GBI: GPD officer’s service weapon used in alleged suicide attempt

Publisher note: It is The GRIP’s policy to not routinely report on suicides or attempted suicides. However, this incident involves a family member of a local law enforcement officer and is under investigation by the GBI. The information contained in this report was released by the Griffin Police Department, and The GRIP will follow up with additional information […]

GBI investigating alleged suicide attempt by local LEO’s wife

Publisher note: It is The GRIP’s policy to not routinely report on suicides or attempted suicides. However, this incident involves a family member of a local law enforcement officer and is under investigation by the GBI. The information contained in this report was released by the Griffin Police Department, and The GRIP will follow up with additional information […]

Fatal Wednesday night fire under investigation

STAFF REPORT ::: An investigation is underway to determine the cause of a Wednesday night fire on Kennedy Drive that resulted in the death of a 37-year-old woman. Officials say the Spalding County Fire Department and Spalding Regional Hospital Emergency Medical Services on April 13 responded at 11:05 p.m. to the report of a structure fire at […]

GPD: Dump truck used in attempted ATM robbery also stolen

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Investigators of the Griffin Police Department say an early Thursday morning attempted ATM robbery failed to elicit any cash for the perpetrators. Police have little initial information to go on, but have said the dump truck used in the incident was stolen. “A dump truck – it was a dump truck […]

The GRIP is back!

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: I’ve been known to frequently say, “I love my life!” I’ve also often been accused of putting on a false front and pretending my life is perfect. Whenever I’ve heard that throughout the years, I’ve always respond by saying no, my life isn’t perfect. Far from it. After all, I play […]

Unidentified black male critically injured Thursday when struck by vehicle

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: An unidentified black man was critically injured Thursday afternoon when he was struck by a vehicle on S. Hill St. According to Lt. Mike Natale, of the Griffin Police Department Office of the Chief, the man was riding a bicycle when the incident occurred. “A black male – an unidentified black […]

Young child struck by vehicle, flown to Atlanta for treatment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A nine-year-old little girl was seriously injured Monday afternoon when she was struck by a vehicle on S. 15th St. According to Patrolman Austin Massey, of the Griffin Police Department Uniform Patrol Division, the incident occurred as the child attempted to cross the roadway. “He (the driver) had stopped on Meriwether […]

Sheriff: Road rage incident leads to stabbing

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A motorist was seriously injured Saturday afternoon after an alleged road rage incident resulted in a stabbing. According to Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, the incident occurred on Highway 19-41 in the vicinity of School Road. “There was a road rage incident where one driver forced the other driver into the […]

Man shot in alleged attempted armed robbery

STAFF REPORTS ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an alleged attempted armed robbery that occurred Thursday night leaving one victim with multiple gunshot wounds. According to Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, deputies at 10:13 p.m. responded to an attempted armed robbery and person shot call at the Triangle Amoco Station at 3241 Jackson […]

GPD establishing specialized gang unit

STAFF REPORT ::: The Griffin Police Department will soon deploy a new initiative to deal with the city’s emerging street gang activity. The Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement (C.A.G.E.) unit is currently in development and will serve to focus all available resources on this crime problem with a single mission of eliminating this activity from […]

Details of student’s alleged threats against school, students emerge

Publisher’s note – At this time, The GRIP will not disclose the identity of minors involved in this incident. SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Additional information is available in the arrest of 17-year-old Brennan Turbeyville, the Griffin teenager who was on Jan. 7, arrested and charged with terroristic threats following what the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office […]

Teen arrested for alleged threat to take over school, shoot students

STAFF REPORTS ::: A Griffin teenager has been arrested in connection to alleged threats made on the Internet involving taking over Spalding High School and shooting students. According to Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, Brennan Turbyville, age 17, of 665 Maple Drive, was arrested Jan. 7, and is being held in the Spalding County Jail […]

Former Salvation Army finance manager pleads guilty to embezzlement of charitable funds

STAFF REPORT ::: Gary Hilliard has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $272,000 from the Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Area Command while serving as its finance manager. “The Salvation Army provides a wide range of charitable programs and services to needy citizens in our community,” said U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Unfortunately, Mr. Hilliard chose to […]

SCSO denies requesting GBI leak investigation

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Following the Dec. 7 publication of an article citing the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office’s request for a GBI investigation regarding a confidential source that provided information to this newspaper, The GRIP learned the SCSO is denying having made that request. After speaking with GBI Region 2 Special Agent in Charge Fred […]

SCSO narcotics operation raises questions: Part III

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The GRIP received information from a confidential source alleging the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit in 2012 con­ducted an illegal operation involving the placement of a Global Position­ing System (GPS) tracker on a vehicle without court ordered authorization. The GRIP conducted an investigation based on that allegation and the […]