STAFF REPORT :::

A Griffin man was arrested Friday after appearing at WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital seeking treatment for a gunshot wound.

According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, deputies were called to the hospital at 11 a.m. Feb. 10, in reference to a gunshot victim who had walked into the hospital.

The complainant, identified as Jason Hydrick, a 41-year-old white male, reported that he had been shot while at the intersection of Teamon and Jordan Hill roads.

Officials say Hydrick reported as he was sitting at the intersection, he was approached by an unknown black male who asked him for a cigarette. A physical confrontation ensued and according to Hydrick, the male produced a handgun.

The Sheriff’s Office reports that Hydrick said the weapon discharged during the struggle and the round struck Hydrick in the right leg.

Hydrick allegedly stated that after the shot was fired, the unidentified male fled the scene on foot.

Investigators responded to WellStar SRH and crime scene investigators were dispatched to the crime scene.

Based on physical evidence and their interview of Hydrick, it was determined that he fabricated the entire event. The investigation is ongoing.

The Spalding County Sherriff’s Office has charged Hydrick with false statement, a felony, and is currently being housed in the Spalding County Jail.

STAFF REPORT :::

The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office on Monday arrested three people while serving one felony violation of probation warrant.

According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, the SCSO Warrant Division responded to 1029 West Slaton Avenue to serve a felony violation of probation warrant on Steven Hobbs.

Deputies made contact with Hobbs and he was placed under arrest.

Two additional residents were identified inside the home.

A female, Kimberly McElwaney, was confirmed to have a drug related warrant from Henry County. She was placed under arrest and confessed to having drugs hidden on her person.

Upon further investigation, Jason McSpaddin was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.

Steven Hobbs, a 28-year-old white male, of 1029 West Slaton Avenue, was arrested on felony violation of probation.

Kimberly McElwaney, a 21-year-old white female, of 1029 West Slaton Avenue, was arrested and charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

Jason McSpaddin, a 39-year-old white male, of 1029 West Slaton Avenue, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug related objects and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

All three are being housed at the Spalding County Law Enforcement Complex.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

The GRIP has confirmed that the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a sexual assault that allegedly occurred at Tyus Park on Monday, Feb. 13.

According to Capt. Dwayne Jones, the investigation indicates this is an isolated incident.

“We are investigating a sexual assault that occurred yesterday at Tyus Park,” Jones said. “A suspect has been identified and is an acquaintance of the victim. Further details will be released as the investigation progresses.”

SCSO officials strongly reiterated that this appears to be an isolated incident and that Tyus Park is safe.

The GRIP initiated contact with the Sheriff’s Office after receiving information pertaining to this incident from a concerned Spalding County resident. Anyone with information or questions may contact Sheila Mathews at 770.713.5839 or sheila@the-grip.net.

SUBMITTED :::

Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix reports that a Spalding High School student has been arrested by the school resource officer and charged with possession of a weapon on school campus.

The juvenile was in possession of a knife that was observed by a teacher of the school.

No confrontation or threats were reported against students or staff.

The student was released to the custody of his parents.

SUBMITTED :::

Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old. Breonna Colley was last seen on the morning of Feb. 8, at Spalding High School and later at the Zebulon Road Waffle House.

She is 16 years of age, with brown eyes and brown hair. She is 5’ tall and weighs 100 pounds.

Breonna Colley was last seen wearing a green Army style flight jacket.

Anyone with information on Breonna’s whereabouts is asked to contact Investigator Carrie Williams-James at the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office at 770-467-4282 or cwilliamsjames@spaldingcounty.com.

SUBMITTED :::

A standoff with a Spalding County woman who allegedly assaulted her husband before barricading herself inside their home Sunday morning came to a conclusion hours later following a response by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and Griffin Police Department.

According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, deputies responded at 9:32 a.m. to a domestic disturbance at 505 Barnesville Road.

Upon their arrival, they were informed that Kimberly Tullock had allegedly assaulted her husband and was barricaded inside the residence with a possible firearm.

