SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Following the Nov. 21 resignation of Steve Heaton, who served as chief of the Griffin Police Department since April 2014, Capt. Homer Daniel, as the senior commanding officer, has been named interim chief. Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith said Daniel will hold that position until the hiring process has been completed, […]
Young lady’s epilepsy diagnosis strengthens family bond
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Life can change forever in an instant. This is a harsh reality that was faced in 2008 by David and Selena Williams when their daughter, Maggie, was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 15. “According to the doctor, she has it all. She has 36 out of the 40 […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: epilepsy, Epilepsy Awareness Month, Griffin, King, Maggie Williams, Selena Williams, service dog, spalding county
Five family members injured in Sunday afternoon wreck
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Five members of one family were injured in a Sunday afternoon wreck at the intersection of North Expressway and Highway 92. Three of those injured were children, the youngest being only one-week-old. According to Sgt. Matt McFarlan, of the Griffin Police Department Uniform Patrol Division, the wreck occurred when a driver […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: baby, children, Egleston, family, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Highway 92, North Expressway, spalding county, wreck
Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit investigation raises questions
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 following is the first […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: court order, GPS tracker, investigation, narcotics, search warrant, Sgt. John Corley, Sheriff Wendell Beam, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, Special Operations Unit
Capt. Homer Daniel named GPD interim chief
STAFF REPORT ::: Capt. Homer Daniel, as senior commanding officer of the Griffin Police Department, has assumed responsibility of day-to-day operations. Daniel has been named interim chief following the resignation of Steve Heaton, who served as chief from April 2014 through November 2015. According to city officials, Daniel will maintain these responsibilities until such time […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Capt. Homer Daniel, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, interim chief, Steve Heaton
GPD Operation Wheelin’ and Dealin’ targets street level drug dealers
STAFF REPORT ::: Personnel of the Griffin Police Department Special Investigations Unit with assistance from the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit and the Fayette County Tactical Narcotics Team on Oct. 28 concluded Operation Wheelin’ and Dealin,’ a sale case operation targeting street level drug dealers throughout the city of Griffin and Spalding County. […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrests, crime, drugs, Fayette County Tactical Narcotics Team, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, narcotics, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office
GPD: Children removed from home in “deplorable” condition
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Three children were removed from their home Wednesday when the Griffin Police Department and the Spalding County Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) discovered they were living in conditions authorities describe as “deplorable.” Sgt. Kelly McKinney, of the GPD Criminal Investigation Division, said she and other law enforcement personnel responded […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: child cruelty, crime, Department of Family and Children Services, DFCS, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, spalding county
Sunday morning drive-by shooting wounds one
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department is investigating a drive-by shooting that occurred early Sunday morning, leaving one man wounded. According to Investigator Todd Howard, of the GPD Criminal Investigation Division, the shooting took place at 1701 Park Circle and was reported at approximately 3:40 a.m. Howard said the incident was precipitated by […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assault, drive-by shooting crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, shooting, spalding county
Sheriff: 13-year-old arrested in connection to three commercial burglaries
STAFF REPORTS ::: According to Spalding County Sheriff Wendell Beam, a 13-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection to three recent commercial burglaries. Deputies on Sunday, Oct. 18, arrested the juvenile as he was allegedly in the act of burglarizing a local business, Pings and Dings, located at 2930 North Expressway. As a result of […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Burglary, crime, Griffin, juvenile, Sheriff Wendell Beam, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office
County BoC to request Attorney General’s Office investigate Sheriff’s Office’s Open Records actions
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved by a 4-0 vote a motion to request an investigation by the Georgia Attorney General’s Office to determine whether the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office violated Georgia’s Open Records Act following its administrative Internal Affairs investigation of David Gibson, the former captain of […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Attorney General's Office, David Gibson, Griffin, investigation, Open Records Act, Sheriff Wendell Beam, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Fifth SCSO employee announces intent to sue in Gibson case
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A fifth employee of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office has served anti-litem notice she intends to sue Sheriff Wendell Beam and David Gibson, formerly the captain of the SCSO Uniform Patrol Division. Melanie Bowen joins four additional female SCSO employees – Jessica Kelley, Kimberley Barnett, Karen Law and Misty Piper in […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: David Gibson, Griffin, lawsuit, Melanie Bowen, Sheriff Wendell Beam, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office
GBI: Sheriff Wendell Beam did not request criminal investigation of David Gibson
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has confirmed it is conducting a second investigation involving the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office. According to Special Agent in Charge Fred Wimberly, of the GBI Region 2 office in Columbus, Sheriff Wendell Beam requested the investigation Aug. 6. “We have been requested to take a […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: David Gibson, GBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Griffin, Sheriff Wendell Beam, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Griffin PD chief responds to criticism of recruit’s “insensitive” tweet
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A.J. Hammond, a recruit in training with the Griffin Police Department, has drawn harsh criticism following a tweet he posted during Saturday’s University of Georgia-University of Tennessee football game. After Nick Chubb, UGA’s star running back, sustained a significant and season-ending knee injury, Hammond tweeted, “I hope that ended his career! […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: A.J. Hammond, Chief Steve Heaton, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Nick Chubb, spalding county, tweet
Griffin residents arrested, charged in eight residential burglaries
STAFF REPORT ::: Christopher Robert Parnell, age 39, of 121 South Honey Bear Drive, and Ronda Swartz, age 45, of 2175 Old Atlanta Road, have each been charged with eight counts of residential burglary. Parnell was also charged with three counts of theft by deception and Parnell faces one count of that charge. According to […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Christopher Robert Parnell, crime, Griffin, Ronda Swart, Sheriff Wendell Beam, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Chief Steve Heaton resigning from Griffin Police Department
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Grip has learned that Griffin Police Department Chief Steve Heaton has submitted to City Manager Kenny Smith his letter of resignation. Heaton took over the chief of police position April 14, 2014, following the December 2013 restructuring of the GPD that resulted in former chief Frank Strickland’s designation as the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Steve Heaton, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, resignation, spalding county
The GRIP 