DCSO Receives Two GOHS Grants

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office was recently awarded two grants. The first grant for $20,000.00 will be used for traffic enforcement. The second grant for $31,110.93 was awarded to our Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) Unit.

We received the $20,000.00 grant in recognition of our lifesaving work as the coordinating agency of Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Western Regional Traffic Enforcement Network. There are sixteen traffic enforcement networks across the state that help enforce Georgia’s year-round safety belt, speed and impaired driving campaigns.

“This is our way of supporting the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office through its continued leadership via Coordinator Dep. Matt Atkins and the Western Regional traffic enforcement network,” said GOHS Law Enforcement Services Director Roger Hayes. “We want to make sure they can continue their region-wide efforts to protect Georgia motorists from drunk and otherwise dangerous drivers. They’ve proven their dedication and this grant serves not only as recognition for that hard work, but as means for continuing the GOHS mission of reducing crashes, injuries and fatalities on our roads.”

The Western Regional Traffic Enforcement Network includes law enforcement agencies in eight counties, which include Douglas, Carroll Haralson, Heard, Troup, Coweta, Meriwether, and Paulding Counties.

Sheriff Tim Pounds and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office are very pleased and appreciative to receive this grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. This grant will assist and help along with the other agencies in the Western Regional Network by keeping our roadways safe for the citizens of each county.

The GOHS grant awards $20,000.00 to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, with half to support the activities of the traffic enforcement network and half to be spent on traffic safety equipment for our agency. The coordinator in the Western Regional traffic enforcement network region will coordinate year-round waves of high visibility, concentrated patrols, multi-jurisdictional road checks and sobriety checkpoints as a partner in campaigns such as Click It or Ticket, Operation Zero Tolerance and the Thunder Taskforce.

For more information on the award, contact Dep. Matthew Atkins at 770-942-2121 or by email at matkins@sheriff.douglas.ga.us. For more information on the grant program, call 404-656-6996 or visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.

The second grant of $31,110.93 will help finance our Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) Unit. The unit is designed to educate the public and enforce laws related to impaired and aggressive driving. Each officer is armed with materials to educate Georgia residents about state laws that regulate aggressive and impaired driving. Education and enforcement must go hand-in-hand for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and its statewide partners to be successful in reducing the number of crashes, fatalities and injuries on our highways.

The grant year for this award will be October 1 of 2018 to September 30 of 2019.

For more information on this grant program, contact GOHS at 404-656-6996 and for more information on GOHS and its other highway safety programs, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.

 

 

 

Buckle Up This Thanksgiving!

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to Buckle Up while traveling for Thanksgiving, whether you’re going around the corner or out of state.

2018 Thanksgiving Buckle Up America from the NHTSA

FACT SHEET

Thankful for Seat Belt Safety

Whether you’re traveling across town or across the country, it’s essential to always wear your seat belt.

  • Thanksgiving weekend, millions of Americans will hit the roads, eager to spend time with family and friends. It’s one of the busiest travel times of the year, and unfortunately, that means more crashes.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is reminding everyone that seat belts save lives through the campaign Buckle Up—Every Trip. Every Time. Buckling up gives the best defense against injury or death in a crash.
  • In 2016, there were 23,714 passenger vehicle occupants (in passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans, or SUVs) killed in traffic crashes in the United States. Almost half (48%) of those who were killed were not wearing their seat belts.
  • NHTSA estimates that seat belts saved the lives of 14,668 passenger vehicle occupants age 5 and older in 2016. If everyone had worn their seat belts on every trip that year, an additional 2,456 lives could have been saved.
  • The facts don’t lie: when you wear your seat belt as a front-seat occupant of a passenger car, your risk of fatal injury goes down by 45 percent. For light-truck occupants, that risk is reduced by 60 percent.
  • Young people continue to be over-represented in fatal crashes and seat belt non-use. Among the passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2016, occupants 13-15 and 25-34 years old were unrestrained at a rate of 62 and 59 percent, respectively.
  • Males are more likely than females to be unrestrained in fatal crashes. Fifty-two percent of the male passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2016 were unrestrained, compared with 40 percent of females.
  • If you’re ejected from a vehicle in a crash, odds are that you will not survive. In 2016, 8 out of 10 (81%) of the people totally ejected from vehicles in crashes were killed. Wearing your seat belt is the most effective way to prevent ejection; only 1 percent of occupants wearing seat belts were ejected in fatal crashes, compared to 29 percent of those who were unrestrained.

