SUBMITTED ::: According to Sheriff Darrell Dix, deputies from the Fugitive Apprehension, Special Operations and C.A.G.E. units recently responded to a report of a large crowd in the 1600 block on North Hill St. Dix said upon their arrival, they identified Donnie Dunbar, a man the SCSO describes as a known gang member, as he […]
Sheriff: Known gang member arrested on multiple felony charges
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrest, crime, Donnie Dunbar, gangs, Griffin, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Fallen GPD Officer Kevin Jordan to be honored
SUBMITTED ::: Fallen Griffin Police Department Officer Kevin Jordan will be honored by the renaming of a portion of Georgia Highway 19-41. City officials say in memory of, and great appreciation for, the service of Officer Kevin Jordan, the portion of the state highway at its intersection with Lucky Street will be renamed Kevin Jordan […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: ceremony, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, honored, Officer Kevin Jordan, road renaming, spalding county
Former GPD officer’s prior agency reported multiple disciplinary problems
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Publisher’s note – This is the first in a series of articles examining the record of Tyler Cooper, a former officer of the Griffin Police Department, the hiring process of the agency and how its administration addresses complaints against officers and disciplinary measures. Prior to being hired by the Griffin Police […]
Filed Under: Top Stories
SCSO personnel soon to field Narcan, emergency drug overdose treatment
STAFF REPORT ::: Personnel of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office will soon be fielding Narcan (naloxone) kits to be used in the event of a drug overdose. According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, this potentially-life saving measure is being made possible with the assistance of a local businessman. “With […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Drew Miller, Griffin, Narcan, overdose, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Offic, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, treatment, Wynne's Pharmacy
Search warrant leads to arrest of two; recovery of narcotics and weapons
STAFF REPORT ::: A search warrant executed Thursday at the 597 N. McDonough Road residence of Michael Lee Drummond resulted in the arrest of two men on numerous drug and weapons charges. According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, the SCSO Special Operations and C.A.G.E. units received assistance from the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, GPD C.A.G.E. Unit, GPD Special Investigation Unit, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, meth, Michael Jay Stapleton, Michael Lee Drummond, narcotics, SCSO C.A.G.E. Unit, SCSO Special Operations Unit, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Offic, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, weapons
City manager responds to Open Records stand off
Publisher’s note: In response to an article that appeared in the June 8, 2017, print edition of The GRIP – City of Griffin, GPD Chief Yates refuse release of records; Records denied on officer who resigned in lieu of termination – Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith wrote the following letter to the editor, which was […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, City Manger Kenny Smith, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Open Records Act, Sheila Mathews, spalding county, The GRIP, transparency in government
Board of Education appoints three new administrators
STAFF REPORT ::: The Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education has appointed three new administrators. The action was taken at the Board’s Tuesday night meeting. According to a press release issued by the school system, one of the appointments is a new position created based on the curriculum audit recommendation. Michele Purvis, who was appointed school […]
Filed Under: Education, Top Stories Tagged With: administrators, appointments, curriculum audit, Griffin, Griffin Spalding County School System, Holly Williams, Melvina Crawl, Michele Purvis, spalding county, Superintendent Jim Smith
Autopsy did not reveal cause of death in case of man’s body located Friday night
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab has conducted an autopsy on the body located in north Griffin Friday night, but that forensic examination did not reveal a cause of death. According to Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster, the autopsy revealed no trauma or evidence of foul play in the man’s […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: autopsy, body, Crime Lab, death, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Police Chief Mike Yates, spalding county, Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster
Man’s body located in field will be sent to crime lab for autopsy
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Authorities are investigating a death reported when a body was located Friday night in a grassy area near the Griffin Crossroads shopping center. According to Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster, the man has not been identified. “He was found over there behind Brian’s, between Brian’s and the theater, we found a gentleman […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: autopsy, Chief Mike Yates, Coroner Sonny Foster, Crime Lab, death, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, investigation, spalding county
Formal complaint filed against Pike County teacher accused of inappropriate contact with student
The Pike County School System has filed a formal complaint against teacher Brian Crow with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. This complaint follows an allegation that a fellow teacher witnessed Crow engaged in inappropriate contact with a female student. For additional information on this developing story, please visit http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BREAKINGNEWSschool5.23.17.html#.WUvHyBEUjmI The GRIP appreciated The Pike County […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Brian Crow, formal complaint, Georgia Professional Standards Commission, Pike County, Pike County School System, Zebulon
Felony drug cases result in lengthy prison sentences, banishment
STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County District Attorney’s Office has concluded the first week of a two-week trial calendar in front of the Honorable W. Fletcher Sams. According to a press release issued by Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker, the calendar began with 77 cases. Altogether this week were 22 guilty pleas and […]
Former GHS teacher arrested on new charges involving juveniles; original bond revoked
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Brandy Lynn Nickels, the former Griffin High School teacher charged with numerous sex crimes involving students, is being held without bond in the Spalding County Jail after her bond was revoked following a second arrest. The GRIP was the only media present in the courtroom to hear arguments in the bond […]
Saturday murder suspect remains at large
STAFF REPORT ::: Authorities are investigating the Saturday murder of a Griffin man, Jontavian Davis. According to a press release issued by the Griffin Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 1:11 a.m. Saturday at 828 Scales St. Details of the incident are still being investigated, but authorities have confirmed Davis sustained multiple gunshot wounds from a […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Jontavious Davis, murder, spalding county, Vonterryon J. Matthews
City of Griffin, GPD Chief Yates refuse to release records on officer allowed to resign in lieu of termination
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The city of Griffin and Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates are refusing to release for review certain records pertaining to Tyler Cooper, formerly of the GPD, that were requested by The GRIP under the Georgia Open Records Act. The original request was made Feb. 3, and repeated efforts to obtain […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, Freedom of information, GBI, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Joshua Howell, Open Records Act, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Teresa Watson, Tyler Cooper
David Gibson’s friends, family speak out at plea hearing; judge expounds on sentence
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: David Gibson, formerly of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, has plead guilty to two felony counts of violating his oath of office. Gibson on Thursday afternoon appeared before Superior Court Judge Robert M. Crawford and entered a blind plea, which means his guilty plea was entered without prior knowledge of the […]
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