GEORGIA STATE PATROL

WELL STAR SPALDING EMS

About 11:45 pm Saturday evening traffic investigators and Griffin State Patrol, 2 units of Spalding Regional EMS, and a wrecker were dispatched to 1906 North Expressway in front of Comfort Inn.

The first arriving units advised 911 dispatch that one lane of the North Bound side of the North Expressway was blocked.

A total of 5 patients were reported following arrival of first responders.  And one of the vehicles involved needed to be picked up by a wrecker.

One EMS units carried two patients to Spalding Regional for observation and further possible treatment.  The last EMS units took a total of 3 patients to Spalding ER.  With what was believed to be non-life threatening injuries.

About 12:35 am the roadway was cleared of debris and the vehicle, and the normal flow of traffic was resumed.

GRIFFIN FIRE RESCUE

Monday evening about 11:57 pm 911 dispatch notified the Griffin Police Department, and Griffin Fire Rescue that a General Fire Alarms was sounding at Griffin High School.

Several units from the Griffin Fire Rescue responded to the scene.  A Command Post was established by Command 3 and a sweep of the perimeter of the building was conducted. Command 3 asked 911 Dispatch to contact a key holder. 911 had initial difficulty in locating a key holder, about 12:20, they were notified that a key holder was in route and was on the scene about 12:28 am.

Fire personnel gained entry to the building and made a search.  They found no fire but managed to locate a defective smoke detector. Following additional searches of other parameter buildings with negative results. Fire Department units were back in service by about 12:40 am.

Monroe County Sheriffs Department

A Butts County woman was killed Sunday evening after stepping out of her broken-down car
and getting struck by at least one vehicle on I-75 in Monroe County Sunday Evening.

Monroe County Deputies responded to the fatal crash in the southbound lanes of the interstate near
mile marker 184 about 11:40 p.m. According to investigators.

A driver of a tractor-trailer called 911 after hitting something in the middle of the roadway.

Monroe County deputies responded to the fatal accident about 11:40 p.m.
When deputies arrived, they discovered the body of a Flovilla resident identified as Amanda
Faye Banks age 39.

It wasn’t immediately clear Tuesday if the 18-wheeler was the first vehicle to hit Ms Banks,
according to Investigators.

The accident remains under investigation and more information is expected to be released as the
investigation continues.

Governor Brian Kemp

Georgia has 3, 817 confirmed additional COVID-19 cases, in the past 24 hours.  The report as for Tuesday at 3 pm 201, 713 confirmed COVID-19 cases in GA.  The number of deaths also up again by 65 in 24 hrs and 3,984 deaths. There are 19,788 Georgians are hospitalized.

Spalding  884 cases, 40 deaths up 1
in past 48 hrs, 118 hospital.

Fayette cases 1028 deaths 25,
63 hospital.

Coweta 1, 404 cases, 22 deaths
up 1 in 48 hrs, 95  hospital.

Clayton 4,716 cases, 102 deaths
up 1 in 48 hrs, 495 hospital.

Henry 3138 cases, 44 deaths,
150 hospital.

Butts 469 cases, 37 deaths,
42 hospital.

Upson 494 cases, 46 deaths,
56 hospital.

Lamar 252 cases, 10 deaths,
29 hospital.

Pike 198 cases, 4 deaths, 18 hospital.

All Georgia Counties reporting.

GRIFFIN POLICE DEPARTMENT

WELL STAR SPALDING EMS

At 5:35 Monday afternoon 911 received a call of a person struck by a vehicle at 8^th and Taylor Street intersection. Griffin Police, and Spalding EMS responded to the scene where a Honda had stuck a man on a bicycle at the intersection.

The initial report 911 received was the man riding the bicycle was down and not moving. EMS at the scene said that the individual was later recovered but was not talking with first responders.

Emory Air flight helicopter air ambulance was placed in standby, and later cancelled.

As EMS personnel continued to treat the individual the decision was made to transport the man by ground ambulance to Spalding Regional for further observation and treatment.

Afternoon Traffic was tied up at the intersection for about 45 minutes.

LAMAR COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

ST. CLAIR COUNTY ALABAMA

A Lamar County deputy was shot Saturday night responding to a suspicious person call in Milner.