Her husband was located outside the residence.

Deputies secured the area and called for assistance from the Special Operations Unit (SOU). SOU members arrived and, along with investigators of the Criminal Investigations Division, attempted to establish communications with Tullock.

After several hours, SOU members, with the assistance of the Griffin Police Department Special Response Team (SRT), made entry into the home.

Kimberly Tullock was located and offered resistance. Team members were able to take her into custody without further incident. No injuries were reported.

She was transported by deputies to WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital for an evaluation.

Dix offered his thanks to the Griffin Police Department’s Special Investigative Unit and Special Response Team for their assistance. Additional thanks goes to members of the Spalding County Fire Department and to personnel from WellStar Spalding Regional Emergency Medical Services.

STAFF REPORT :::

Two Spalding County residents have been arrested on more than two dozen drug related and weapons charges.

According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, personnel of the SCSO Special Operations Unit, with assistance from the Uniform Patrol Division, conducted an investigation on Feb. 19, that resulted in the arrests of Rafael Felipe Rivera and Alicia Lynn Lanier, both of 1756 Pine View Drive, Griffin.

As a result of the operation, agents seized one and a half pounds of marijuana, 18.24 grams of cocaine, 23.76 grams of methamphetamine and quantities of Ecstasy, Hydrocodone and Xanax pills.

THC oil and THC “shatter,” which is a marijuana extract, were also recovered.

Additionally, an assault rifle, two handguns, $15,000 in United States currency, a truck, trailer and two four-wheelers were also seized during the operation.

The seized narcotics had a combined estimated street value of approximately $12,000.

Rivera and Lanier were both arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana more than one ounce; possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute; possession of cocaine; possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute; possession of methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute; possession of a schedule II narcotic (Hydrocodone); possession of a schedule IV narcotic (Alprazolam); possession of a schedule I narcotic (THC oil); possession of a schedule I narcotic (Ecstasy); possession of a schedule I narcotic (THC Shatter); nine counts of possession of drug related objects; three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime; theft by receiving a stolen firearm; and three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Rivera was also charged with tail light requirement, driving while license suspended and tag light requirement.

Rivera and Lanier are currently being held at the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Detention facility awaiting their first appearance hearing.

“This is a great example of the hard work that our agents and deputies put in to make Spalding County safer. We are proud of and appreciate these deputies and all the members of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office,” Dix said.

As a reminder, anyone who wishes to report illegal activity can contact the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division at 770.467.4210, and callers can remain anonymous.

STAFF REPORT :::

The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Earl Cherry in the alleged murder of Sandy Cherry, of 104 Pine Glen Mobile Home Park located at 1795 N. McDonough Road.

According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, deputies received a request to conduct a welfare check at that location on the morning of Feb. 23. The request was received at approximately 9:44 a.m when 50-year-old Sandy Cherry’s coworkers reported she was absent from work and had failed to pick up another employee with whom she carpooled.

When deputies arrived at her residence, they made contact with Cherry’s husband, 50-year-old Earl Cherry. The deputies explained why they were at the residence and asked to speak to his wife.

Officials say Earl Cherry refused to allow deputies to speak with her or enter the residence or to check on her, at one point even claiming she was not home and had left after an argument.

Based on their observations at the scene and conflicting stories by Earl Cherry, deputies decided to initiate a search of the residence to check Mrs. Cherry’s welfare.

As soon as they entered the residence, deputies observed a large crime scene and eventually located Sandy Cherry, who was deceased.

Earl Cherry was immediately taken into custody without incident.

Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster and his staff, WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital Emergency Medical Services, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker and Chief Assistant District Attorney Marie Broder also responded to the scene to assist in the investigation.

Earl Cherry has been charged with one count each of murder, felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, concealing the death of another and tampering with evidence.

Dix said our thoughts and prayer go out to these families. We ask the community to keep them in their thoughts and prayers as well as they deal with this tragedy.

