SUBMITTED ::: Fallen Griffin Police Department Officer Kevin Jordan will be honored by the renaming of a portion of Georgia Highway 19-41. City officials say in memory of, and great appreciation for, the service of Officer Kevin Jordan, the portion of the state highway at its intersection with Lucky Street will be renamed Kevin Jordan […]
Fallen GPD Officer Kevin Jordan to be honored
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: ceremony, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, honored, Officer Kevin Jordan, road renaming, spalding county
Search warrant leads to arrest of two; recovery of narcotics and weapons
STAFF REPORT ::: A search warrant executed Thursday at the 597 N. McDonough Road residence of Michael Lee Drummond resulted in the arrest of two men on numerous drug and weapons charges. According to a press release issued by Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, the SCSO Special Operations and C.A.G.E. units received assistance from the […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, GPD C.A.G.E. Unit, GPD Special Investigation Unit, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, meth, Michael Jay Stapleton, Michael Lee Drummond, narcotics, SCSO C.A.G.E. Unit, SCSO Special Operations Unit, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Offic, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, weapons
City manager responds to Open Records stand off
Publisher’s note: In response to an article that appeared in the June 8, 2017, print edition of The GRIP – City of Griffin, GPD Chief Yates refuse release of records; Records denied on officer who resigned in lieu of termination – Griffin City Manager Kenny Smith wrote the following letter to the editor, which was […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, City Manger Kenny Smith, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Open Records Act, Sheila Mathews, spalding county, The GRIP, transparency in government
Autopsy did not reveal cause of death in case of man’s body located Friday night
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab has conducted an autopsy on the body located in north Griffin Friday night, but that forensic examination did not reveal a cause of death. According to Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster, the autopsy revealed no trauma or evidence of foul play in the man’s […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: autopsy, body, Crime Lab, death, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Police Chief Mike Yates, spalding county, Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster
Man’s body located in field will be sent to crime lab for autopsy
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Authorities are investigating a death reported when a body was located Friday night in a grassy area near the Griffin Crossroads shopping center. According to Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster, the man has not been identified. “He was found over there behind Brian’s, between Brian’s and the theater, we found a gentleman […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: autopsy, Chief Mike Yates, Coroner Sonny Foster, Crime Lab, death, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, investigation, spalding county
Felony drug cases result in lengthy prison sentences, banishment
STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County District Attorney’s Office has concluded the first week of a two-week trial calendar in front of the Honorable W. Fletcher Sams. According to a press release issued by Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker, the calendar began with 77 cases. Altogether this week were 22 guilty pleas and […]
Former GHS teacher arrested on new charges involving juveniles; original bond revoked
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Brandy Lynn Nickels, the former Griffin High School teacher charged with numerous sex crimes involving students, is being held without bond in the Spalding County Jail after her bond was revoked following a second arrest. The GRIP was the only media present in the courtroom to hear arguments in the bond […]
Saturday murder suspect remains at large
STAFF REPORT ::: Authorities are investigating the Saturday murder of a Griffin man, Jontavian Davis. According to a press release issued by the Griffin Police Department, the incident occurred at approximately 1:11 a.m. Saturday at 828 Scales St. Details of the incident are still being investigated, but authorities have confirmed Davis sustained multiple gunshot wounds from a […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Jontavious Davis, murder, spalding county, Vonterryon J. Matthews
City of Griffin, GPD Chief Yates refuse to release records on officer allowed to resign in lieu of termination
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The city of Griffin and Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates are refusing to release for review certain records pertaining to Tyler Cooper, formerly of the GPD, that were requested by The GRIP under the Georgia Open Records Act. The original request was made Feb. 3, and repeated efforts to obtain […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chief Mike Yates, Freedom of information, GBI, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Joshua Howell, Open Records Act, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, Teresa Watson, Tyler Cooper
GPD, school officials offer differing accounts of teacher sex crime investigation
Publisher’s Note – It has come to my attention that an article published online Friday, May 19, 2017 – Griffin-Spalding teacher arrested on multiple sex charges – contains factually inaccurate information. This information was obtained directly from Judy Parker, executive director of the Griffin-Spalding County School System Communications and Partnerships Department. This article both corrects […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrest, Brandy Nickels, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Griffin Spalding County School System, Jim Smith, Judy Parker, Lt. Mike Natale, sex crimes, spalding county, teacher
Griffin-Spalding teacher arrested on multiple sex charges
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A teacher with the Griffin-Spalding County School System has been arrested on a variety of sex-related charges. According to a press release issued by the Griffin Police Department, the GPD, in conjunction with the Griffin-Spalding County School System, received information alleging inappropriate actions by a teacher with students. Brandy L. Nickels, age […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrest, Brandy L. Nickels, crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Griffin Spalding County School System, molestation, sex crimes, spalding county, teacher
Chantell Mixon to serve three years in connection with GPD Officer Kevin Jordan’s murder
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Despicable – that is the description Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ben Coker ascribes to the actions of Chantell Mixon, who stood accused in the May 2014 murder of Griffin Police Department Officer Kevin Jordan and today plead guilty in Spalding County Superior Court. Mixon on Monday appeared before Superior Court […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Chantell Mixon, crime, District Attorney Ben Coker, Griffin, Griffin Judicial Circuit, Griffin Police Department, Michael Bowman, murder, Officer Kevin Jordan, plea bargain, sentence, spalding county
GPD officer injured in Saturday night wreck
STAFF REPORTS ::: Officer Duon Dorsett, of the Griffin Police Department, was injured Saturday night in a multi-vehicle wreck. According to a statement released by GPD Chief Mike Yates, the incident occurred in the line of duty at approximately 9 p.m. “While in route (sic) to assist the Georgia State Patrol, operating in emergency mode, […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Atlanta Medical Center, Chief Mike Yates, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, line of duty, Officer Duon Dorsett, spalding county, wreck
Suspect arrested in multiple Peeping Tom cases
STAFF REPORT ::: The Griffin Police Department has arrested a Griffin man, 22-year-old Terry Keitt, in connection with multiple Peeping Tom incidents. According to a GPD release, Keitt was apprehended by officers of the Criminal Investigation Division and Crime Scene Unit. Authorities say Keitt allegedly entered the restrooms of local businesses and used a cell […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: arrest, crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, Peeping Tom, spalding county, Terry Keitt
Monday morning Waffle House armed robbery suspect quickly apprehended
STAFF REPORT ::: The Griffin Police Department is investigating an alleged armed robbery that was reported March 27 at the Waffle House located at 1408 Highway 16. According to GPD Officer Amanda Frix, she responded in emergency mode to that location at approximately 3:16 a.m. “When I arrived, I spoke with Michele Chambers who stated […]
Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: apprehension, armed robbery, crime, Griffin, Griffin Police Department, spalding county, Waffle House
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