STAFF REPORT :::
A search warrant executed by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the arrests of three, two of whom are suspected of committing the Wednesday night armed robbery of Ringgold’s Store located at 4243 Jackson Road.
According to a press release issued by Sheriff Darrell Dix, shortly after 9 p.m. Aug. 21, two men entered Ringgold’s Store, demanded money, took the female clerk’s backpack and then left the store.
The event was recorded on the store’s surveillance system.
SCSO investigators and Crime Scene Unit arrived, reviewed the video and released photographs depicting the suspects.
Investigators noted one suspect pushed open a glass door with his bare hand, leaving fingerprints that were lifted from that portion of the door, officials say.
“Those fingerprints were processed through our AFIX machine which compares fingerprints to known fingerprints that have been entered by law enforcement agencies across the nation. A match to the prints was found, and the suspect was identified as Lend Byrd Jefferson. In searching our local records, we were able to find where deputies had encountered him on several occasions while on different calls for service. It was also learned that he had an extensive criminal history in Florida including a 4-year prison sentence for armed robbery,” Dix said. “We knew through his encounters with deputies that the suspect had given a Spalding County address. A warrant was issued for his arrest for armed robbery and yesterday deputies and investigators went to the address located at 2547 Locust Grove Road, arrested Jefferson, the second suspect identified as Drevoisier Brown, and executed a search warrant on the residence. During the search we located the clothing they were wearing during the robbery, the firearm that was used, the store clerk’s backpack, her purse, checkbook, and driver’s license, currency, marijuana, a trafficking amount of methamphetamine, MDMA, scales and packaging materials. This residence itself is less than a mile from the store that was robbed.”
Also located at the residence was a young female believed to be a victim of human trafficking. After speaking to investigators, she was taken into protective custody.
Authorities say that part of the investigation is continuing, and more charges are expected in relation to her presence at the home.
Those arrested are:
Lend Byrd Jefferson, age 25, who is charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of MDMA, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute;
Drevoisier Brown, age 23, who is charged with armed robbery possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with Intent to distribute, trafficking MDMA, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; and
Raven Doby, age 23, who is charged with cruelty to children, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, trafficking MDMA, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
“These arrests are the result of the hard work these investigators put in. The arrests came less than 24 hours after the robbery was committed. We are still looking into additional charges due to their gang affiliations both here and in Florida, and their possible involvement in human trafficking,” Dix said. “Based on their extensive violent criminal histories, and other evidence, there is no doubt in my mind that Jefferson and Brown are criminal predators who even though they had served time for violent crimes, proved that they had no regard for the safety of the community or the law. I am proud of the work my investigators did in this case and I’m proud of all the men and women of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and the hard work they do every day.”
All three suspects are currently being held in the Spalding County Jail.