STAFF REPORT :::

The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two aggravated assaults that occurred this week, with one suspect currently being in custody.

According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, deputies were dispatched to WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital at 6:20 a.m. Feb. 22, in response to a report of a person with a gunshot wound.

Upon arrival, deputies met with a person who reported they sustained a gunshot wound during an altercation at 38 Cherokee Avenue.

Investigators also arrested Kathryn Wright, of 38 Cherokee Avenue. and charged her with possession of methamphetamine.

This incident remains under investigation and additional information will be released at a later date.

Meanwhile, Wright is now housed at the Spalding County Jail.

On that same date at 10:37 p.m., Spalding County deputies responded to a report of an assault at 210 Larson Lane.

There, deputies located Rodney Greer, of 210 Larson Lane, with lacerations to his back and abdomen. Greer was transported by WellStar Spalding Regional Emergency Medical Services for treatment.

Investigators have charged Mandy Diane Bartlett, of 210 Larson Lane, with aggravated battery and aggravated assault.

Rodney Greer is currently receiving treatment for his injuries at an unnamed hospital.

STAFF REPORT :::

The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of an inmate who died Saturday while being housed in the Spalding County Jail.

According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, 60-year-old Darrell Jones became ill during a routine medication call, and after unsuccessful attempts to save him, he was pronounced dead.

“As Jones was standing with the staff nurse awaiting his nightly medications, he suddenly grasped his chest, fell to the floor and became unresponsive. Medical staff and deputies began rendering aid and located a slight pulse,” the press release stated. “Jones was carried by staff to the Spalding Detention Center Medical facility where they were unable to locate any further vital signs. As a result, they began administering CPR. Paramedics from Spalding Regional EMS were notified and were on scene in less than five minutes. Units of Griffin Fire-Rescue also responded to the complex to assist. Jones was transported to Spalding Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead by the emergency room attending physician.”

Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster and his staff were notified of the death, and responded to both hospital and detention facility.

Foster arranged for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) crime lab to autopsy Jones.

Officials said because Jones’ death occurred while in custody, the housing unit where he was being held was placed on immediate lock down.

Dix has also contacted the GBI and requested the agency investigate the circumstances surrounding Jones’ death.

“As of now, the inmates that were close to the area where the incident occurred and detention staff that were present have been interviewed. The scene was also photographed and processed for any evidence. Autopsy arrangements have been made and hopefully will shed light on the cause of Jones’ sudden death,” Dix said. “The entire incident was captured on the video system located in the housing unit where Jones was being held and there are no indications that any type of violence occurred on the video prior to his death. The statements of the witnesses that were present concur with the video that was captured. That video has been turned over to the GBI as a part of their investigation. At this point all we can do is continue gathering facts and await the results of the autopsy and investigation.”

At the time of his death, Jones was being held in the Spalding County Jail on charges of violation of probation and violation of the Georgia Family Violence Act.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

After countless hours, days, weeks and months became years of preparation and work, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker is now looking back on the trial of Michael Bowman and is comfortable in the knowledge that the man who murdered Griffin Police Department Office Kevin Jordan will never again walk free.

The state had sought the death penalty against Bowman, who killed Jordan – the father of seven children – with five gunshots to the back. Ultimately, Bowman agreed to accept a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole plus 30 years.

This negotiated sentence followed a split verdict with Bowman being found guilty on six

counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and guilty, but mentally ill on six accompanying charges including malice murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault and felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

Coker said upon the trial’s conclusion, he was able to speak with jurors in an effort to understand the basis for the verdict.

“I can’t answer as the part of why the found him guilty, but mentally ill on some, but guilty, but mentally ill on others, but their assessment on the whole was that we did not take mental health seriously enough – the state did not – and that mental health was definitely a factor,” Coker said. “You know, our strategy was to attack the mental health defense because of what not only our expert had said, but also the court expert had said – that he did not suffer from PTSD. They (jurors) indicated that they thought he (Bowman) suffered from a mental illness based upon how he testified on the stand, but they didn’t take into account that he had been shot in the face.”