Make this Thanksgiving different from years past.

  • During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in 2016 (6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23th, to 5:59 a.m. on Monday, November 28th), there were 341 passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes across the nation.
  • Tragically, 49 percent of those killed were not buckled up, representing an increase in seat belt use compared to the same weekend in 2015, when 52 percent of those killed in traffic crashes were unrestrained.
  • Nighttime is deadlier than daytime in terms of seat belt use. Over the 2016 Thanksgiving weekend, 55 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes at night were unbuckled, compared to 39 percent during the day.
  • Surviving your Thanksgiving drive this year—and making it to next Thanksgiving—can be as simple as buckling up. In the last decade, seat belts have saved the lives of more than 100,000 people in the United States. Those people are thankful they wore their seat belts. Won’t you wear yours? Buckle Up—Every Trip. Every Time.

Drive safely this Thanksgiving. For more information, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts.

 

DCSO Service Members and Veterans’ Pinning Ceremony

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office proudly honored its brotherhood of service members and veterans during a pinning ceremony Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018 at 10am. Sheriff Tim Pounds honored the men and women with US Military lapel pins that they will wear on their Class A and B uniforms. The small token will be worn daily and could help to foster connections between the officers and citizen veterans they encounter daily.

There is a total of 77 service members and veterans that serve with the DCSO. These men and women have served a combined total of 630 years in military service to our country. Forty have served in the U.S. Army; six with the U.S. Navy; 17 with the U.S. Marines; five with the U.S. Air Force; and nine with the National Guard.

The following Douglas County Sheriff’s Office personnel have served in the armed forces:

  • Deputy Richard Aiken (Air Force)
  • Sergeant Ken Aycock (Marines)
  • Deputy James Barber (Marines)
  • Deputy Chris Bass (Army)
  • Jailer Joseph Bires (Marines)
  • Officer Brian Bozeman (Army)
  • Lieutenant Ross Brown (Army)
  • Captain Ron Cain (Air Force)
  • Bailiff Euriel Campbell (Army)
  • Deputy Tony Carr (Marines)
  • Deputy Anthony Cassity (Army)
  • Sergeant Chuck Catlin (Army)
  • Deputy Jeff Catron (Navy)
  • Officer Jeong Chun (Marines/National Guard)
  • Bailiff Charlie Clonts (Army)
  • Investigator David Cockrum (Army)
  • Master Sergeant Andy Cooke (Army)
  • Officer Clint Crumley (Marines)
  • Deputy Chris Ernst (Army)
  • Deputy Chris Fields (National Guard)
  • Deputy Thomas Floyd (Marines)
  • Investigator Hosea Gainer (Army)
  • Investigator Erin Garner (National Guard)
  • Officer Zachary Geldmeier (Army)*
  • Sergeant Derrick Goode (Marines)
  • Officer Darryl Green (Marines)
  • Deputy David Greer (Marines)
  • Captain Jamie Harrell (Army)
  • Officer Jeff Hawes (Army)
  • Investigator Jay Hayes (Marines)
  • Deputy Rodney Hendrix (Army)
  • Lt. Dennis Howard (Army)
  • Sergeant Jacquie Jewell (Army)
  • Investigator Kevin Jones (Marines)
  • Deputy Richard LaPoint (Marines)
  • Deputy Jeff Lentz (Army)
  • Sergeant Josh Lipscomb (Army)
  • Investigator James Little (Air Force)
  • Deputy Vanessa Love (Army)
  • Deputy Michael Manson (National Guard)
  • Deputy Rafael Martinez (Army)
  • Deputy Herman McCuller (Army)
  • Deputy Carl McKinley (Army)
  • Deputy Jeff Merck (Army)
  • Deputy J.P. Miller (Marines)
  • Jailer James Mitchell (Army)
  • Lieutenant Charlie Mitchell (Army)
  • Deputy Jeremiah Montgomery (Army)
  • Deputy Steve Moore (Navy)
  • Bailiff Pete Mordensky (Air Force)
  • Colonel Doug Oliver (Navy)
  • Lieutenant Donnie Parker (National Guard)
  • Investigator Rodney Pettaway (Army)
  • Deputy Thomas Puckett (Navy)
  • Deputy Craig Ramirez (Army)
  • Deputy Thomas Ray (Army)
  • Deputy Deon Ray (National Guard)
  • Sergeant Anne Rice (Marines)
  • Officer Bryntyn Russell (Army)
  • Deputy Timothy Sagoes (Army)/(Marines)
  • Lieutenant T.C. Scott (Army)
  • Deputy Charles Sharpe (National Guard)
  • Deputy Steve Simpson (Army)
  • Deputy Aaron Smith (Army)
  • Deputy Gordon Sonderegger (Air Force)
  • Civilian Jacob Sweat (Marines)
  • Bailiff Tommy Thompson (Army)
  • Captain Allen Watkins (Marines)
  • Deputy Kenneth Watts (Army)
  • Bailiff Bob Weaver (Marines)
  • Deputy Recruit William Womack (Army)
  • Deputy Keith Wood (Army)
  • Deputy Bryan Wood (Navy)
  • Investigator Melinda Wright (Army)
  • Officer Darrel Wright (Army)

