Two wounded in Griffin in separate Saturday night shootings

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 […]

BoC vote and contract to conduct Griffin PD operational assessment cloaked in secrecy

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Board of Commissioners has voted to authorize an operational assessment of the Griffin Police Department. The vote authorizing City Attorney Drew Whalen to move forward with a contract for this assessment was taken during the BoC’s Nov. 22 meeting. All discussion about the operational assessment and the vote authorizing […]

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 […]

Griffin PD officer seriously injured in altercation with GHS student

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: An officer of the Griffin Police Department was seriously injured today in an altercation involving a Griffin High School student. Authorities say GHS School Resource Officer Jessie Davenport sustained serious injuries to both knees when a male student allegedly initiated a physical struggle. “The SRO was breaking up a fight and […]

BoC vote and contract to conduct Griffin PD operational assessment cloaked in secrecy

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Board of Commissioners has voted to authorize an operational assessment of the Griffin Police Department. The vote authorizing City Attorney Drew Whalen to move forward with a contract for this assessment was taken during the BoC’s Nov. 22 meeting. All discussion about the operational assessment and the vote authorizing […]

GPD Chief will consider responding to concerns of alleged weekend shootings when he is on duty

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Many of you have reached out about reports of multiple shooting incidents in the city of Griffin this weekend. After the first report early Friday evening, The GRIP emailed Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates. He never responded. After the second report Saturday afternoon, The GRIP again emailed Griffin Police Department […]

BREAKING NEWS: Griffin child wounded in overnight shooting

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Griffin Police Chief Mike Yates has confirmed a ten-year-old girl was wounded in an overnight shooting in the 300 block of East Quilly Street. The child sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder in what police are saying may have been a drive-by shooting, however, the circumstances of the shooting have […]

EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: GPD Crime Lab and evidence room compromised by security breach

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: On Thursday morning, the Griffin Police Department (GPD) issued a press release regarding the security breach that is the subject of this investigative report.The GRIP has been investigating this incident for nearly two weeks and has obtained information you will not find in the GPD press release. This article will also disclose additional […]

GPD Chief says rumor of Antifa protest in Griffin is unsubstantiated

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Rumors speculating that an Antifa protest will occur this Friday in Griffin cannot be substantiated by local officials. “I have no information that I could substantiate that would indicate they are,” said Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates. Asked how he would address citizen concerns regarding the Antifa rumors, Yates said, […]

GPD Chief says questions about his actions are “foolishness”

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The GRIP has learned that Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates did have a response to Publisher Sheila Mathews’ Sept. 11 email that included a list of questions regarding whether his actions in fabricating and disseminating a false document had violated GPD policies or state criminal laws. Although he did not […]

GPD officer suspended with pay following Saturday DUI arrest

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Officer Sheldon Mayfield, of the Griffin Police Department, has been placed on leave following his Saturday night arrest on a drunken driving charge. According to Lt. Mike Richardson, who serves as the GPD’s public information officer, Mayfield will not return to active duty pending the conclusion of an open investigation. “He […]

GPD arrests 11 in connection to entering auto, other cases

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department today announced the arrests of 11 suspects in a recent series of entering auto cases. During the months of June and July, the Griffin Police Department (GPD) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) investigated several reports of entering autos in the Hillandale, Forest Hills and Cold Water Creek neighborhoods. […]

Alleged killer of GPD Officer Kevin Jordan expected to survive

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Michael Bowman, the suspect charged with felony murder in the Saturday morning shooting death of Griffin Police Department Officer Kevin Jordan, is expected to survive. A police source has confirmed that Bowman remains in critical, but stable, condition. After allegedly shooting Officer Jordan in the back five times at close range, […]

Brother of GPD officer killed in line of duty will not be charged

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Raymond Jordan, the brother of Griffin Police Officer Kevin Jordan, who was killed early Saturday, will not be charged in the incident. Raymond Jordan, who was visiting his brother, the slain officer, as he worked a security detail at the Waffle House located on North Expressway, returned fire when his brother […]

Suspected killer of GPD Officer Kevin Jordan and two others charged

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Officials with the Griffin Police Department have announced that charges have been filed in the murder of Officer Kevin Jordan. According to Lt. Mike Richardson, the GBI has determined the alleged shooter, Michael Bowman, of Griffin, will be charged with felony murder. Chantell Mixon, the female suspect Jordan was attempting to […]