Although he believed the death penalty was the appropriate sentence, Coker said he accepts the outcome.

“Obviously it wasn’t the verdict we had worked for and hoped for, but I’m at peace with it now,” he said. “It gives some closure to the Jordan family and to the community.”

He then explained his decision to reach a negotiated sentence.

“It was clear after the verdict was returned that the jury was not going to give Mr. Bowman the death penalty. That was the impression that they gave us. They were strongly opposed to the death penalty. At least eight out of the 12 (jurors) were,” Coker said. “After hearing the evidence, had it proceeded to the sentencing phase – see, I took it out of the hands of the jury because I couldn’t take a chance on the jury returning a sentence of life with the possibility of parole. It was clear to me that they were not going to vote for a sentence of death, so I had to do what I needed to do to ensure that he did not have the opportunity to have parole in the future. So, at that point, I worked with the defense team as to a sentence that we could agree upon, and I consulted with the family about that, and they were in accord with it as well. I stand behind it.”

He also clarified that a verdict of guilty, but mentally ill differs from a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

“With guilty, but mentally ill, you still go to prison. You may get treatment in prison, but if you’re not guilty by reason of insanity, you go to a mental institution, not prison,” he said. “He (Bowman) will be in prison…He will die in prison.”

Coker said the trial was difficult, and praised his staff for their efforts to obtain justice for all of Bowman’s victims.

“It was very hard to begin my administration with a death penalty case, but I had a lot of good help and a lot of good support. I’m very proud of the way our trial team performed. It took everyone in our team away from our families and away from our normal day-to-day duties,” he said. “The staff in the other offices in the circuit stepped up and knocked it out of the park for all of us.”

Now, Coker and his staff are looking ahead to the trial of Chantell Mixon, who will also stand trial for Jordan’s murder.

Bowman’s girlfriend at the time of the incident, Mixon is charged with felony murder and felony obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

“It’ll come up some time on Judge Sam’s trial calendar. We’ll get to her sometime this year,” Coker said. “We’ll resolve her case this year, too.”

Unlike Bowman’s defense team, Mixon’s has not yet requested a change of venue for her trial.

Mixon, who was initially being held without bond for her alleged role in Jordan’s murder, is now serving a two year sentence at Pulaski State Prison after having been convicted of possession of a weapon by a prisoner and possession of drugs by a prisoner.

“That happened over here in Fayette County while she was in jail, so she was convicted of that over here,” Coker explained.

If convicted of the charges she faces in Jordan’s murder, her maximum sentence would be life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

SUBMITTED :::

Start your spring with Bravo, a Griffin Choral Arts concert, in March.

Griffin Choral Arts (GCA) will collaborate with the Clayton State University Chorale and Dr. Michael Fuchs, the director of choral activities at Clayton State University, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at The Griffin Auditorium located at 234 E. Taylor St.

This third concert of GCA’s tenth anniversary season will feature performances of Haydn’s Mass in Time of War, (Paukenmesse) and Mozart’s Ave Verum.

Concert tickets may be purchased locally at Safehouse Coffee Roasters, Artistic Flowers & Gifts or Griffin First United Methodist Church, in Barnesville at Goggans Florist, in Zebulon at A Novel Experience on the GCA website or at the door.. General admission tickets are $15 each.

Griffin Choral Arts, under the direction of Dr. Stephen J. Mulder, is an auditioned, regional community chorus. Griffin Choral Arts aspires to enhance the cultural life of Griffin and surrounding communities by presenting a variety of choral music programs at the highest artistic level.

The mission of Griffin Choral Arts is to bring “the best choral music to the community”.

For additional information about Griffin Choral Arts, please call 888-SING1-88 or visit the GCA website at http://www.griffinchoralarts.org.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

After taking office, Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix addressed an Internal Affairs investigation conducted by the preceding administration that involved Jessica Kelley and Catherine Lewis, who remained employed by his office.