The deputy responded to Moore street in Milner for a suspicious person. The deputy was ambushed in his car. The deputy has been flown to an Atlanta hospital. Moore street in Milner was been shut down Saturday evening and early Sunday Morning.

A suspect is in custody related to the shooting of the deputy.

Lamar County Sheriff Brad White said that the suspect used a shotgun to shoot the deputy. Buck Shot pellets struck the deputy under the left arm, and under his right eye on the right side of his head.

Sheriff White said he met with the unidentified deputy about 4 am at the hospital and injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

The suspect was identified as Donald Chandler Gordy, born in 1982, from Barnesville.  Sheriff White also said Gordy’s wife told them he had shot the deputy.

Gordy escaped in a truck, but investigators had his license plate and issued a lookout.   Gordy was apprehended on I-20 in St. Clair County, Alabama. The Arrest was made by Deputies there and they also found numerous weapons in the truck.  Sheriffs investigators in Alabama said Gordy has been arrested previously in Lamar County, but he couldn’t provide charges.

The Sheriff’s office asks for your prayers for their Deputy.

More information is expected soon.

SPALDING SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT

Griffin Post of the Georgia State Patrol

SPALDING FIRE DEPARTMENT

DEPUTY CORONER MIKE PRYOR

WELL STAR SPALDING EMS

A one vehicle accident at poplar street at shoal creek resulted in the death of the driver of the vehicle.

About 7:45 Friday morning units of the Spalding Sheriffs Department, Spalding Fire Department, Spalding Regional EMS, and Troopers from the Griffin Post of the Georgia State Patrol, Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster and Coroner Elect Mike Pryor Deputy coroner, were called to a one vehicle accident on Poplar Street at Shoal Creek, in West Spalding County. Following notification of next of kin, The Driver of the black Chevrolet Tahoe was identified by Deputy Coroner Mike Pryor as Michael Leon Brown age 41. Witnesses said he was observed driving at a high rate of speed and apparently lost control of the vehicle and ran off the roadway into a wooded area near shoal creek. The vehicle struck a large tree head on.

911, was advised by Air Flight, that due to the weather and overcast conditions that their Helicopter aircraft was grounded and could not fly.

Mr. Brown had to be extricated from the vehicle by Spalding County Firefighters.

A wrecker was called to the scene to pull the vehicle from the tree, and creek area back onto the roadway.

The accident is being investigated by Troopers from the Griffin Post of the Georgia State Patrol. More information will be available as the Investigation continues.

GRIFFIN POLICE DEPARTMENT

WELL STAR SPALDING EMS

At 5:35 Monday afternoon 911 received a call of a person struck by a vehicle at 8^th and Taylor Street intersection. Griffin Police, and Spalding EMS responded to the scene where a Honda had stuck a man on a bicycle at the intersection.

The initial report 911 received was the man riding the bicycle was down and not moving. EMS at the scene said that the individual was later recovered but was not talking with first responders.

Emory Air flight helicopter air ambulance was placed in standby, and later cancelled.

As EMS personnel continued to treat the individual the decision was made to transport the man by ground ambulance to Spalding Regional for further observation and treatment.

Afternoon Traffic was tied up at the intersection for about 45 minutes.

Milner Mayor Andy Marlowe

The Barnesville Herald Gazette reports that the new Milner Mayor Andy Marlowe, reported he directed police chief Michael Bailey to ask the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to do a “complete forensic audit” of the City’s finances. The GBI and Lamar County Sheriffs Department are already involved in a probe of the Milner council called for by district attorney Jonathan Adams.

Marlowe also refunded $65 to Jody and Tracey Alford for a fee they paid to hang a graduation sign outside their business. Tracey Alford then turned around and donated the $65 to the police department.

The Mayor dissolved the current planning and zoning committee saying, “The planning and zoning committee has not acted in the best interests of the City which has led to extensive litigation and huge legal fees”. He noted council members cannot serve on committees, according to a legal opinion from the Georgia Municipal Association. Council member George Weldon was on the committee before it was dissolved.

Member Skip Seda did push back on that and asked for an opinion from city attorney Scott Mayfield which he was not immediately prepared to give.

Another key development was the resignation of council member Fred Stephens. the council called a special election to fill his spot to be held Nov. 3. Stephens endorsed Helen Palacios to take his place.

