PRESS RELEASE – On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit, in conjunction with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) task force, arrested Johnny Rodrickus “Hotrod” Jones. Jones, a previously convicted felon, was originally sentenced in connection to a shooting at the Toccoa Pines (Prather […]

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. – On March 18, 2025, a Catoosa County jury convicted James Myers for soliciting, what he believed to be an 11 year old girl, for sex and for possessing and distributing child pornography after a two-day trial before Superior Court Judge Brian House. Myers, 52, was convicted on all counts of the […]

DADE COUNTY, Ga. – A Dade County jury has convicted Jesse Miles Seals of child molestation following a two-day trial held April 21-22, 2025, before the Honorable Judge Don Thompson in Dade County Superior Court. The conviction followed courageous testimony from the victim where she described numerous inappropriate interactions with the Defendant starting when he […]

PRESS RELEASE – On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) arrested Stephen Wayne Hewitt, age 69, following an investigation into alleged child exploitation crimes. The investigation began in late March after GCSO received a cyber tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Throughout the course of the investigation, […]

PRESS RELEASE – At approximately 5:30 in the morning on April 25, 2025, deputies with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to make a report in reference to a motor vehicle accident with an animal. A female driver informed deputies that she hit a bear with her car around 4:30 a.m. at the intersection […]

BANKS COUNTY, Ga. – On Monday, April 28, 2025, the Banks County Sheriff’s Office received a BOLO for a murder suspect out of Columbus, Georgia. A BCSO deputy observed the vehicle traveling southbound on Interstate 85 in between the 154 and 149 mile markers and attempted a traffic stop. The driver, identified as Luke Mercardante, […]

PRESS RELEASE – On March 20, 2025, a Catoosa County jury found Jason Earnest Jones guilty of trafficking in methamphetamine and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. The defendant was apprehended by a multi-jurisdictional team comprised of officers from the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia State Patrol, and the Georgia Bureau of […]

PRESS RELEASE – Travis Downie pled guilty in Catoosa County Superior Court on February 25, 2025 to Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, Possession of Methamphetamine between 4 and 28 Grams, Stalking, Harassing Communications and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. On May 26, 2024, Downie shot several times at a responding Catoosa […]

PRESS RELEASE – Gordon County Sheriff’s Office released a statement after fleeing vehicle caused a crash and injured another driver. According to the statement, Sunday evening a Gordon County Sheriff deputy attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle on Belwood Road. The car fled and a pursuit ensued. The chase led to the intersection of I-75 […]

WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – On Monday, April 20, Emergency personnel and the White County Sheriff’s Office responded to an emergency call around 8:40 in the morning at Mountain Airpark Airport, a private airfield in southern White County. The emergency call was in reference to an ultra-light airplane that crashed in the area. Upon arrival, emergency […]

STEPHENS COUNTY, Ga. – SCSO Responds to Suicide Threats, 1 Individual Transported to Hospital for Mental Health Care At approximately 3:38 p.m. yesterday, April 17, deputies with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a 911 call in reference to suicide threats at a residence on Oak Valley Road near Holly Springs Road. Prior […]

PICKENS COUNTY, Ga – At the request of the Jasper Police Department, GBI agents are conducting a human trafficking investigation. The preliminary investigation indicates that police rescued a 14-year-old that had been reported as a runaway from Pennsylvania in January 2025. The minor was given medical treatment and additional resources. She will be taken back to Pennsylvania. This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone […]

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. – At the request of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting in Paulding County, GA. Jameel Johnson, age 22, of Dallas, GA, was killed in the incident. One deputy was injured. The preliminary information indicates on April 17, 2025, Paulding County Sheriff’s Office deputies were […]

PRESS RELEASE – At the request of the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating the death of Robert Smith, age 35, of Cookeville, TN. The preliminary information indicates that Smith was wanted for aggravated assault out of Nashville, TN. On Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Smith drove to Georgia and abandoned his car at […]

CATOOSA COUNTY, Ga. – A Catoosa County couple were tried by jury the week of March 24, 2025 for the offenses of Cruelty to Children in the 1st Degree (2 counts) and Cruelty to Children in the 2nd Degree (2 counts). The couple were convicted of all counts on March 27, 2025 and each received […]

PRESS RELEASE – This morning, our deputies responded to a welfare check. Upon arrival, they were greeted by the homeowner, who allowed them entry into the house. They were led to a bedroom where a man was lying in bed with a gun. He began shooting at the deputies, injuring one of them. In response, […]