The original complaint was filed by Lewis, who made numerous allegations of wrongdoing against Kelley, whose 2015 complaint against David Gibson resulted in his termination and subsequent criminal investigation that resulted in multiple charges being brought against the former commander of the SCSO Uniform Patrol Division.

When Lewis filed her initial complaint, Kelley alleged it was in retaliation for her action against Gibson, with whom Kelley claimed Lewis maintained an ongoing friendship.

In turn, Kelley filed a complaint against Lewis, also making numerous allegations against her co-worker.

While both parties documented numerous complaints, quite a few of each deputy’s involved sexually explicit language or behavior in the workplace.

According to Dix, that aspect of the Internal Affairs investigation was particularly concerning to him.

“After I came into office, I became aware of some complaints that had been filed against these officers and the findings of an internal investigation. In reading these internal investigations, it was really obvious that there were some things that needed to be addressed, things that couldn’t be allowed to continue,” Dix said.

He first met with Investigator Vicky Massengale-Clift, who had conducted the Internal Affairs investigation in question, and he also thoroughly reviewed the case file.

“It appeared to me on its face that both of these ladies should face some kind of disciplinary action,” he said.

The previous administration had determined that Lewis would have “some days off,” but that was never implemented.

“Nothing was enacted,” Dix said.

At that time, the Sheriff moved forward with new action.

“So, what I did is I gave both of them notification that I was intending to take disciplinary action against them and arranged for a hearing for both of them to allow them to have their say and for me to be able to ask them questions,” he said.

Dix, along with Massengale-Clift and other SCSO personnel, met first with Lewis.

“She (Lewis) pretty much admitted that she had said some of the things that she was accused of saying. And what I had heard from interviewing other officers is that Ms. Lewis had a very vulgar mouth, saying things that were more than just profanity, but were very sexually suggestive in nature, in mixed company. Things that were inappropriate for the workplace. Very graphic conversations. She and other people told me that that was her personality. That’s was the way she was; that was the way she carried herself. Other than that, the reports I heard were that she was an outstanding officer,” Dix recounted. “The last things I asked her is if she had to get up on a Sunday morning and go in front of a church, take the pulpit and talk about the Sheriff’s Office and other things, would she speak that way to the congregation, and she said, ‘No.’ So, my response to her was that she did know how to throttle it back and control it, and she said, ‘Yes.’ In light of the things that have happened at this agency over the past 18 months or so, I felt that it was completely outside the constraints of the way her behavior should be, and based on that, I terminated her.”

Dix then conducted an independent hearing with Kelley.

“Same thing with Ms. Kelley. She and Deputy Lewis had been going back and forth making complaints against each other and it had gotten out of hand with accusations flying around. So, I called Ms. Kelley in and sat down with her and interviewed her. Same type of hearing situation where Ms. Clift and some other officers were present, and I asked questions and allowed her to make statements,” he said. “Her telling of the tale – her explanation – was that some of it was taken out of context, some of it was said, but wasn’t intended to be heard by other people, but they did hear it. There was one particular accusation that was made against her – and she admitted that the conversation had taken place – but there was a set of circumstances surrounding it that she thought made it out to be a joke or just something that was very light, but it was very sexually explicit, and again, based on the internal investigation that was done, based on her hearing, I decided the actions that she took deemed it necessary to terminate her.”

Dix stressed that while other SCSO personnel were present for the two hearings, the disciplinary action was his and his alone.

“The choice was mine and no one else. I felt that based on what I’d heard in both those hearings, again, I felt it was the appropriate act to take to terminate both those employees,” he said. “Again, especially in light of what this agency was exposed to during the previous investigation. It was completely appropriate, especially when one of the people involved in this was directly involved in the other situation, when she was the primary complainant, and some of the things said by her – that she admitted she said – were as bad, if not worse, that what she said she was exposed to.”

