STAFF REPORT ::: The Griffin Police Department Special Investigations (SIU) and Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement (CAGE) units conducted “Operation CARE-ington,” which resulted in numerous drug- and weapons-related arrests. According to a press release, Operation CARE-ington resulted from numerous complaints of alleged drug activity in the 1700 block of Carrington Townhomes. During the operation, 11 […]
GPD releases citizens’ personal Facebook records
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department has released personal messages from the Facebook account of Will Holloway Sanders and three other individuals. This followed a public statement directed solely to Sanders that was allegedly made by GPD Chief Mike Yates. “Mr. Sanders, The police department and myself have been the subject of numerous […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: " Facebook, Chief Mike Yates, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Jessica Lester, Judge Brennan McDowell, Lt. Karen Yancy, Matthew Boynton, Michelle Gregory, Open Records Act, search warrants, Shelby Willey, spalding county, transparency in government, Will Holloway Sanders
Woman charged in boyfriend’s murder claimed shooting was unintentional
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The suspect in the Wednesday night domestic-related homicide of 23-year-old Steven Andrew Freeman claimed the shooting was accidental. Freeman was killed by a single gunshot wound to the chest. According to the incident report submitted by Griffin Police Department Master Patrol Officer Brian Earls, 24-year-old Mary Katherine Higdon, who has been […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Mary Katherine Higdon, murder, shooting, spalding county, Steven Andrew Freeman
GPD: Armed robbery, kidnapping at T-Mobile leads to three arrests
STAFF REPORT ::: The Griffin Police Department on Tuesday, July 31, responded to a report of an armed robbery at the T-Mobile on North Expressway. According to a press release, officers in Henry County initiated a pursuit with a vehicle identified as the getaway vehicle. The pursuit, with the assistance of the Clayton County Sheriff’s […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: apprehension, armed robbery, arrests, crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, kidnapping, pursuit, spalding county, T-Mobile
GPD Operation Reciprocity targets local “open-air drug market”
STAFF REPORT ::: What officials have described as an “open air drug market” has been the focus of an ongoing investigation by the Griffin Police Department Special Investigations and C.A.G.E. units. A press release issued by the GPD states that Operation Reciprocity concentrated on the area of North 2nd Street and East Central Avenue, particularly […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: C.A.G.E. Unit, crack cocaine, crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, narcotics, Operation Reciprocity, spalding county, Special Investigations Unit
GPD investigating aggravated assault that left one person severely injured
STAFF REPORT ::: One person was badly injured at approximately 7:45 p.m. Thursday evening aggravated assault on Alice Street, in the area behind McIntosh BP and Spalding Liquor. According to a press release issued by the Griffin Police Department, the victims wounds were described as “severe.” The victim, described as “uncooperative,” with the investigation, was […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assault, Atlanta Medical Center, crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, spalding county
Suspect in shooting incident near Easy Shop now charged with aggravated assault
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Timothy Watkins, one of the individuals allegedly involved in the June 3 shooting incident on Ray Street in the vicinity of the Easy Shop supermarket has been charged with aggravated assault. Investigator Adam Trammell, of the Griffin Police Department Criminal Investigation Division, now also alleges this aggravated assault involved Watkins firing […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: aggravated assualt, Chief Mike Yates, crime, drive-by, Easy Shop, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Investigator Adam Trammell, Sgt. Chris Wilson, shooting, spalding county, Timothy Watking
Media shut out by GPD Chief Yates now subject of IA investigation
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: In response to unequal restrictions and demands invoked against The GRIP by Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates, Publisher Sheila Mathews met with Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith in an effort to reach a resolution that would facilitate an impartial professional relationship. The basis of this meeting was the structure of […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, City Manager Kenny Smith, First Amendment, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, media shut out, spalding county, unequal access
“Gun fight” behind Easy Shop results in misdemeanor reckless conduct charges
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Two Griffin teens have been charged in connection with the Sunday afternoon shooting incident that occurred in the immediate vicinity of the Easy Shop Supermarket. Originally dispatched as a drive-by shooting, investigators say they are uncertain the incident meets the criteria to be classified as such. The GRIP on Wednesday spoke […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, drive-by, Easy Shop Supermarket, gangs, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, juvenile crime, reckless conduct, shooting, spalding county
Drive by shooting at Easy Shop under investigation
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A drive by shooting that occurred Sunday afternoon at the Easy Shop on Experiment Street is under investigation by the Griffin Police Department. The GRIP emailed GPD Chief Mike Yates seeking a phone call for confirmation and initial incident information. Yates instead responded by email, stating only, “This is an active […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, crime, drive-by shooting, Easy Shop, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, spalding county
GPD Chief Mike Yates denies The GRIP equal access
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The GRIP’s efforts to provide news coverage of matters involving the Griffin Police Department are being hindered by Chief Mike Yate’s refusal to be interviewed or to allow The GRIP to work with anyone else in the agency, including the recognized public information officer. Most recently, Yates refused to meet with […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, First Amendment, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, news, public information officer, reporting, spalding county
Missing evidence jeopardized felony case against Matthew Boynton, former GPD officer
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Violation of his oath of office – one of two felony charges for which the Griffin Police Department in 2017 arrested Matthew Boynton, one of its own officers – was reportedly at risk of being dismissed because his sworn oath of office, the signed document, could not be located. According to […]
Two teens charged in numerous Griffin entering auto cases
STAFF REPORT ::: After responding to a report of suspicious persons, officers of the Griffin Police Department’s Uniform Patrol Division on Sunday night arrested two individuals in the area of Tilney Avenue and 6th Street in connection to alleged entering auto cases. According to a press release issued by the GPD, other officers in the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrests, crime, entering auto, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, theft
GPD apprehends four home invasion suspects
STAFF REPORT ::: The Griffin Police Department on Thursday apprehended four suspects after receiving a report of a home invasion in progress. According to a press release issued by the GPD, personnel of the Uniform Patrol Division responded at approximately 1:09 p.m., with officers both making contact with the victim and saturating the area. Officials […]
Innovative GPD therapy dog program will serve special victims
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Thanks to the initiative taken by two of the city’s finest – Lt. Karen Yancy and Sgt. Kelly McKinney – the Griffin Police Department now has a Therapy Dog Program in place. Gracie, and shar pei/Labrador mix, and Chevy, a pit bull, are the GPD’s newest K9 officers that will be […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: spalding county, Griffin, law enforcement, Griffin Police Department, Chief Mike Yates, Sgt. Kelly McKinney, Lt. Karen Yancy, therapy dogs, K9s, community policing
The GRIP 