Multiple People Arrested in Street Racing Bust

Shortly after midnight on Sunday, April 25, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and specialized units from the Atlanta Police Department in stopping a group of street racers. The operation had originated in East Point, but the group of street racers eventually migrated into Douglas County and were located in a parking lot off Douglas Hill Rd and Thornton Rd. Over 40 people were arrested including several juveniles and a wanted/convicted felon who was also in possession of a firearm. Between 25 to 30 vehicles were impounded and the adults were brought to the Douglas County Jail on their charges.

Injured Deputy Receives Quilt Donation

On March 30, 2021, Dep. Illidge was shot in the line of duty while responding to an armed robbery call off Thornton Rd. Thankfully, he has already been released from the hospital and is recovering. That recovery has been made all the sweeter by a donation of a quilt from the group Quilts for Cops. One of their members, Mrs. Michelle Bautsch, is an area resident, and her son, Matthew, is an Atlanta Police Department K9 handler. Both were on hand on April 7, 2021, to present Dep. Illidge with the gift of a handmade quilt. We are extremely thankful and appreciative of the gesture and the time and effort it took to make such a beautiful quilt!

Captured: Marcus Moment


On 3/29/21 at approximately 1 AM one of our deputies tried to initiate a traffic stop on a white Audi traveling on Veterans Memorial Hwy. It was reported that the owner of the vehicle was wanted for multiple felony charges from 5 different agencies, was reported to be armed and dangerous and an escape risk. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and initiated a chase traveling eastbound on Veterans Memorial Hwy from the City of Douglasville. We pursued the vehicle until in it wrecked at Veterans Memorial Hwy and Bingham Road. The driver then fled on foot from his vehicle towards Newman Ellis Road. Douglas County Deputies and Douglasville Police Officers quickly set up a perimeter in the area. Multiple sighting were called in by area residents and by 1:24 we had him in custody with the assistance of the community and a Powder Springs K-9. Thanks to the quick action of the Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, Sheriff’s SCORPION Unit, The Douglasville Police Department, area residents, and the Powder Springs Police Department, this individual is no longer on the run and has new charges in Douglas County for:

40-6-390 – Reckless Driving
40-6-395(B)(5)(A) – Fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer
40-6-181 – Speeding
16-10-24(a) – Obstruction of Officers
16-13-30(j) – Possession of Marijuana
16-11-106 – Possession of Firearm or Knife During Certain Crimes
16-11-131 – Possession of firearms-convicted felons

DCSO Awarded Traffic Enforcement Grant

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce it has received a $300,000.00 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS).

The goal of the H.E.A.T. program is to combat crashes, injuries and fatalities caused by impaired driving and speeding, while also increasing seatbelt use and educating the public about traffic safety and the dangers of DUI.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office H.E.A.T Unit will use the grant from GOHS to develop and implement strategies to reduce local traffic crashes due to aggressive and dangerous driving behaviors. GOHS H.E.A.T. grants are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“The loss of one life on our roads is one too many, and the fact almost all fatal traffic crashes can be prevented is one reason why we are awarding this grant,” Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Allen Poole said. “The target of zero traffic deaths in our nation is achievable, and we will continue to help develop and implement educational messages and enforcement campaigns aimed at bringing our state one step closer to that goal.”

Totaling $6.7 million for 2021, H.E.A.T. grants fund specialized traffic enforcement activities in counties throughout the state. The program was designed to assist Georgia jurisdictions with the highest rates of traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities with grants awarded based on impaired driving and speeding data.

As law enforcement partners in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DUI and Click It or Ticket seatbelt campaigns, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will also conduct mobilizations throughout the year in coordination with GOHS’s year-round waves of high visibility patrols, concentrated patrols, and multi-jurisdictional sobriety checkpoints.

The grant year for this award will be October 1 of 2020 to September 30 of 2021.

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.

DCSO Wins Governor’s Challenge Award

Sheriff Tim Pounds and staff would like to congratulate our Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) Unit for winning Second Place in the Georgia Governor’s Challenge for agencies with 201-500 Officers. This award was presented last Friday in Macon at the annual banquet. From the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Website:

Governor’s Challenge is designed to highlight outstanding achievements in highway safety enforcement and education. It recognizes agencies for the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for innovative problem-solving in their communities, using public information activities and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts.

Again, congratulations to our HEAT Unit for all their hard work keeping the roads safer for everyone!