Not only in this Internal Affairs investigation, but in previous interviews, as well, some SCSO employees have referenced this type behavior as the “culture” of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office.

Asked to respond to that allegation, Dix said, “A lot of people try to put that off as the culture that you work in in law enforcement, and that’s the way it is – it’s a loud, often times crude atmosphere. It often times is a loud and somewhat crude atmosphere that you work in every day, but that doesn’t make it acceptable. There are some things that I could say and pass off, say it’s just part of being a cop, but when you think of what this agency went through only 18 months ago, you’d think that someone would figure out that that’s not okay. This isn’t just the good old boys. I think during the election, it was described as locker room talk. Whatever you want to call it, it’s not okay. Not here. I don’t care if that’s what the culture says it’s okay to do. It’s not okay at this agency.”

Dix said his administration will not condone the types of behaviors that have been reported in recent years.

“I’m not going to tolerate this type behavior. It may have been tolerated before, but it’s not going to be tolerated now. In this environment, we’re trying to bring professionalism here. There’s a time and place for everything, but the behavior they exhibited? This is neither the time nor the place,” he said. “I stand by my decision. I think that with the termination of both of those employees, I did what was supposed to have been done to protect this agency.”

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

According to Griffin-Spalding County Communications Director Judy Parker, all schools have been placed on lock down following a request from local law enforcement officials.

“All schools are under lockdown per request of the Sheriff. They’re pursuing someone in the community and they asked us to put all schools on lockdown,” Parker said.

There has been no incident involving any Spalding County school.

Parker said the school system has initiated automated phone calls to alert parents to the situation.

The GRIP will update this developing story as additional information becomes available.

UPDATE: According to Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Joseph Miller, the 27-year-old man being sought for allegedly threatening violence against local schools and law enforcement officers, has been apprehended.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

According to Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Joseph Miller, the 27-year-old man being sought for allegedly threatening violence against local schools and law enforcement officers, has been apprehended.

The GRIP will report additional information as it becomes available.

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Investigators of the Griffin Police Department are currently questioning 28-year-old Joseph Miller, who was taken into custody Thursday following the lockdown of all Griffin-Spalding County schools.

According to Lt. Mike Natale, of the GPD Office of the Chief, a credible threat was received at approximately 0830 Thursday.

Upon receiving a report that Miller had allegedly threatened to “shoot up the schools or the school system and the Police Department,” the GPD requested the Griffin-Spalding County School System lock down all schools.

Judy Parker, the executive director of the Griffin-Spalding County School System Communications and Partnerships Department, initially reported to The GRIP that there was no specific incident involving any school. Parker stated local law enforcement agencies, including the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and the Griffin Police Department, had requested the action be taken as a precautionary measure.

“All schools are under lockdown per request of the Sheriff. They’re pursuing someone in the community and they asked us to put all schools on lockdown,” Parker said.

As the alleged threat was being investigated, GPD personnel executed a search warrant at Miller’s 305 Louise Lane Apartment B residence.

“The search warrant turned up a small amount of ammunition and a flare gun,” Natale said.

No firearms were located at Miller’s residence.

The suspect was later taken into custody on Solomon Street.

“We knew he had an appointment at DFCS (the Department of Family and Children Services),” Natale said.

Miller was unarmed when apprehended, and taken into custody without incident.

Natale said media reports that Miller had threatened to bomb local schools are false.

He said the information reported to the GPD was viewed as a credible threat.

“We think they’re all credible. We did not want to think this incident wasn’t, so we took it as it was a credible source,” Natale said. “That’s how it ended up in a search warrant and taking him (Miller) into custody. We took it seriously. Even if it was limited information, we took it seriously.”

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Two Spalding County families lost their homes this week as a result of devastating structure fires.

The fires occurred within hours of each other Tuesday morning and required responses from both city and county fire departments.

The first call was received by the Spalding County Fire Department (SCFD) at 9:53 a.m.

