PRESS RELEASE – The following press release was issued on Sept. 29 by Sheriff Johnny Moats with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. On September 5, 2023 a Jailer with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was caught passing notes to a female inmate and immediately terminated for violating policy. Due to the circumstances surrounding the policy violation the Georgia Bureau […]

PRESS RELEASE – Yesterday around 3:48 PM, Pickens Fire along with Jasper Fire were dispatched to a residential fire on Parker Road. Additional information during the response was that a camper trailer was on fire and had spread to a home. Upon arrival of first units, a fifth wheel camper was found fully involved with […]

HARALSON COUNTY, Ga. – In the early hours of Tuesday, October 3, 2023, a citizen flagged down Deputy Jon Henderson to report that there was a male in the roadway on Cashtown Road at J Wade Road that looked suspicious. Deputy Henderson went to the area and located a male walking in the road and […]

HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. – Alexander Hardaway, a former Habersham County Jailer, was arrested on Monday, Oct. 2, for making false statements to police. Hardaway, 30, was arrested by the GBI after they were contacted on Thursday, Sept. 28, by the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office to investigate allegations into Hardaway. According to the GBI, an inmate […]

POLK COUNTY, Ga. – Matthew Christopher Hearne, a former Buchanan police officer,   was arrested by the GBI on Monday, Oct. 2 for fraud and impersonation pf a police officer. Hearne, 39, of Cedartown, Georgia allegedly was “portraying himself as the Buchanan Chief of Police and sending harassing communications to his ex-wife,” according to the GBI. […]

PRESS RELEASE – In the early morning hours of Sunday, September 24th, during our continuing concentrated patrols, Towns County Deputies, K-9 and Drug Investigators conducted a traffic stop which was initiated by Deputy Darringer Barrett and K-9 Xena at 474 South Main Street, Hiawassee. A free air search was conducted by Xena, and she alerted […]

ELBERT COUNTY, Ga. – Elbert County E911 received a call on there morning of Sept. 23 around  07:50 a.m., reporting a vehicle in the lake at Middleton Boat Ramp in Elberton. The vehicle became disabled while on the boat ramp and rolled into the water. The vehicle was recovered in 37 feet of water. Members […]

PRESS RELEASE – Pickens County Fire was dispatched to a residential fire in a rural area near the Dawson County line off Hwy. 53 East around 10:30 AM this morning. Upon arrival of Station 5, it was discovered that the fire was in Dawson County. Dawson County Fire was on scene and had initiated fire […]

PRESS RELEASE – In the early morning hours of September 25, 2023, deputies were dispatched to Woodland Circle in reference to a stabbing. On arrival, Deputy Jon Henderson, and Sgt. Lee Bauder spoke to the complainant who stated that her son had stabbed her fiancé. The complainant was unable to say where her son was […]

PRESS RELEASE – The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Gordon County, Calhoun, Georgia.  The Gordon County Sheriff’s office asked the GBI to conduct an independent investigation on September 22, 2023. The investigation shows that Amar Touré, age 45, of Calhoun, came into the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office parking lot located on 2700 […]

MADISON COUNTY, Ga. – On September 19, 2023, Melissa Branyon Tolbert pleaded guilty to 9 counts of felony theft charges and was sentenced to 15 years, 3 years in prison, then 12 years on probation, and a $5,000 fine. ORIGINAL NEWS RELEASE GBI Makes Arrest in Theft Investigation Danielsville, GA (September 29, 2022) – The GBI […]

GORDON COUNTY, Ga. – On Sunday, Sept. 17, a hit and run occurred on GA 61, where the driver of a Ford F-150 struck three motorcycles, severely injuring multiple people and fatally injuring at least one person. The driver, later identified as 73-year-old Ronald Grady Dickson, was traveling at a high rate of speed going […]

PRESS RELEASE – In the early morning of Thursday, September 14th, Towns County Sheriff’s Sergeant, Bryan Forsyth was working concentrated patrols of our businesses and churches. In the parking lot of Cornerstone Baptist Church, located on Crane Creek Road, Sgt. Forsyth observed a suspicious vehicle and activity in the parking lot. Deputy Darringer Barrett and […]

UNION COUNTY, Ga. – The GBI has arrested and charged Christopher Daniel Lovell, 42, of Blairsville, Georgia with aggravated child molestation and sodomy. On Friday, September 15, 2023, the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland was requested by the Union County Sheriff’s Office to assist them with a child abuse investigation. While the investigation is […]

FANNIN COUNTY, Ga. – On September 7, 2023, Megan Lowery, age 36, of Morganton, Laura Kilgo, age 55, Ooltewah, TN, and Amanda Lang, age 41, of Blue Ridge were arrested following an investigation into the selling of pressed fentanyl pills. On September 7, 2023, Lang, Kilgo, and Lowery were pulled over for a traffic violation […]

PRESS RELEASE – On September 15, 2023, Edwin Murillo entered a plea of guilty to Murder, Kidnapping and Violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in the Superior Court of Gilmer County. Defendant Murillo was immediately sentenced in life in prison. This case arises out of the 2021 kidnapping, torture and murder of […]