Get a GRIP and get the good stuff
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The GRIP has learned that Damon Marquis Beck, a suspect in the May 9, 2021, murder of Javarreis Reid, has been arrested. Beck is currently being held in the Spalding County Jail on charges of murder and aggravated assault. Beck is the brother of Griffin Police Department Sgt. D’Marquivius “D.J.” King. […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Internal Griffin Police Department records indicate an officer covered up a murder by shielding a suspect. Disciplinary records obtained by The GRIP establish that Sgt. D’Marquivius “D.J.” King deliberately concealed the alleged involvement of his brother, Damon Beck, in the May 9, 2021, murder of Javarreis Reid. The body of Javarreis […]
STAFF REPORT ::: Two suspects being sought in connection with an October 2022 murder in Griffin Crossings Apartments is in custody. The Griffin Police Department and Spalding County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team on Tuesday executed a search warrant at the Griffin Inn and Suites located at 2010 N. Expressway. As a result, Manderrius Brown, age […]
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 […]
STAFF REPORT ::: Griffin Police Department Uniform Patrol Officers responded today to a call reporting a man who had been shot near the WellStar Spalding Regional Hospital Emergency Room. Officials say the investigation has determined the man sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. The man, whom The GRIP will not identify, died as […]
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 […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Griffin Police Department Chief Mike Yates has temporarily reassigned all members of the Criminal Apprehension and Gang Enforcement (CAGE) Unit to other divisions. Yates’ internal memorandum – identified as a special order – said the temporary reassignments would be effective Jan. 8, 2023. A sweeping operational assessment of the Griffin Police […]
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 […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Two homes sustained damage in a Thursday evening shooting incident in the vicinity of N. Hill and Realty streets. After responding to the area in response to a shots fired call, Officer Willie Deese, of the Griffin Police Department Uniform Patrol Division, was flagged down by a man who reported having […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department investigation of a Thursday afternoon shooting that left two juveniles wounded is ongoing. Uniform Patrol Division officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of Carrington Drive in response to a person shot call. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 15-year-old male had sustained a gunshot wound to the […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin Police Department is investigating a Thursday afternoon shooting that left two wounded. According to GPD Chief Mike Yates, two juveniles – one 15-years-old and the second 17-years-old – were shot. Yates said the shooting appears to have occurred during an apparent drug deal. “Both were uncooperative but have been […]
The initial alleged offense was failure to obey a traffic control device, with Sgt. John Kelton alleging the driver stopped beyond the white stripe. To protect the woman’s identity, The GRIP will not identify any of the occupants involved in the traffic stop. According to Broder, GPD CAGE Unit Officer Alyssa Hanson had no criminal […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A Griffin woman’s quick thinking thwarted a violent carjacking attempt. The incident occurred just before 7 a.m. Sept. 7, when the victim, Markita Goodman, arrived for work at Vernay located at 804 Greenbelt Parkway. Griffin Police Department Officer Michael Betsill responded in non-emergency mode and met with Goodman. “Upon my arrival […]
Crime scene photos provided by the Griffin Police Department and booking photo provided by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office
The GRIP 