GPD Chief allowed no contact with city employees or access to city premises

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 […]

Death of four-month-old baby under investigation; parents charged with child cruelty

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Coroner’s Office and Griffin Police Department are investigating the death of a baby boy. According to Coroner Michael Pryor, Zychion Montgomery, who was four-months and three weeks old, died early Saturday morning. “The baby was at a residence on West Quilly Street. The mama found the baby unresponsive. […]

Griffin officials decline to comment on GPD sergeant involved in murder cover-up

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 […]

DA will seek GBI investigation of GPD officer who concealed brother’s alleged role in murder

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 […]

Former Griffin PD officer arrested for violation of oath of office, theft by deception

STAFF REPORT ::: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested a former officer of the Griffin Police Department on charges of theft by deception and violation of oath by a public officer. Asia Jones, age 26, of Hampton, was arrested in connection with a GBI investigation requested June 17, 2022, by the GPD. The […]

Spalding man charged with 11 counts of obscene internet contact with a minor

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A Spalding County man – Timothy Smallwood, age 41 – was among 11 people arrested on child exploitation charges by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) as a result of Operation Happy New Year. The GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit and the GBI’s Special Enforcement Team (SET) partnered […]

GBI charges Butts County deputy with stalking and harassing communications in three counties

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Butts County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Marlin Moultrie has been arrested and charged with three counts of stalking and three counts of harassing communications, all misdemeanors. Moultrie, age 55, of Flovilla, was arrested following a GBI investigation that was requested Nov. 4, by Pike County Sheriff Jimmy Thomas. That request was based […]

Dix: 21 suspects in large-scale narcotics investigation “methed around and found out”

STAFF REPORT ::: Seventeen people have been arrested and four additional suspects are being sought in a Griffin-Spalding County narcotics investigation involving the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations and S.T.I.N.G. units, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation West Metro Regional Drug Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Gang Task Force, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s […]

U.S. Marshals Task Force officer, Pike County murder suspect shot during execution of arrest warrant

STAFF REPORT ::: The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting in Fayette County that is related to a recent Pike County murder. The preliminary investigation indicates that at 9:18 a.m., the U.S. Marshals Service and Fayette County Sheriff’s Office executed an arrest warrant for Antonio Murgado Jr. at 429 Sage Brush Trail, Fayetteville. Murgado […]

U.S. Marshal Service arrests third Pike County murder suspect

STAFF REPORT ::: A third suspect has been arrested in connection with the July 16 murder of James Knight. Antonio Murgado Jr., age 19, was arrested in Fayette County by the United States Marshal Service. An officer involved shooting occurred during Murgado’s arrest. At the time of Knight’s murder, Murgado Jr. was on bond in […]

Additional criminal and constitutional violations alleged against Smart Web referred to GBI

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix says his request for a GBI investigation of former Spalding County Marshal Smart Web includes further allegations of both criminal and constitutional violations in addition to the June 14 Maloy Circle incident in which Web shot and killed a dog. Dix said Spalding County Sheriff’s Office […]

BREAKING NEWS: Sheriff Darrell Dix requesting GBI investigation of Smart Web incident; apparent body worn camera video release

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The GRIP has confirmed that Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix is requesting a GBI investigation involving Smart Web. When asked Thursday morning if that request had been made, Dix said, “Right now. I contacted Marie Broder yesterday afternoon and conferred with her, and she agreed that the involvement of the GBI […]

Remains of Upson County murder victim located in creek in remote, heavily wooded area

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The remains of missing Upson County murder victim Stanley Steverson were recovered Monday. Steverson’s body was found in a small creek off Pleasant Grove Road in southern Upson County. Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore said the creek was deep in the woods with an extremely steep bank. The harsh terrain made […]

Officials release information in murder case that led to suspect’s public suicide at Ingles

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Stanley Steverson, of Thomaston, has been identified as the person police say was murdered last week by Demonte Terrell Davis, the man who committed suicide Sunday afternoon in the Griffin Ingles parking lot. Authorities say Davis had agreed to peacefully surrender to police at Ingles but when he arrived, committed suicide. […]

Sheriff: Man wanted for Upson County murder committed suicide in Ingles parking lot

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A man who was scheduled to turn himself in to authorities in connection with an Upson County murder committed suicide in the Ingles parking lot Sunday afternoon, officials say. Despite rumors circulating rampantly on social media, there was no other fatality or injury associated with this incident. According to Spalding County […]