Judicial Council of Georgia, established by law to make important decisions on the operation of all Georgia’s courts. We know Judge Sams will serve with his characteristic wisdom and distinction in guiding us through this most challenging of times for courts.”

“For years I have known that we have something very special in Judge Sams,” said fellow Superior Court Judge Scott Ballard. “It will be fun to watch as the entire state begins to benefit, as we have locally for decades, from his insight and leadership.”

Spalding County Clerk of Superior Court Debbie Brooks said, “The selection of Judge Sams for Administrative Judge of the Sixth District is an excellent choice. His hard work, honesty and dedication has been vital to the Griffin Judicial Circuit. It is a success that is well deserved.”

Superior Court Judge Ben Miller agreed.

“I cannot think of a better time to have Judge Fletcher Sams as our representative on the statewide Judicial Council, as well as our Sixth District Administrative Judge. His thoughtful, common-sense approach to the law will be an asset to help guide all of Georgia’s courts,” Miller said.

“I join my fellow colleagues in congratulating Judge Fletcher Sams on his election to the Statewide Judicial Council and as Chief Administrative Judge for the Sixth Judicial District. His experience and knowledge will certainly be an asset for all of Georgia’s courts,” Superior Court Judge Ben Coker said.

Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore offered Sams his congratulations, saying, “What a great honor. I’m happy for Judge Sams. I’ve known him in the capacities of employer, friend and Superior Court Judge for more than thirty years. I’m confident that his integrity and intellect will serve the Sixth District well. He is an exceptional judge and an honorable man. His work ethic is to be commended. This is a most well-deserved honor.”

Fayette County Clerk of Superior Court Sheila Studdard added, “Judge Fletcher Sams is the perfect individual to represent the Sixth District. He is the embodiment of hard work, fairness and integrity. During this very difficult time, I am comforted by knowing Judge Sams is at the collective helm of Georgia’s judiciary. His experience and wisdom will be applied to many decisions that ultimately affect all of our tomorrows for the better. Thank you Judge Sams for your dedication and service.”

“What an honor to be selected to such an important position,” Pike County Sheriff Jimmy Thomas said. “Congratulations, Judge Sams.”

Finally, Teresa Harper, Upson County Clerk of Superior Court, summed it up.

“I have had the pleasure to work with Judge Sams since 2010. Judge Sams defines what it means to be a judge. He is wise, humble and fair. He sets the bar high and encourages us to all be the best we can be at our professions with integrity and respect,” Harper said. “We are all so proud that he has been chosen to represent our circuit as Administrative Judge for the Sixth District.”

The Sixth Judicial District is comprised of fourteen counties that include the four counties of the Griffin Circuit, Fayette, Spalding, Pike and Upson counties.

Sams was selected to serve by the 32 superior court and senior judges of the District.

STAFF REPORT :::

Investigators have identified a teenager as the suspect in an overnight shooting that left one man dead.

The Griffin Police Department has named 16-year-old Malik Yarbrough as the gunman who shot and killed 46-year-old Robert D. Brown, of Clayton County.

Authorities say numerous interviews were conducted and several search warrants executed in this case, and that based on the information obtained, investigators determined that multiple people including Brown were involved in a dispute prior to the shooting.

Officials responded to 212 Melrose Avenue at approximately 12:13 a.m. in response to a report of a person shot. Brown was located deceased in the front yard.

Warrants have been obtained against Yarbrough felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

The GPD says the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.

Anyone in contact with Malik Yarbrough or who has information pertaining to his whereabouts is asked to call Spalding County E911 at 770.229.9911.

STAFF REPORT :::

A Spalding County Jail inmate assigned to the kitchen detail has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, officials learned of the diagnosis at approximately 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. This marks the first confirmed COVID-19 case at the jail since the outset of the pandemic.

“Unfortunately, this day eventually came due to the number of inmates, arrestees, and staff we have in our facility on a daily basis. The hard work and attention to detail by our detention staff and all of our employees across the agency has proven very successful in delaying what we hoped against hope would not occur in our jail,” the press release stated.

Dr. Robert Hall responded to the Jail and officials met with him regarding the necessary steps to take to stop, contain and further prevent the spread of COVID-19 to additional inmates and staff.

Hall is also conferring with Dr. Getachew Hagos, an infectious disease specialist.

Steps to be taken will include the immediate quarantine of all inmate workers used daily across the Spalding County Jail and testing those inmate workers and Jail staff members that have come in contact with those inmates.

Effected areas will be deep cleaned and misted prior to inmates and staff re-entering those areas. The jail kitchen will also be deep cleaned and misted.

Authorities say they are now working through the process of how to provide meals to inmates for the next seven to 14 days.

Quarantine measures and booking safety protocols for all incoming arrestees and inmates in place since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak will continue. The SCSO will also continue to comply with guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention including social distancing, checking the temperatures of staff and arrestees when entering the jail and arriving for work and a continued reduction in physical contact in and about the facility and on calls for service when possible.

“The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Detention staff and employees’ have done a tremendous job in preventing Covid-19 from entering the jail. We took all of the precautions that we could to stop it from happening and we were successful in those efforts up to this point. We will continue those efforts,” Dix said. “When you are coming into contact with people on calls, while making arrests, and holding people in custody, unfortunately all the precautions you can take sometimes fall short when dealing with something you can’t see.”

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

One man was killed Tuesday afternoon in a wreck on Highway 155 in Spalding County.

According to Sgt. Terry Thompson, of the Georgia State Patrol-Griffin Post, 22-year-old Michael Marcelle, whose license listed a Locust Grove address, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A driver traveling an excessive rate of speed lost control, overturned and was ejected from the vehicle. He died in the process of being ejected,” Thompson said. “It overturned several times. I don’t know how many times.”

