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SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Mike Yates on Tuesday submitted his letter of resignation as chief of the Griffin Police Department. Yates had been on paid administrative leave since April 28. “This action (Yates’ administrative leave) was taken in connection with the pending GBI investigation requested by District Attorney Marie Broder into the matter involving Sgt. […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::The GBI has completed its investigation of the Griffin Police Department’s (GPD) handling of the 2021 murder of Javarreis Reid. The GBI Region 2 Field Office confirmed the investigative case file was turned over to Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder’s office on July 10. “So, I have reviewed it, but […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Connie Sampson has been hired to serve as interim chief of the Griffin Police Department. July 5 will be Sampson’s first day in office. The interim chief is responsible for the GPD’s day-to-day operations and management of its sworn and civilian personnel. GPD Chief Mike Yates has been on paid administrative […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates, who begins his third week of administrative leave on Friday, has been ordered to have no contact with any city of Griffin employees and to refrain from coming on any city property. Griffin City Manager Jessica O’Connor placed Yates on what she said is a […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The city of Griffin has confirmed that GPD Chief Mike Yates was placed on administrative leave in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI case is related to GPD Sgt. D’Marquivius “D.J.” King, who initially received a written reprimand in November 2021 […]
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SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Two people were wounded in separate Saturday night shootings in the city of Griffin. Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates said one person was shot near 2nd Street and Central Avenue. That victim walked to the hospital for treatment. A second person was shot on Tinsley Street at approximately midnight. The […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: City of Griffin officials have declined to respond to the most basic questions related to Griffin Police Department (GPD) Sgt. D’Marquivius “D.J.” King, even refusing to cite his current employment status. King, while assigned to the GPD Criminal Intelligence Division (CID), covered up the May 9, 2021, murder of Javarreis Reid […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder has notified the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) of her intent to request an investigation of Griffin Police Department Sgt. D’Marquivius “D.J.” King. Broder’s request to the GBI is the result of an investigation conducted by The GRIP, which reported that King was reprimanded […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The GRIP has learned that Damon Marquis Beck, a suspect in the May 9, 2021, murder of Javarreis Reid, has been arrested. Beck is currently being held in the Spalding County Jail on charges of murder and aggravated assault. Beck is the brother of Griffin Police Department Sgt. D’Marquivius “D.J.” King. […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Internal Griffin Police Department records indicate an officer covered up a murder by shielding a suspect. Disciplinary records obtained by The GRIP establish that Sgt. D’Marquivius “D.J.” King deliberately concealed the alleged involvement of his brother, Damon Beck, in the May 9, 2021, murder of Javarreis Reid. The body of Javarreis […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Two homes sustained damage in a Thursday evening shooting incident in the vicinity of N. Hill and Realty streets. After responding to the area in response to a shots fired call, Officer Willie Deese, of the Griffin Police Department Uniform Patrol Division, was flagged down by a man who reported having […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department investigation of a Thursday afternoon shooting that left two juveniles wounded is ongoing. Uniform Patrol Division officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of Carrington Drive in response to a person shot call. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 15-year-old male had sustained a gunshot wound to the […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department is investigating a Thursday afternoon shooting that left two wounded. According to GPD Chief Mike Yates, two juveniles – one 15-years-old and the second 17-years-old – were shot. Yates said the shooting appears to have occurred during an apparent drug deal. “Both were uncooperative but have been […]
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