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SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The 15-year-old Griffin boy shot and killed Saturday night has been identified as Luis Fernando Perez. Perez lived in the Hallmark Hills neighborhood and was a Griffin High student. Griffin Police Department officers were dispatched to 1100 W. College St. Extension at approximately 11 p.m. in reference to a person shot. […]
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 […]
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 […]
STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office investigation into criminal allegations involving the Spalding County Animal Shelter has been completed. Sheriff Darrell Dix reports the investigation found no criminal acts or policy violations had occurred. According to Dix, the investigation was initiated after Spalding County Manager Steve Ledbetter reported criminal allegations that had been […]
STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a murder after a shooting victim was discovered early Friday morning in a church parking lot. Deputies responded to Sunnyside Baptist Church at approximately 2:40 a.m. in reference to the discovery of a gunshot victim in the parking lot. The victim has been identified as […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Several employees of the Spalding County Animal Shelter have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation being conducted by the Sheriff’s Office. After receiving information alleging serious issues involving the Animal Shelter, The GRIP submitted an Open Records request for information related to any 2023 investigation. Spalding […]
SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The city of Griffin has confirmed that GPD Chief Mike Yates was placed on administrative leave in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI case is related to GPD Sgt. D’Marquivius “D.J.” King, who initially received a written reprimand in November 2021 […]
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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 […]
STAFF REPORT ::: An 11-year-old little girl was shot and killed Tuesday morning when a stray bullet entered her bedroom window, striking and killing her instantly. According to Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, the shooting occurred at approximately 1 a.m. in Spalding Heights. “One of the rounds that was fired at the intended target missed, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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