2017 Spalding County missing person case resolved with identification of human remains

STAFF REPORT ::: A 2017 Spalding County missing person case has been resolved with the identification of human remains located in a wooded area in 2018. On June 4, 2018, then-Spalding County Coroner Sonny Foster Spalding County Sheriff’s Office investigators and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation responded to the area of 5745 Jackson Road where […]

Sheriff: Arrest made in Sunday murder that took place with children playing nearby

STAFF REPORT ::: A 19-year-old Griffin man, Brandon Hawkins, has been charged with murder and aggravated assault following a Sunday afternoon shooting. Deputies of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Uniform Patrol Division, the Spalding County Fire Department, Griffin Fire-Rescue and WellStar Spalding Regional EMS responded at approximately 1:18 p.m. to 615 Northside Drive Apartment 28A […]

SCSO deputy arrested by GBI for distributing obscene materials to minor

STAFF REPORT ::: A deputy employed by the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office was on Tuesday, Feb. 1, arrested and taken into custody by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office Former Deputy Mason Lumpkin has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and electronically distributing obscene materials to […]

Unexpected snowfall aids in GPD and SCSO tracking entering auto suspect

STAFF REPORT ::: A Griffin man is facing charges related to entering an auto in the Forest Hills neighborhood. The Griffin Police Department reports that at approximately 2 a.m. Saturday, Uniform Patrol Officers patrolling in the area of Bieze Street spotted two men walking in the roadway. Authorities said when the UPD officers attempted to […]

Sheriff: Dozens arrested in operation targeting series of gang related shooting incidents

STAFF REPORT ::: Dozens of arrests have been made in connection with what the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office describes as a series of gang related incidents in which people, homes and vehicles have been shot in both the city of Griffin and Spalding County. Officials say these shooting incidents have been random but related to […]

Sun City Peachtree gate attendant killed early Monday when vehicle collided with building

STAFF REPORT ::: One man was killed early Monday morning in a single-vehicle collision at the entrance to Sun City Peachtree. Upon arrival, deputies of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office found that a vehicle had struck the gate attendant’s building located inside neighborhood’s main entrance. The attendant, 60-year-old Ebenezer Sowunmi, was at his post inside […]

GSCSS, law enforcement increase school presence following social media school shooting threat

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Schools countywide had an increased law enforcement presence today, and that will continue tomorrow, in response to a school shooting threat circulating on social media. Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix on Wednesday said both his agency and the Griffin Police Department were aware of the photograph urging students not to attend […]

Two suspects arrested for May fight at local restaurant that left man critically injured

STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office has taken into custody two motorcycle club members suspected of severely beating a man in a May 2021 fight at Big Jim’s Wing Shack. Deputies responded to the May 1 call in reference to a fight, and upon arrival, located a man who had been critically injured. […]

Third arrest made in April murders of two men set ablaze in truck

STAFF REPORT ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office has made a third arrest in the brutal April 2021 murders of Joshua Wyatt and Carlos Benford. Kristin Cordero-Rojas, age 29, was on Thursday arrested in an operation including the SCSO Special Operations and CAGE units, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Gang Task Force, United States Marshal […]

Hawbaker pleads guilty to five counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Don Hawbaker, who has been held without bond in the Spalding County Jail without bond since Feb. 4, 2020, today accepted a guilty plea to five counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer. The guilty plea was accepted by Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Scott Ballard. Hawbaker was on […]

Lithonia woman arrested in connection with Griffin shooting

STAFF REPORT ::: One woman has been arrested in connection with a shooting that allegedly stemmed from a romantic breakup. Deputies of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office responded Wednesday afternoon to the area of North 9th and Bleachery streets in response to a report of a person shot. At that same time, approximately 12:03 p.m., […]

Domestic violence related aggravated assault results in SWAT standoff: SCSO

STAFF REPORT ::: A Griffin woman has been arrested in connection with an alleged domestic dispute that investigators say resulted in a man being cut with a knife and a subsequent SWAT Team response. According to Sheriff Darrell Dix, deputies responded at 4:33 a.m. Sunday to a call reported a person being cut during a […]

Saturday night murder at Griffin hotel under investigation

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a murder that occurred Saturday night at the Red Roof Inn located at 1719 North Expressway. The victim has been identified as 36-year-old Jeremey Markivius Dugger. According to Maj. Dwayne Jones, deputies responded to a call reporting shots fired at approximately 11:50 p.m. “Upon […]

Sheriff: Phone scam that stole thousands from elderly woman traced to Griffin

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Sheriff’s Office has arrested one woman, 42-year-old Ruth Garcia, of Stockbridge, in connection with the alleged scamming of an elderly Baldwin County resident. Sheriff Darrell Dix was contacted by Baldwin County Sheriff Bill Massee on Feb. 3, with Massee providing information regarding the case. Massee said an elderly […]

Buck Creek Road well excavations in missing person case active and ongoing

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The missing person investigation involving the excavation of two wells located on Buck Creek Road is ongoing. Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix said the excavation process is inherently dangerous and necessitates slow movement. “We got down as low as we could yesterday until it got just unsafe, so they had to […]