The incident occurred at the intersection of Highway 155 and Teamon Road.

Marcelle was travelling alone, and no other vehicles were involved in the incident.

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The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
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Thank you!

Photos courtesy of Burt Crapo

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Downtown traffic came to a standstill at the intersection of Hill and Taylor streets Wednesday afternoon when a tractor trailer struck a brick planter that constructed as part of the city of Griffin Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) project.

Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates said traffic was obstructed while waiting for the damaged truck to be moved from the area. Yates explained the tractor trailer’s tires struck the planter and bent the wheels, leaving the vehicle inoperable.

When asked how long traffic was obstructed, Yates said, “It took a while to get a wrecker out there – because they had to use a wrecker to pull it out of the planter – so I guess about 30 minutes.”

Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith was not surprised the incident had occurred and said he anticipates further problems involving trucks at that intersection.

“We’ve been trying for years to get GDoT (the Georgia Department of Transportation) to re-route State Route 155 to get large truck traffic out of downtown Griffin for years,” he said. “Since we got the LCI in 2006, we’ve been pleading with DOT, but to no avail. But yes, the right hand turns from Highway 16 onto State Highway 16 is going to be a problem until they reroute State Highway 155.”

Asked if he anticipates other larger vehicles such as fire engines and school buses may also have trouble navigating that turn, Smith said, “They’re just going to have to be slow and careful and there may be times they take an alternate route if traffic is slow or backed up, but we’re lucky to have a grid system where there are alternate routes. Since it goes north, south, east and west, you can easily slide over one block and take a different route.”

Options are being considered that would ease deliveries to the downtown area.

“However, we are looking to some solution for delivery trucks that need to deliver downtown. We are looking at some of our off streets – state street and bank street – we’re looking at a way to make those one-way so the trucks will be able to navigate to make deliveries to downtown businesses,” Smith said, adding that the LCI targeted pedestrian use, not trucks.

“The whole purpose of the LCI is to make the downtown area more pedestrian friendly. You can’t really tell it now, but once it’s completed, you will feel much safer on foot,” he said. “The intent wasn’t to make it truck friendly. The intent was to make it more pedestrian friendly, more walkable.”

Smith reiterated his displeasure with the lack of movement on the part of GDoT.

“We’ve been asking for years, but they haven’t approved the rerouting of 155, which in my opinion is rather absurd,” he said.

He estimates the downtown LCI project will be completed around the month of October.

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The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
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Booking photo courtesy of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office

STAFF REPORT :::

A Pike County man has been arrested on multiple counts of sexual exploitation of children. The seven felony charges are related to the alleged possession of child pornography.

Brent Stein, age 67, of Meansville, was on Wednesday arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit with the assistance of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office.

At the time of his arrest, Stein was a teacher at Rock Springs Christian Academy in Milner. Officials say there is no information at this time indicating any Rock Springs Christian Academy students were victimized by Stein.

The execution of a search warrant and Stein’s arrest are related to an investigation conducted by the CEACC and began as a result of a report received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) pertaining to the uploading of numerous images depicting child pornography to a social media site.

Stein is currently being held in the Pike County Jail.

This investigation is part of the ongoing effort by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, housed within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, to identify those involved in the child pornography trade. The ICAC Program, created by the U. S. Department of Justice, was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, the proliferation of child pornography, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.

Anyone with information about this case or other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404.270.8870.

Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
While the news will always be free for all, it is far from free to produce. That’s why The GRIP needs your support.
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Booking photo courtesy of the Spalding County Jail

STAFF REPORT :::

A Spalding County man has been arrested on multiple counts of sexual exploitation of children. The three felony charges are related to the alleged possession of child pornography.

Patrick Finnegan, age 23, of Griffin, was on Wednesday, July 8, arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit with the assistance of the Griffin Police Department.

Finnegan’s arrest is related to an investigation conducted by the CEACC and began as a result of a report received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) pertaining to the uploading of numerous images depicting child pornography to a social media site.

Finnegan is currently being held in the Spalding County Jail.
This investigation is part of the ongoing effort by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, housed within the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, to identify those involved in the child pornography trade. The ICAC Program, created by the U. S. Department of Justice, was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet, the proliferation of child pornography, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims.

Anyone with information about this case or other cases of child exploitation is asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit at 404.270.8870.

Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
The news you find in The GRIP is free for all. You’ll never be hindered by a paywall or limited to only a few articles each month. That’s because knowledge CANNOT be a commodity available only to those with the ability to purchase it.
While the news will always be free for all, it is far from free to produce. That’s why The GRIP needs your support.
Your support will enable The GRIP to continue to provide relevant news in your community and beyond. It’s quick and painless. Just click this link: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16902623
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Booking photo provided by the Griffin Police Department

STAFF REPORT :::

Malik Yarbrough, the 16-year-old suspect charged with murder in the Tuesday shooting death of Robert D. Brown, has been apprehended in Clayton County.

After conducting numerous interviews and executing search warrants in this case, Griffin Police Department (GPD) investigators identified Yarbrough as the suspect in Brown’s murder. After further investigation, they notified the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) that Yarbrough may have fled to that county.

Deputies of the CCSO apprehended the suspect and transported him to GPD headquarters for questioning before he was released to the Spalding County Jail where he remains behind bars.

Authorities allege Yarbrough shot and killed Brown, age 42, of Clayton County, after a dispute involving multiple people.

Brown’s body was located in the front yard of 212 Melrose Avenue at approximately 12:13 a.m. Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Yarbrough has been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Investigators say they expect additional charges will be brought against Yarbrough.

Officials have determined Yarbrough will be tried as an adult.

Please consider financially supporting The GRIP.
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