*Currently on active deployment

View the pinning ceremony video on Facebook:

Welcome, K9 Copper!

Sheriff Tim Pounds and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have noticed a significant increase in the number of missing persons, especially amongst the elderly with Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia and children (especially with autism). Since Sheriff Pounds took office in January, 2017, there have been 475 missing/runaway persons. Out of those approximately 37 were disabled children and adults. Only five of those cases remain open which are all runaway juveniles where no foul play is suspected.

Some of these were large scale searches that involved multi-jurisdictional responses and resources. In some of these cases a well trained bloodhound could have expedited the efforts in locating these individuals.

“Copper,” a blood hound graciously donated by two local breeders, Cody Sparks and Rebecca Myers will be trained in tracking children and Alzheimer’s/dementia patients in the efforts to assist with locating missing persons. Donated at 13 weeks old, Copper will also be trained in public relations and used in S.C.O.P.E. (Sheriff’s Community Outreach Program & Education) activities.

DCSO’s K-9 Unit provides teams of highly trained canines and handlers for the purpose of protecting citizens and enhancing the safety of fellow law enforcement officers. The Sheriff’s K-9 Unit aspires to relate, in a positive manner, with the general public, maintain a professional image, and to constantly strive to increase the efficiency and productivity of the Unit through continuous training.

Sheriff Pounds is dedicated to serving and protecting our community as he has done for the people of Douglas County for more than 40 years.

Man Arrested After Drug Tip

The Sheriff’s office Special Investigations Unit received information in late September, that a Justin Bryant was selling methamphetamine in Douglas County Georgia.  

Agents working the investigation were able to make methamphetamine purchases from Bryant on two separate occasions during the month of October. One of the purchases occurred on Thornton Rd and the other on Post Rd.  After the second purchase, members of the Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit and SCORPION Unit conducted a traffic stop on Bryant and took him into custody. Methamphetamine and other narcotics related items were located in his possession. He was taken to the Douglas County Jail where he was charged with the following offenses:  

Justin Bryant: Sales of Methamphetamine 2 counts, Use of a Communication Device to Facilitate a Felony 2 counts, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana Less Than One Ounce and Possession of Drug Related Objects.  

He is currently being held with no bond. 

 

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to Hold Pinning Ceremony for Service Members and Veteran Officers

Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 10:00AM, Sheriff Tim Pounds and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will hold a pinning ceremony for veteran officers at the DCSO Complex, located at 8470 Earl D. Lee Blvd., Douglasville, GA 30134.  

