PRESS RELEASE – On February 10, 2026 Erwin Vanegas, a 22 year old man from Rossville, pled guilty to Malice Murder for the murder of 71 year old Robert White on December 5, 2024 in the Catoosa County Jail. Chief Judge Brian M. House sentenced Vanegas to serve life in the Georgia Department of Corrections. […]

PRESS RELEASE – On February 10, 2026 Joseph Mays, a 34 year old man from Griffin, Georgia, pled guilty to Malice Murder for the murder of his girlfriend Jamie Wiley, a 36 year old Michigan woman. Mays and Wiley, who had only been dating for a few short months, were living in Wiley’s camper at […]

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Division alerted the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) to a suspected heavy equipment theft ring believed to be targeting a location in Forsyth County. According to authorities, the scheme involved a suspect contacting a tow truck company and directing the driver to a […]

BANKS COUNTY, Ga. – The Hall County School District confirmed Friday afternoon that a Chestatee High School Spanish teacher arrested last week on rape and child molestation charges in Banks County is no longer employed by the district. Felipe Esteban Nunez, 32, of Gainesville, had been employed at Chestatee High School since September 2024. He […]

PRESS RELEASE – Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced today that Jorge Matilde Gonzalez, 35, of Cartersville, Georgia, has been arrested in connection with a residential fire in Calhoun, Georgia. On December 9, 2025, investigators from the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner assisted with a fire investigation at 704 Greenbriar […]

PRESS RELEASE – Two males and one female have been arrested following an investigation into a report of shots fired at a residence in Toccoa yesterday, February 18, 2026. At approximately 12:48 p.m., Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a report of shots fired and a physical altercation at a residence on Skyline […]

PRESS RELEASE – Sunday morning, Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a report of a stolen vehicle from a residence on Providence Lane near Freedom Drive in Martin. At approximately 8:50 a.m., an individual contacted Stephens County 911 claiming their Dodge Durango had been stolen overnight. Deputies responded to the residence to take a report […]

FANNIN COUNTY, Ga. – A 46-year-old man was rescued Saturday after becoming ill while hiking on the Appalachian Trail near Hawk Mountain in Fannin County. According to emergency officials, Fannin County 911 received a call at approximately 10:39 a.m. on Feb. 21, 2026, reporting that the hiker had become ill and was unable to walk […]

GEORGIA – February 17 – As State Senator for Georgia’s 51st District and the Republican frontrunner for Lieutenant Governor, I am committed to putting Georgia families first and aligning our state with President Trump’s America First agenda. Last week, I introduced Senate Bill 465, a targeted measure to hold businesses accountable and discourage the hiring […]

ELBERT COUNTY, Ga. – Schools in the Elbert County School District were placed on lockdown late last week after a threatening phone call was received at Elbert County High School. According to school officials, the call was received at approximately 3:27 p.m. Law enforcement was immediately notified, and out of an abundance of caution, all […]

STEPHENS COUNTY, Ga. – Two individuals are in custody following a shots-fired incident Tuesday night at Stephens County High School, according to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded at approximately 8 p.m. on Feb. 10, 2026, to reports of gunfire in the school’s student parking lot. At the time, School Resource Officers were on […]

HARALSON COUNTY, Ga. – A man has been arrested following an investigation into suspected child sexual abuse material discovered on a cell phone, according to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Seth Entrekin responded to a local hospital emergency department on Feb. 6, 2026, after receiving a report regarding possible child sexual abuse material. Upon […]

PRESS RELEASE – On February 12, 2026, deputies responded to a residence in reference to a shooting that had already occurred. Upon arrival, Deputy Seth Entrekin and Sgt. Jarrett Chandler, with the Crime Suppression Unit, began rendering aid to 19-year-old Elijah Brackett, who had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his abdomen. Emergency Medical Services also […]

GORDON COUNTY, Ga. – A Plainville resident reported to deputies Thursday morning that she had been attacked inside her home by a man armed with a pair of scissors, according to Gordon County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Mitch Ralston said the incident was reported at approximately 9:30 a.m. The victim, with assistance from another woman, was […]

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – A body has been discovered inside a vehicle recovered from Lake Lanier this afternoon. Emergency crews responded to the scene near a boat ramp at Tidwell Park in Forsyth County, where the vehicle was pulled from the water. First responders have remained at the scene as of early this afternoon. Officials […]

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office announced it has received $277,598 in discretionary federal funding to expand its Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT), a program focused on responding to mental health-related calls for service. According to the sheriff’s office, the funding will enhance CIRT’s ability to respond effectively to individuals experiencing mental […]