STEPHENS COUNTY, GA — Six local nonprofit organizations received a financial boost this week thanks to the success of the 2nd Annual Cops vs. Kids Charity Shoot-Off, hosted in June by the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and the Stephens County 4-H Rifle Team. Sheriff Rusty Fulbright, joined by Bruce Grant of the 4-H Rifle Team, […]

GORDON COUNTY, GA — A high-speed police pursuit ended in tragedy Saturday afternoon when a fleeing driver caused a head-on collision that left one person dead and two others severely injured, according to a statement from Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston. The incident began around 2:40 p.m. on August 23, when a deputy sheriff observed […]

PRESS RELEASE – Pickens Fire and Jasper Fire were dispatched to a possible structure fire North of Jasper early on the morning of Aug. 3, around 2:30 a.m. It was reported to be in the area of Twin Oaks Court off Collins Road. A fire was reported from a caller living on Collins Road who […]

PRESS RELEASE – At 7:09 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, White County E911 Communications received a call reporting two individuals missing while tubing on the Chattahoochee River between Highway 115 East and Duncan Bridge Road. Members of their party stated they had been waiting for approximately 45 minutes before notifying 911. At 7:21 p.m., […]

PRESS RELEASE – The Banks County Sheriff’s Office released a statement this morning, Aug. 20, regarding the safety protocol that was observed today. “This morning an alert was activated at the Banks County Primary School due to two individuals being observed walking on the grounds of school property. This alert is activated as part of […]

PRESS RELEASE – On March 25, 2025, Corporal II Clayton Hughes and Deputy Blake Heptinstall went above and beyond the call of duty. Responding to an ATV accident in a rain-swollen creek, they found the vehicle overturned with the driver trapped inside and in imminent danger of drowning. Without a second thought, Corporal Hughes jumped […]

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. – Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper announced that Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Investigators, in coordination with Catoosa County Officials, responded to allegations of animal abuse at a home in Tunnel Hill, Georgia, and took custody of 32 dogs. GDA Law Enforcement is committed to ensuring that violations of Georgia’s […]

PRESS RELEASE – On August 4, 2025, Gary Swinford of Chatsworth, Ga was arrested following an investigation conducted by the Murray County Sheriff’s Office Narcotic Investigation Unit. Swinford was found to be in possession of four ounces of methamphetamine and other drug-related objects. Swinford was arrested and transported to the Murray County Detention Center. He […]

PRESS RELEASE – On Thursday, July 24, 2025, deputies with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Shady Lane in Toccoa in regard to a suspected burglary. While at the residence, deputies met with a female individual who advised she came to check on her family member’s property following their recent death. […]

CHATTOOGA COUNTY, Ga. – On August 7, 2025, Christopher Mark Tidmore, a 36-year-old man from Summerville, was convicted of committing multiple acts of sexual abuse against his 15-year-old adopted daughter and his daughter’s 15-year-old friend. The case against Tidmore, which was investigated by Detective Josh Strauss with the Summerville Police Department, came to light when […]

PRESS RELEASE– On Tuesday August 5, 2025, the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Calhoun and the GBI CEACC Unit arrested and charged Lillian Hughes, age 32, of Lyerly, Chattooga County, GA, with 3 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children and 1 count of Bestiality. In July of 2025, the GBI began an investigation into Hughes’s […]

PRESS RELEASE– On Tuesday August 5, 2025, the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Calhoun and the GBI CEACC Unit arrested and charged Lillian Hughes, age 32, of Lyerly, Chattooga County, GA, with 3 counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children and 1 count of Bestiality. In July of 2025, the GBI began an investigation into Hughes’s […]

UPDATE – On August 8, 2025, the GBI obtained arrest warrants for Ty’Ravis Lee Simpson, age 22, of Lavonia, Franklin County, GA for 2 counts of Aggravated Assault on Peace Officer, 2 counts of Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Reckless Conduct. Simpson is still at the hospital and will be […]

PRESS RELEASE – On Tuesday, July 29, deputy sheriffs on patrol stopped a suspicious automobile near the intersection of State Route 53 and Outlet Center Drive. Two of the occupants, Brandon Lee Blackburn, 27, of 225 Woodland Drive and his brother Ryan Michael Blackburn, 33, of the same address, were both wanted on outstanding felony […]

TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. – At the request of the Towns County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating the death of Brian William Whitney, age 44, of Hiawassee, GA, who was an inmate in the Towns County Jail. On August 2, 2025, at about 3:05 a.m., Towns County deputies discovered Whitney unresponsive in his cell. Whitney was pronounced dead at the jail […]

HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. – The GBI has arrested and charged Paul Jason York, age 46, of Cornelia, GA, with 10 counts of first-degree forgery, 2 counts of unauthorized practice of law, 4 counts of identity fraud, and 2 counts of theft by deception. On February 18, 2025, the GBI was requested by the Mountain Judicial […]