BREAKING NEWS: GPD Chief Mike Yates resigns after GBI investigation of murder case

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. […]

GPD officer resigns; police chief disciplinary conference scheduled after D.A.’s announcement

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Griffin City Manager Jessica O’Connor confirmed Wednesday that D’Marquivius “D.J.” King has resigned from the Griffin Police Department. O’Connor also said a disciplinary conference for GPD Chief Mike Yates will take place Thursday.King and Yates have been on paid administrative leave since February and April, respectively, while the GBI investigated King’s […]

D.A. to present GBI investigation of Griffin officer to grand jury

SHEILA A. MATHEWS :::Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder today announced that she will convene a grand jury to present the findings of a GBI investigation related to the Griffin Police Department’s investigation of the May 2021 murder of Javarreis Reid. “Upon receiving the report from Special Agent Adam Thompson with the GBI, I […]

GBI completes investigation of GPD’s handling of 2021 Javarreis Reid murder case

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 […]

BREAKING NEWS: Connie Sampson hired as interim chief of Griffin Police Department

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 […]

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 […]