WKEU would like to thank Walter Geiger and the Barnesville Herald Gazette for their assistance in this news story. You can subscribe to the Herald Gazette on line at barnesville.com

Butts County Sheriff’s Office reports that a Milner man identified as Bradley Kelley Rutledge, age 31, is facing numerous charges, including being a peeping tom.  According to investigators the individual allegedly took a kayak across Jackson Lake to a residence on Tussahaw Inn Road, peeked through a second floor window, tried to enter the home through the garage, then attempted to escape from deputies in the water, Rutledge, then resisted arrest on shore and had to be tasered. Butts County deputies were sent to the residence about 3:15 a.m. on Aug. 11 in reference to a burglar being seen at the home.

Upon arrival the female homeowner told the Deputies she heard noises outside their bedroom window on the second floor of the family’s home. When she looked out the window, she saw a white male with brown hair, with no shirt and wearing khaki shorts climbing down a ladder and running from the house toward the tree line.

Officials said they were advised that her husband kept an extendable ladder under the front porch of the house, and that the suspect had placed the ladder against the house next to the second story window. He added that he found the door of his garage open. He had closed the garage earlier in the evening. It is believed the suspect had gained entry to the garage.

A red kayak and oar were found at the dock. It did not belong to the homeowners.

As deputies were conducting their investigation, they heard an individual in the tree line close to the home. Deputies gave verbal commands for the suspect to surrender, but he ran and jumped into Jackson Lake and swam 200 yards to the other side of the lake. Backup was called and deputies arrived at Mabry Road and found the suspect hiding in the water under a dock on Mabry Road. He refused to come out of the water and two deputies jumped into the water and pulled the suspect out. As the suspect was being taken into custody, he allegedly kicked one of the deputies in the stomach and broke a spare taser cartridge. The suspect was tasered and brought under control by another deputy. A search of the suspect produced a large knife.

The suspect was identified by Deputies as Bradley Kelley Rutledge, age 31. A black Toyota truck registered to him was found on Mabry Road. A resident found clothing containing Rutledge’s identification and money on his boat dock and turned it over to deputies. The truck, kayak, and other items were placed into evidence.

Rutledge has been charged with 1st degree burglary, criminal interference with government property, obstruction of officers, simple battery against a law officer, and peeping tom.

Monroe County Sheriffs Department

WENDELL SCOTT

CIERRA BELL

On Sunday, August 30, 2020 at approximately 12:38 am, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding an accident and an individual being shot on Highway 42 South. Upon arrival, Monroe County Deputies found 35 -year-old Michael High (of Forsyth) deceased on scene due to a gunshot wound and found two vehicles that were wrecked.

Upon preliminary investigation, Monroe County Investigators discovered that High’s girlfriend, Cierra Bell (age 26 of Decatur, Ga), called High and asked him to come pick her up from Oglethorpe, Ga where she was gambling with Wendell Scott (age 38 of Decatur, Ga). High went and picked up Bell from Oglethorpe and on their way back to Forsyth, they had a verbal altercation. Bell left the vehicle and began to walk back to Forsyth. A few minutes later, Scott came across Bell walking as he was driving back to Decatur. Scott pulled over to ask Bell if she needed a ride back to Decatur. As Bell and Scott were talking, High hit Scott’s vehicle in the rear with his vehicle and High’s vehicle went off the road into the ditch. High then left his car, walked back up to the roadway and began to aggressively approach Scott. Scott then shot High.

Both Cierra Bell and Wendell Scott are currently in custody at the Monroe County Jail.

Scott is charged with Felony Murder, Felony Tampering with Evidence, Possession of Firearm by convicted Felon

Bell is charged with Felony Tampering with Evidence, Felony False Statements

Both are still in custody at the Monroe County Jail.

This is an active investigation and no other information will be released at this time.

Spalding Sheriffs Department

JOSHUA FULLER

KRISTEN ELAINE FULLER

TROY EDGAR

On Monday August 31, 2020 at approximately 3:30 am, Spalding County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of a person shot at the Quality Inn located at 2014 North Expressway in Griffin. When deputies arrived they located a male identified as Anthony Reid 52 years of age, who had sustained two (2) gunshot wounds, laying on the floor of room 204. Spalding Regional EMS responded to the scene and immediately transported Mr. Reid to Spalding Regional Hospital. The crime scene was secured until Spalding County Criminal and Crime Scene Investigators arrived and began tracking leads and identifying potential witnesses.