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is proud to recognize and honor its brotherhood of service members and veterans with US Military lapel pins. The officers will wear them on their Class A and B uniforms.  There is a total of 77 service members and veterans that serve with the DCSO. These men (and women) have served a combined total of 630 years in military service to our country.   Forty have served in the United States Army; six with the branch of the Navy; 17 with the  Marines;  five with the Air Force; and nine are National Guard veterans.

The Pinning Ceremony will pay tribute to these service members and veterans and honor the Veteran’s Day holiday. The DCSO is blessed, honored, and proud to have these men (and women) serve as officers. Their service to our country and locally is not taken lightly. These men and women have trained and served on the front lines of war and now risk their lives daily to protect and serve the citizens of Douglas County.  Unfortunately, every day, these officers encounter citizen veterans. It is with great hope and anticipation as these great men (and women) are pinned, the small token will also be a unique symbol that helps to bring familiarity and connection during the encounters with their shared brotherhood of Service Members and bridge a gap in the relationship between officers and veteran citizens.   

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to making Douglas County a safe place to work, live and play.

For more information about the pinning ceremony please contact: Joy Pounds at 770-577-5104 or via email: jvpounds@sheriff.douglas.ga.us.

 

Complaint Leads to Multiple Drug Arrests

On October 18, 2018 the Douglas County Sheriff’s Special Investigation Division, Crime Suppression Unit, SCORPION Unit, K9 Units and SERT Team served a Search Warrant at a residence in Douglas County. In late September of this year, the Douglas County Sheriff’s office Special investigation Division received a complaint that Daron Stoffer was using and selling methamphetamine from his home in Douglas County. Information also stated he was providing a place where subjects could hang out, buy and use illegal narcotics. 

Agents working the investigation were familiar with Stoffer from previous investigations. Stoffer was currently out on bond in Douglas County for charges of possession of methamphetamine from a search warrant served at this same residence in March of this year. At that time, approximately 8 people were taken into custody and charged accordingly.  

During this recent warrant’s execution, multiple violators were located within the residence. Some of the subjects at the residence were Joshua Gibson, Adam Cox, Jessie Ray Wilson, Veronica Shae Bosworth, Kerry Lynn Chastain, Bridget Haley McDaniel, Robert Troy DeLong and Daron Stoffer. During the search agents located methamphetamine, prescription drugs (Alprazolam, Clonazepam) schedule IV narcotics, marijuana and drug related objects. The items located were scattered throughout the residence. The subjects were charged with the following offenses and turned over to the Douglas County Jail:     

Daron Stoffer:  Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute/ Possession of Drug Related Objects/ Possession of Marijuana less than an ounce / Possession of Schedule IV 2 counts / Theft By taking of Lost or Mislaid Property. 

Joshua Gibson: Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute/ Possession of Drug Related Objects/ Possession of Marijuana less than an ounce / Possession of Schedule IV 2 counts. 

Adam Cox: Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute/ Possession of Drug Related Objects/ Possession of Marijuana less than an ounce / Possession of Schedule IV 2 counts. 

Jessie Ray Wilson: Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute/ Possession of Drug Related Objects/ Possession of Marijuana less than an ounce / Possession of Schedule IV 2 counts. 

Veronica Shae Bosworth: Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute/ Possession of Drug Related Objects/ Possession of Marijuana less than an ounce / Possession of Schedule IV 2 counts. 

Kerry Lynn Chastain: Possession of Methamphetamine / Possession of Drug Related Objects. 

Bridget Haley McDaniel: Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute/ Possession of Drug Related Objects/ Possession of Marijuana less than an ounce / Possession of Schedule IV 2 counts. 

Robert Troy DeLong: Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute/ Possession of Drug Related Objects/ Possession of Marijuana less than an ounce / Possession of Schedule IV 2 counts. 

The owner of this residence is still being investigated with possible charges pending.  

Welcome, New Deputies

Sheriff Tim Pounds and the staff at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office would like to welcome new deputies Montgomery and Brown. Both recently graduated from the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy, and will start their 12-week Field Training program this week.

