spalding county – The GRIP

Commissioner Don Hawbaker responds to ethics complaints and hearing

August 7, 2018 by Sheila Mathews 2 Comments

Publisher’s note: During the Aug. 6, 2018, Spalding County Board of Commissioner’s meeting, Commissioner Don Hawbaker produced a written statement he requested be placed in the public record. This is his complete and unedited response to the Ethics Review Panel hearing regarding three complaints filed against himself, and one filed against Commissioner Gwen Flowers-Taylor. At […]

Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Commissioner Don Hawbaker, Commissioner Gwen Flowers-Taylor, ethics hearing, Ethics Review Panel, Griffin, spalding county, Spalding County Board of Commissioners

Sheriff: Two jailers terminated for “inflammatory” statements

August 6, 2018 by Sheila Mathews 3 Comments

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: Two Spalding County jailers have been terminated Monday when Sheriff Darrell Dix became aware of comments the pair allegedly posted online on social media and gaming sites. According to Dix, a law enforcement source reported Howard Costner and Jesse Jones alleged comments. “Based on information we found out this morning, their […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Griffin, Howard Costner, jailers, Jesse Jones, spalding county, Spalding County Jail, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, terminated

Anything boys can do, girls can do better: SCSO’s first female SWAT operator also named Top Gun

August 6, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

Publisher’s note: This article appeared in a recent print edition of The GRIP> SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: From tragedy to triumph – that is the story of Jennifer Fuller, the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office’s first female SWAT operator. Fuller earned that title with her successful completion of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office SWAT School. However, […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Deputy Jennifer Fuller, Griffin, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, SWAT, Top Gun

Woman charged in boyfriend’s murder claimed shooting was unintentional

August 3, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

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

July 31, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

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

Griffin Christian High student under investigation for alleged violent threats

July 27, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: A Griffin Christian High School student is under investigation for the offense of terroristic threats/intimidation in connection to an alleged threat of violence against certain faculty and staff members. Trysten Alexander Warr, a 17-year-old Griffin Christian High student who resides in Peachtree City, is alleged to have made the threat against […]

Filed Under: Education, Top Stories Tagged With: Griffin, Griffin Christian High School, intimidation, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office, terroristic threats

Ethics Review Panel determines Hawbaker did not violate code

July 25, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Spalding County Ethics Review Panel has determined Commissioner Don Hawbaker did not violate the county’s code of ethics. Hawbaker faced complaints by three individuals who alleged he violated the code in social media discussions. The Ethics Review Panel unanimously voted in favor of Hawbaker in each of the three complaints. […]

Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Don Hawbaker, ethics hearing, Ethics Review Panel, Griffin, spalding county, Spalding County Board of Commissioners

Ethics Review Panel determines Flowers-Taylor did not violate code

July 25, 2018 by Sheila Mathews 1 Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: It has been determined that Spalding County Commissioner Gwen Flowers-Taylor did not violate the county’s code of ethics. The Spalding County Ethics Review Panel, in a unanimous vote, determined Flowers-Taylor did not violate the code of ethics in a verbal confrontation with resident Bobby Peurifoy during a recess of the May […]

Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Code of Ethics, Ethics Review Panel, Griffin, Gwen Flowers-Taylor, spalding county, Spalding County Board of Commissioners

GPD Operation Reciprocity targets local “open-air drug market”

July 6, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

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

July 6, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

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

GBI: Man killed in SCSO officer involved shooting armed with shotgun

July 5, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

STAFF REPORT ::: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified the person killed in a Wednesday night officer involved shooting as 35-year-old Ryan Force. According to a press release issued by GBI Public Information Office Director Nelly Miles, the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday night requested the agency investigate the shooting. Miles reports preliminary […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Director Nelly Miles, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Grffin, officer involved shooting, Ryan Force, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office

One person killed in SCSO officer involved shooting

July 5, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: One person was shot and killed late Wednesday night, July 4, in an officer involved shooting. The incident occurred on Bonnie Ridge Drive and involved personnel of the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office. The GRIP contacted SCSO Capt. Dwayne Jones, who initially reported the Sheriff’s Office had requested the Georgia Bureau of […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Capt. Dwayne Jones, crime, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Griffin, law enforcement, officer involved shoooting, Sheriff Darrell Dix, spalding county, Spalding County Sheriff's Office

Land Bank Authority board appoints Virginia Shapard Church interim executive director

July 3, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

SHEILA A. MATHEWS ::: The Griffin-Spalding County Land Bank Authority Board of Directors has named Virginia Shapard Church as interim executive director. The move to replace John Joiner, who had held that position since the Land Bank Authority’s inception, came during a Monday afternoon special called meeting. Church assumed the mantle of leadership effective immediately, […]

Filed Under: Top Stories Tagged With: Executive Director Virginia Shapard Church, Griffin, Land Bank Authority, spalding county

Suspect in shooting incident near Easy Shop now charged with aggravated assault

July 1, 2018 by Sheila Mathews Leave a Comment

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

Dual enrollment: Students graduate college before finishing high school

June 27, 2018 by Sheila Mathews 1 Comment

ANNA TAYLOR – SCTC ::: In the moments leading up to Southern Crescent Technical College’s (SCTC) Spring graduation ceremony, over 200 graduates lined up to prepare for one of the greatest accomplishments of their life. Walking through, the graduates look the same for the most part, wearing the traditional black cap and gown with a […]

Filed Under: Education, Top Stories Tagged With: dual enrollment, education, graduation, Griffin, Southern Crescent Technical College, spalding county