Sheriff Darrell Dix said, “Shortly after EMS departed with Mr. Reid, my Investigators were notified that he had succumbed to his wounds. Spalding County Deputy Coroner Michael Pryor responded to the Hospital and met with my investigators after pronouncing Mr. Reid.”

Search warrants were obtained for the room where the crime occurred and additional rooms where the shooter, now identified as Joshua Ray Fuller B/M 28 years of age, was associated with. Spalding County SWAT conducted the entries to locate the shooter, and while searching they recovered the weapon believed to be used in the crime. Fuller was found hiding in another nearby room and was taken into custody.

“This investigation covered a large physical area and required multiple interviews with witnesses and others in order to piece together the chain of events that led up to the murder of Anthony Reid. We found that there were others involved in assisting Fuller after the shooting by attempting to aid him in hiding evidence of the crime. Those people were also arrested and charged.”

“From the look of the crime scene and the evidence we gathered, it appears that when he was surprised and attacked by Fuller, Mr. Reid had no other choice, did all he could do, and fought for his life in order to defend himself before being shot.”

Those arrested and charged are:

Joshua Ray Fuller B/M 28

6654 Lamar Hutcheson Parkway

Riverdale Georgia

Murder, Felony Murder, Malice Murder, Aggravated Assault (3 Counts), Armed Robbery (3 Counts), Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

Kristen Elaine Fuller W/F 26

2014 North Expressway Room 231

Griffin Georgia

Hindering Apprehension of a Fugitive, Tampering With Evidence

Troy Edgar W/M 48

828 E. McIntosh Rd.

Griffin Georgia

Hindering Apprehension of a Fugitive, Tampering With Evidence

All three suspects are currently being housed in the Spalding County Jail while awaiting their first appearance hearing before a Magistrate Judge

“Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Investigators met with Mr. Reid’s family Tuesday at their residence and talked to them about the chain of events, the arrests, and the investigation up to this point. They are a strong family going through a very tough time right now in dealing with this tragedy. Please keep them in your prayers

Governor Brian Kemp

As of  Thursday at 3 pm the COVID19 report from the Georgia Department of Public Health shows an increase of cases  in the past 24 hrs for a new total of 277, 288.  The number of deaths also up again in last 24 hrs to 5,868 deaths state wide, with 25, 257 Georgians are hospitalized.

Spalding 1, 198 cases, deaths 53,
163 hospital.

Fayette cases 1, 606 deaths 39,
up 1, in past 48 hrs, 82 hospital.

Coweta 2, 297 cases, 29 deaths,
up 3 in past 24 hrs, 110 hospital.

Clayton 6, 596 cases, 146 deaths,
up 4 in past 24 hrs, 614 hospital.

Henry 4, 492 cases, 83 deaths,
up 2 in 24 hrs, 177 hospital.

Butts 571 cases, 40 deaths,
49 hospital.

Upson 670 cases,  58 deaths,
up 1 in past 24 hrs, 68 hospital.

Lamar 325 cases, 17 deaths,
up 1 in past 48 hrs, 34 hospital.

Pike 285 cases, 8 deaths,
26 hospital.

All Georgia Counties reporting:

In Lamar County, The Barnesville Herald Gazette reports that Sheriff Brad White has confirmed there were two fatalities at the scene of a two-vehicle accident on Hwy. 36 East near Shiloh Baptist Church in the Morgan Dairy Road area. And a third person was reportedly taken by ambulance to the Macon Medical Center.

At least two of those injured are local to Barnesville and Lamar County.

The first call the 911 Center was received at 9:26 p.m. Wednesday Evening.

Lamar County Coroner Jim Smith identified the victims as Eddie B. Watts, age 68, and David Watts, age 56. Both had listed addresses of 856 High Falls Park Rd. Coroner Smith said the accident was a head-on collision.

WKEU would like to thank Walter Geiger and the Barnesville Herald Gazette for their assistance in this news story.  You can subscribe to the Herald Gazette on line at barnesville.com

WKEU would like to thank the Pike county Journal for their assistance in this new story you can subscribe to the Pike Journal at pikecountygeorgia.com