Man Arrested After Striking Deputy With Stolen Patrol Car

On September 28, 2020, Douglas County 911 received a call about an intruder on Lake Filed Drive breaking into a home and attacking the homeowner.  Kilpatrick Key was identified as that intruder who was known to the residents at that location.  He had been served a Temporary Protective Order from the Douglas County Superior Court to restrain himself from being at that location or contact with any family member that lived there.

Key forcibly entered the residence and began stabbing the victim in front of minor children who were in the home.  Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the residence.

The initial arriving Deputy entered the residence upon hearing the victim’s cry for help.  Key fled the house and got into the Deputy’s marked patrol car as the Deputy gave chase out of the house, Key drove straight into the Deputy who was in the yard of the residence near the entry to the house.  The Deputy was struck by the car and Key fled leading other arriving Deputies on a high-speed chase through the neighborhood and on Reynolds Road where Key crashed the patrol car and fled on foot.  Key was subsequently captured near the crash scene.

Key is charged with 3 counts of Aggravated assault, 2 counts of Aggravated battery, Home Invasion 1st degree, Aggravated Stalking, Felony Obstruction, Interference with Government Property, Theft by Taking, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude, and three counts of Cruelty to Children in the 3rd degree.  Key had a bond hearing on September 29, 2020 in front of Magistrate Judge Susan Camp who denied his bond.  Key is a US Army Reservist with the 3rd Medical Command out of Forrest Park, GA.

DCSO Receives Grant for Traffic Enforcement

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

October 24, 2019

PRESS RELEASE

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Awarded $20,000.00 Traffic Enforcement Grant

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office announced today that it has been awarded a major traffic enforcement grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) in Atlanta. We received the grant in recognition of our lifesaving work as the coordinating agency of GOHS’s 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. Matthew 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.

Patrol Deputy Arrested

On August 4th, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an assault at an address in Douglasville. As the investigation unfolded, investigators with the Criminal Investigations Division learned that three persons under the age of 21 were provided alcohol by one of our deputy sheriffs. Deputy David Tyler Gibson, 23, provided alcohol to the persons under 21 and was arrested on August 15th and charged with 4 counts of furnishing alcohol to persons under the age of 21 and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Gibson received a $1000.00 bond per count and was later released. The following day Deputy Gibson was terminated from employment with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

After Gibson’s termination, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant at a location in Douglasville where Gibson happened to be present. As a result of the search warrant, Gibson was re-arrested and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of drug related objects, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Gibson appeared in Magistrate Court August 19th and was given a $4,500 bond. He was later released on bond. An initial press release was not issued due to the nature of the ongoing illicit drug investigation; however, in the interest of media inquiries, and agency transparency, an official press release has been provided.

Congratulations, HEAT

Congratulations to our HEAT Unit who received the Highway Safety Champion award “for outstanding dedication reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities on Georgia’s roadways.”

Traffic Stop Leads to Largest Heroin Seizure in County History

On June 25, 2019, deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office FIND Unit stopped a Chevrolet Sonic on I-20 east bound, near South Baggett Road. During the course of the traffic stop, conflicting information from the vehicle’s occupants led to deputies requesting consent to search the vehicle. The search uncovered 4 metal cubes, made out of quarter inch steel. Each cube contained five rectangular tubes which were welded together with plates covering their contents. Each rectangular tube contained approximately 20 Kilograms of heroin. The driver of the vehicle, Catarino Lopez, from Mercedes Texas, was taken into custody for trafficking heroin.

Investigators with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division were contacted to assist in this case. Investigators learned that the heroin was being sent to a hotel in the Lithia Springs area to be picked up by individuals operating with Mr. Lopez. An operational plan was developed to deliver the narcotics to the other co-conspirators involved in this investigation.

Multiple assets from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, including the Special Investigations Division, FIND Unit, Uniform Patrol Division, and Command Staff were deployed to assist in this operation. On the morning of June 26, 2019, two individuals, who were later identified as Ulises Quiroa-Uriarte and Uriarte Leonel Valdez, arrived and took possession of the heroin shipment. Deputies involved in the operation were able to safely take these individuals into custody. All of the suspects in this case are currently being held without bond in the Douglas County Jail.

This is the largest recorded heroin seizure in Douglas County’s history. This is investigation is still active.