“The address was 1681 Barnesville Road. Once we got there, the house was way off the road. We got there and nobody was at home. Apparently, from the information I received, the resident was at work,” said SCFD Fire Chief Kenny West. “When we arrived, the house was fully involved. We had to lay I believe 1,400 feet of three-inch hose because the hydrant was so far away from the house. We had to run up a hill and down to the house.”

West said fire personnel from three stations – Reid, the Akin District and the Cabin District – responded and remained on scene for approximately five hours.

The Barnesville Road residence sustained extremely heavy damage.

“It was pretty much totaled outside,” West said. “There were a few personal items we were able to save for them, but it was only a few and that was it.”

The second fire was reported at 11:19 a.m., and had fire crews responding to a reported fire at 1518 Zebulon Road.

“Griffin Fire went along with Spalding County. Griffin Fire-Rescue got there first because we were already on scene of the other structure fire on Barnesville Road,” West said. “It came in as an automatic mutual aid call.”

West said the Zebulon Road incident also resulted in a total loss.

“That particular house, everything was lost with that, too,” he said.

One resident of the Zebulon Road residence was home when that fire began.

“The person who was home was asleep at the time the fire started, but she wasn’t injured,” West said. “We did get WellStar ambulance service personnel to check her out as a precautionary measure. She was pretty traumatized and emotionally upset as anyone would be.”

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

Jessica Kelley, the former deputy of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office who has a pending federal law suit against former sheriff Wendell Beam, David Gibson, the former captain of the SCSO Uniform Patrol Division who has been indicted on 11 charges including multiple felonies, and Spalding County, has now filed a formal complaint with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against current Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix.

Dix terminated Kelley after taking office in January.

In her complaint against Dix, Kelley alleges the basis for her discrimination is based on her sex and retaliation.

Citing her initial Sept. 1, 2016, complaint, Kelley stated, “I have served as a deputy with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office since March 18, 2014. Capt. David Gibson supervised me until his forced resignation in June 2015. From the day I picked up my uniform until days before his departure, he uttered sexually lewd comments to me on a daily basis.”

Kelley also cited her previous complaint about Gibson’s alleged retaliation, stating, “I reported Gibson’s behavior to Sheriff Wendell Beam. At that time, the Sheriff insisted I provide a written statement. Although the sexual harassment lessened in frequency after I complained to Sheriff Beam, Gibson began to retaliate against me for complaining by yelling at me, picking apart my work, threatening my employment and preventing my advancement within the office.

Her most recent complaint, Kelley alleges discriminatory acts and retaliation continue under Dix.

“I believe I have been discriminated on the basis of my gender and in retaliation for complaining about the discrimination in violation of Title VII. Shortly after Darrell Dix was elected sheriff of Spalding County in November 2016, he targeted me for termination because I reported Gibson. Dix wanted his administration to be free of any employees who had been involved in the Gibson debacle. I believe I have been further retaliated against for filing my charge of discrimination against Spalding County, in violation of Title VII.”

Mary Katz, the attorney representing both Beam and now Dix, responded to the EEOC. Her letter disputes Kelley’s allegations, stating Dix’ actions were taken independent of Kelley’s prior complaints, and that they were based on an internal investigation that disclosed “unacceptable and terminable behavior on the part of Ms. Kelley and another deputy, Catherine Lewis. Both deputies were terminated by Sheriff Dix after hearings.”

Katz reported the internal investigation was conducted under Beam’s tenure, and that upon Dix taking office, he reviewed the findings, was concerned with the unprofessional behavior exhibited by Kelly and Lewis and terminated both for what he viewed as intolerable behavior.

Katz then cited, “One, Deputy Lewis was also terminated. She has not filed any claims of discrimination with the EEOC or otherwise; two, none of the other charging parties who have pending cases have claimed retaliation. Karen Law, Misti Piper and Melanie Bowen are still employed by Sheriff Dix. Kimberly Barnett resigned in January 2016 to accept a position with another law enforcement agency; and three, Spalding County was not Deputy Kelley’s employer. She was an employee of a constitution, elected official – Sheriff Darrell Dix. The decision to terminate her employment was his alone.”