Trunk or Treat 2018

We would like to thank everyone who came out to the courthouse on Sunday for our 7th Annual Trunk or Treat. The weather couldn’t have been better which brought out thousands to the event. We would also like to thank the Douglasville Police Department for being such a wonderful partner in the event.

Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Arrest

On October 18, 2018 Dep. Barber with the Douglas county Crime Suppression Unit observed a Chevy Avalanche failing to maintain its lane, I-20 east bound just before County line Rd. Reports had been circulating that this vehicle was involved in narcotics distribution in Douglas County.  Dep. Barber attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The subject pulled into the median as if it were going to stop. The driver threw a plastic bag out the window and pulled back into traffic fleeing from Deputy Barber at a high rate of speed.  Barber pursued the subject with his emergency equipment activated. The subject exited onto Lee rd, turning right going south bound. Dep. Barber continued to pursue the Avalanche until the driver pulled over and was taken into custody.

Dep. Britt with the Douglas County FIND unit went to the location where the driver now identified as Winston McCray had thrown the bag out of his window. Dep. Britt recovered a plastic bag containing smaller multiple jeweler’s baggies. The baggies contained what appeared to be powder cocaine and crack cocaine. Agents from the Special Investigation Division responded to the scene and conducted a field test on the contents of the baggies. The test gave a positive reaction for cocaine. In total, there were 63 baggies containing cocaine; 22 of those baggies contained the base form of crack cocaine, the total weight was 19.83 grams.

McCray is charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, fleeing and attempting to elude and for fail to maintain lane.

Wanted: Melvin Walton

On October 11, 2018 the Douglas County Sheriff’s office Special Investigations Division completed a two-month long investigation. Agents had information that Melvin Walton was selling prescription narcotics and cocaine. Agents were able to successfully make purchases from Walton on at least three different occasions at his residence in Douglas County.

Agents with the Special Investigations Division, Crime Suppression Unit and Scorpion Unit served a search warrant on Walton’s residence in Lithia springs. During the search warrant 3 firearms were recovered one of which was reported stolen in a Douglas Country case. The following Narcotics were located during the search:

  • Trafficking amount of cocaine
  • 22 Ecstasy tablets
  • 102 “Xanax” bars
  • 18 Oxycodone/hydrochloride pills
  • 473 ml bottle of promethazine liquid
  • 8oz bottle of promethazine/codeine liquid
  • Marijuana

Sabine Joseph was at the residence when the Search warrant was served. She was taken into custody and charged with the previous listed items.

Arrest Warrants were taken on Walton for Sales of Cocaine, Xanax and Use of Telecommunications device; Walton was also charged with the items located in the residence to include possession of fire arm by convicted felon.

Walton is wanted in connection with this investigation. Please contact Inv. Michael Wheeler with the Douglas county Sheriff’s office Fugitive division at 770-577-5102 if you have any information that will lead to the apprehension of Melvin Walton B/M,  5’11”, 206lbs.

 

Welcome, New Hires

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office would like to welcome Douglasville Police Department K9 Officer Dukes and our newest hire Jailer Kenerly.

National Family Violence Apprehension

Wednesday October 17, 2018 was the 16th Annual National Family Violence Apprehension Detail. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Douglas County Solicitor’s Office participated in this event. Deputy T. Smith, Civil, Deputy I. Illidge, Transport, Deputy R. Northcuttt along with the following members of A-Shift who gave up their off day Deputy R. Aiken, Deputy McLucas. Deputy A. Kiker, Deputy A. Stone, Deputy J. French, Deputy G. Ernst. Deputy M. Mack who presently in Field Training also was a great help. Investigator S. Campbell of the Douglas County Solicitor’s jumped in at the last minute to lend a helping hand.

The detail attempted to execute (90) ninety Family Violence Arrest Warrants. Some of these warrants were several years old. They made contacts with members of the community and when they received information they did a great job following up. There will be more arrests coming from this apprehension detail in the near future.

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