Two Arrested in Commercial Burglary Cases

Emilio Aceves-Amaya

At 2:00am on July 12, 2019, Deputy Gray with the Uniform Patrol Division was talking with a subject on foot in downtown Lithia Springs. During that encounter, he observed a light from a flashlight in the lot behind Simba’s Auto Sales. Based on the nature of the suspected crime in progress, Deputy Gray notified Deputy Regan other units in the area. Deputies converged on the businesses and began searching for the person with the flashlight behind the businesses. Emilio Aceves-Amaya was then located at the Tire Kingz (adjoining business with Simba’s Auto Sales) entering a vehicle in an attempt to leave the business. Deputies detained the suspect while checking the businesses and discovered forced entry to both businesses. Aceves-Amaya was arrested for burglary and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

 

 

 

Travon Harrison

In an unrelated case that happened in the early morning hours of July 17, 2019, Deputy Citizen from the Uniform Patrol Division was patrolling businesses on Veterans Memorial Highway in Lithia Springs when he noticed a vehicle backed-up to the La Proveedora Supermarket storefront. He observed two males wearing hoodies, gloves, and masks concealing their identity. Deputy Citizen activated his emergency lights and the suspects jumped into their vehicle and drove away. Deputies chased the suspect vehicle, a silver Jeep Cherokee, until the vehicle was immobilized on I-20 just east of Thornton Road. Suspect Travon Harrison was taken into custody and at least one additional person evaded arrest after fleeing on foot across the interstate into a wooded area. The other suspect(s) remain at large. The burglars caused several thousand dollars’ in damage to the business and the cash register drawer with approximately $550 dollars that was taken from the store was recovered in the suspect vehicle. Harrison’s bond has been denied.

 

Operation: You’ve Been Warned

Operation: You’ve Been Warned is now in full effect. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office wants to crack down on gangs. Call 770-920-7139 to report gang activity anonymously.

Second Holiday Sobriety Checkpoint

“Tis the Season to Drive Sober” (in Douglas County)

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Douglasville’s Police Department combined their manpower and efforts again to conduct the second sobriety checkpoint of the holiday season looking for impaired drivers.  Four groups of law enforcement officers from both agencies hit several locations around Douglasville and Douglas County on Wednesday, December 19th. The teams worked the detail for four hours between 7:00 – 11:00 pm.

Approximately 2, 500 vehicles were stopped at the various checkpoint locations. There were 48 persons arrested for various charges collectively by the DCSO and the City of Douglasville’s PD.

Both the DCSO and Douglasville PD are committed to keeping Douglas County safe throughout the year, however the holidays are prime time for drinking alcohol, and typically the busiest time of year for drunk driving arrests.

Data shows that sobriety checkpoints often lead to the detection and discovery of other criminal activity. These two law enforcement agencies in Douglas County will conduct random sobriety checkpoints throughout the holiday season and throughout the year.  The first sobriety checkpoint of this holiday season was held on Thursday, November 29, 2018, and lasted five hours. There were 44 arrests and approximately 3,500 vehicles drove through the checkpoint locations.

“Tis the season to drive sober” in Douglas County.

Photos courtesy of the Douglasville Police Department’s Facebook page.

Multiple Arrests Made in Overnight Sobriety Checkpoints

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Douglasville’s Police Department combined their manpower and efforts to conduct sobriety checkpoints along area 92 and I-20, Chapel Hill Road and I-20, Highway 5 and I-20, and on Thornton Road on Thursday, November 29th.

Approximately 3,500 vehicles drove through the checkpoint locations. The checks lasted for five hours.  There were 38 persons arrested for various charges collectively by the DCSO and the City of Douglasville’s PD. State Probation officers also assisted with the road checks.

Both the DCSO and Douglasville PD are committed to keeping Douglas County safe throughout the year, however the holidays are prime time for drinking alcohol, and typically the busiest time of year for drunk driving arrests.

Data shows that sobriety checkpoints often lead to the detection and discovery of other criminal activity. These two law enforcement agencies in Douglas County will conduct random sobriety checkpoints throughout the holiday season and throughout the year.

According to Lt. John Jewell of the DCSO, “We want to send a message to the public and the community that driving under the influence will not be tolerated in Douglas County.”

Citizens and those travelling within the boundaries of the county it is clear that road checks are coming to town, and “tis the season to drive sober” in Douglas County.

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