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::

A security breach occurred at the Spalding County Courthouse when two individuals who allegedly falsely identified themselves as law enforcement officers were allowed to enter while armed with handguns.

Authorities say the incident, which occurred Jan. 26, was initiated by a man and woman who entered the courthouse and approached the security check point while wearing clothing depicting themselves as “marshals.”

According to a report filed by Deputy Michelle Long, she and Deputy Chad Long, of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Court Services Unit, the suspect pair entered the courthouse and approached the security checkpoint.

Lyons reported the white female and a white male were dressed in law enforcement gear wearing badges, sidearm weapons and identification for marshals. She said upon their approach to her security station, she requested to see their identification.

The identification said “marshal,” Lyons said, and the deputy checked the ensure the photographs matched the individuals presenting them. Lyons noted the female also had a pair of handcuffs inside her bag that was presented.

“Thinking they were government officials, I granted them access in the courthouse,” Lyons stated. “They went into the tag office. At that point, both Deputy Long and I noticed the back of their shirts read Continental Marshals.”

Long conducted an Internet search, and Lyons said the only information located pertained to the Continental Marshals for the Republic.

“Finding this information, we believed them to be of the sovereign citizen movement,” Lyons said. “Deputy Long waited for them to exit the tag office and asked to speak with them. The female did the talking, explaining their duties and responsibilities. She stated that they worked internationally and were over several national agencies.”

After the couple exited the courthouse, deputies made contact with employees of Tax Commissioner Sylvia Hollums’ office, and later that day, with Hollums.

Deputies were able to identify the white male as Kenneth Alexander Martin. The female was not immediately identified, but is described as a white female with a tan who is approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing an estimated 220 to 230 pounds. She had long dark hair in a ponytail with short gray hair along the hairline.

This female was later tentatively identified as Martin’s mother.

Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix explained that investigators from his office did not immediately execute an arrest in relation to this incident because the decision was made to seek assistance from the District Attorney’s Office, state and other agencies to determine the best course of action.

In a later interview, Dix said those other agencies have been involved since the onset of the investigation, and after reviewing footage and the facts of the case, the decision was made not to pursue charges.

“Based on conversations with the GBI and the District Attorney’s Office, what the District Attorney has done is look at case law,” Dix said, citing state law regarding impersonating a law enforcement officer. “The code requires an overt act. Because of that, case law would preclude prosecution. It doesn’t meet the threshold of being able to prosecute.”

That law, OCGA 16-10-23, which pertains to impersonating a public officer or employee, states, “A person who falsely holds himself out as a peace officer or other public officer or employee with intent to mislead another into believing that he is actually such officer commits the offense of impersonating an officer and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than fives years, or both.”

Chief Deputy Tony Thomason further clarified, stating, “We feel that because we, in error, facilitated them doing that (entering the courthouse while armed), that it precludes prosecution.”

Dix said despite some rumors citing otherwise, the incident was confined to the Tax Commissioner’s Office.

“There were rumors, but upon investigation, it was recognized and determined to be a non-incident,” Dix said. “New procedures that were already being put in place and modifications that began in January will hopefully prevent that from happening again.”

STAFF REPORT :::

Two Rehoboth Road Middle School students face felony charges in connection to alleged weapons incidents.

According to a letter issued to RRMS parents, both incidents took place within one week.

“A student reported seeing the knife in the possession of another student. The knife was confiscated without incident. This is the second occasion within the past week of a knife in the possession of a student,” the letter read. “Both incidents resulted in the students being charged with felony possession of a weapon in a school safety zone. This is a mandatory felony charge based on current Georgia law.”

The letter goes on to say the school administration will be visiting classrooms to discuss school safety as well as the consequences of bringing weapons to school.

Parents were also urged to speak to their children about these incidents and the importance of not bringing anything that could be considered a weapon on school grounds.