WALKER COUNTY, Ga. – On Friday, March 21, 2025, the GBI’s Investigative Office in Calhoun, along with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the United States Federal Probation Office, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, arrested and charged Nicholas Antiono Cheaton, age 41, of Chattanooga, TN, with Murder in connection to […]

PRESS RELEASE – On March 11, 2025, Deputies with the Murray County Sheriff’s Office were involved in a vehicle pursuit than ended in Varnell, Ga. Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle believed to be operated by a wanted individual at the intersection of Hwy 76 and Hwy 225. The vehicle, a […]

PRESS RELEASE – This week, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) assisted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) with searches throughout the county in regard to drug trafficking. Beginning in January 2025, ARDEO agents initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking operation that involved large quantities […]

PRESS RELEASE – GBI and FBI Special Agents have identified remains found in August 1986 as those of homicide victim David Clary. Agents used genetic technology to identify the remains. The Clary family was notified of the identification in February 2025. Hunters found the remains on Saturday, August 9, 1986, in a wooded area south […]

MURRAY COUNTY, Ga. -The Murray County Sheriff’s Office arrested Johnathan Eastridge and Jessica Thomas of 342 Deep Woods Dr in Chatsworth, Ga for Criminal Attempt to Commit Child Molestation, Sexual Exploitation of Minors, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Related objects. On March 12, 2025, a detective with the Murray County Sheriff’s Office received […]

OVERLOOK WILDFIRE UPDATE PICKENS COUNTY, Ga. – A brush fire in Pickens County has left as least 40 acres burned as it continues to burn. Pickens County Fire crews continue to remain on scene to contain the wildfire at the Overlook. It was reported that ‘as of approximately 7:45 p.m., the fire is 95% contained.’ […]

TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Towns County Sheriff’s Office with a death investigation on Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Georgia. Hikers found two men dead at the top of Bell Mountain. The men were identified as twin brothers, Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, both 19, of Lawrenceville, […]

FLOYD COUNTY, Ga. – The GBI has arrested and charged Dawson Shoemake Bragg, age 25, of Rome, Floyd County, Georgia with Sexual Exploitation of Children. In January 2025, the GBI CEACC Unit began an investigation into Bragg’s online activity after receiving a Cyber Tip line Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children […]

PICKENS COUNTY, GA – The GBI has arrested and charged James Arthur Puddick, age 29, of Jasper, Pickens County, Georgia, with Sexual Exploitation of Children. In January 2025, the GBI CEACC Unit began an investigation into Puddick’s online activity after receiving a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) […]

PRESS RELEASE – The GBI has arrested and charged Reed Skelton, age 26, of Hart County, GA, with Trafficking of Persons for Sexual Servitude. The Hart County Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to investigate a human trafficking case that occurred in Fulton County, Georgia. The investigation showed in the fall of 2024, Skelton began communicating […]

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. – On February 28, 2025, Paulding County Detectives responded to an area public school regarding a report of possible physical child abuse that occurred outside of school hours when the child was not in school. Upon arrival, detectives reviewed evidence, including statements and physical evidence. The Paulding County Child Advocacy Center conducted […]

PRESS RELEASE – On March 4, 2025, Pickens County Deputies apprehended William Crawford after a high-speed pursuit that began when deputies located him as the subject of a BOLO from Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office in connection to an Aggravated Assault case. When deputies attempted to stop Crawford, he fled at high speeds up Hwy 136 […]

PRESS RELEASE – Yesterday, the Georgia Forestry Commission responded to 137 #wildfires that burned 2,390 acres across the state. Conditions for today are SLIGHTLY better than yesterday, but we still need you to please be EXTREMELY cautious with anything that may start fires outdoors. Thank you! Photo is from Lumpkin County.

PRESS RELEASE – On Monday, December 30th, 2024, Agents with the Northwest Georgia Drug Task Force (NWGDTF) along with Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) Deputies arrested 31-year-old Marc Daniel Yero of Cobb County, GA. Yero was arrested on several charges stemming from a 3-month investigation into allegations Yero was selling THC vapes […]

PRESS RELEASE – On the evening of Monday, February 24, Franklin County 911 Dispatch received a call reporting a Home Invasion on Highway 17 in Lavonia. Law Enforcement from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Lavonia Police Department, and Georgia State Patrol responded to the scene. After an investigation by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, two […]

PRESS RELEASE – Following a two-month investigation, GCSO Deputies and Detectives—assigned to the GBI ARDEO (Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office) and FBI Safe Streets Task Force—executed arrest warrants for JAMES CALVIN SLUDER, JR., age 49, on February 26th. A subsequent search warrant was carried out at Sluder’s residence on Quarles Lane where authorities discovered 5.6 […]