Lumpkin County Teachers Arrested in Separate Incidents
News May 3, 2017
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Lumpkin County teachers were arrested this week.
Flavio Colunga, a teacher at Lumpkin County High School, was arrested Tuesday and charged with child molestation, sexual battery and sexual assault.
Timothy Garner, 59, a teacher at the Alternative School and assistant baseball coach at the middle school, turned himself in at the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Monday. He is charged with felony cruelty to children in the 1st degree and misdemeanor simple battery.
Lt. Chris Pfrogner said the charges against Colunga are the result of an investigation initiated by the Lumpkin County School System into an allegation that Mr. Colunga touched a 14-year-old female student inappropriately. The school system subsequently turned the investigation to the sheriff’s office.
“Currently, two additional female students have come forward with allegations against Mr. Colunga as well,” Pfrogner said Wednesday. “The investigation is still ongoing, and more details will be available at a later date.”
Colunga is being held at the Lumpkin County Detention Center. Bond has not been set.
In a press release, Pfrogner said Garner was allegedly involved in an altercation with a 17-year-old student at Lumpkin County Alternative School last month.
“The physical altercation occurred on April 21st around lunchtime in the lunchroom of the school,” Progner said. “The warrants for Mr. Garner stipulate that he shoved the student and grabbed him by the throat during the altercation.”
Garner’s bond was set at $7,700 for both charges.
Lumpkin Co. Woman Charged in Murder of Husband
News April 28, 2017
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Robin Black, 57, of Horton Road Monday and charged her with the murder of her husband Larry Curtis Black.
Deputies responded to a call at approximately 8:36 p.m. Sunday in reference to a subject who had been shot. When they arrived, they found Mr. Black, 59, dead from a gunshot wound.
Lt. Chris Pfrogner said Robin Black was taken in for questioning on Sunday but was not charged until the following day when warrants were obtained. She is charged with murder and aggravated assault and is being held in the Lumpkin County Detention Center. No bond has been set.
KKK Sign Atop Dahlonega Business Draws Protest
News February 17, 2017
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Dozens of protesters gathered on Main Street in Dahlonega Thursday morning after a Ku Klux Klan sign, along with a Klan flag and Confederate battle flag appeared overnight atop of one of the downtown businesses.
Lt. Chris Pfrogner of the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office said the business owner didn’t know who placed the sign and flags there but she began having them removed immediately. The City removed the 6 foot by 2 1/2 foot banner that featured the picture of a hooded Klansman and the words “Historic Ku Klux Klan Meeting Hall.”
Pfrogner said because the incident took place on private property, the Sheriff’s Office could not investigate unless the property owner files a report for criminal trespass. He added that as of Friday morning, he was not aware that a report had been filed.
Head-On Hwy. 52 Crash Kills Lumpkin County Man
News January 17, 2017
DAHLONEGA, Ga — A head-on collision on Hwy 52 East in Lumpkin County Monday morning claimed the life of a Dahlonega man.
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Pfrogner reports that an unidentified 19-year-old male from Cleveland allegedly crossed the center line on Highway 52 near the old AT&T building and struck the car driven by Johnny Taylor, 57, of Dahlonega. Taylor was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where he died of his injuries that same day.
The unidentified driver has been charged with failure to maintain lane and safety restraint violation. The accident is still under investigation and Pfrogner said more charges are likely to follow.
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Deputies Rescue Elderly Couple From Burning Home
News December 13, 2016
DAHLONEGA — Two Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office deputies are being hailed as heroes today after they rescued two elderly residents whose home on Rider Road Spur caught fire late Sunday evening.
Sgt. Cory Gearin and Deputy Myron Ward were the first to respond when Lumpkin County Dispatch received a call that a residence was on fire and two elderly people were believed to be inside.
Gearin and Ward responded immediately and arrived at the scene at approximately 11:45 pm. They observed smoke coming from the residence and rushed inside to find John and Bernice Rider and lead them out of the burning home.
They quickly searched the home to ensure there were no other occupants then grabbed fire extinguishers from their patrol vehicles and attempted to extinguish the fire in the main bedroom. Once the Fire Department arrived the officers turned the scene over to them.
Neither of the occupants suffered any injuries but both officers were transported by EMS to Chestatee Regional Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Chris Pfrogner said, “We are very proud of the selfless actions exhibited by Sgt. Gearin and Deputy Ward. Both officers placed the value of helping the occupants of the house over their own safety. This level of selflessness and dedication to serve and protect the citizens of Lumpkin County is a credit to themselves and Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office.”
Thieves Target Unlocked Vehicles in Lumpkin
News October 25, 2016
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Thieves entered several vehicles at Porter Village, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and the River Knoll area in Lumpkin County during the early morning hours Monday made off with valuables, including guns and cash.
Lt. Chris Pfrogner of the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office says most of the items were stolen from unlocked vehicles. “We are recommending everyone lock their vehicles, as the thieves are primarily targeting unlocked vehicles. Additionally, it is best practice to ensure there are no valuables left in your vehicle or any type of personal information/identification,” he said.
Pfrogner says the thefts are likely connected to similar incidents that took place in Hall and Dawson counties recently.
If anyone noticed any suspicious activity in the above listed locations on October 24 please contact Investigator Gipson with Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office at 706-482-2612.
Search for Missing Woman Resumes in Lumpkin County
News October 24, 2016
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga — Lt. Pfrogner of the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office said 10-12 members of the Lumpkin County CID and two canine units have today (Mon. Oct. 24) resumed the search for a Buford woman in the Blood Mountain near where her wrecked car was found two weeks ago.
Tosha Herron, 36, was last seen at 6 p.m. Oct 7 before she left to visit a friend in Blue Ridge, Ga. On Oct. 12. Herron’s father, Keith Reed, found her 2006 Nissan Altima in a ravine off Hwy. 129 north.
Pfrogner said several law enforcement agencies searched the area from Oct. 14. through Oct. 16, but no one was found in or around the car. “We resumed the search in the area where the wreckage was found today just to ensure that nothing had been overlooked.” Pfrogner said.
Reed says he believes his daughter crawled out of the wreckage and was picked up by someone and is possibly being held against her will. There were several reports over the weekend that Herron had been spotted in the Gainesville area, but Pfrogner said those reports were never confirmed.
Herron’s family has been passing out flyers and her father said someone contacted him to report that she had been spotted at a motel in Gainesville. But Pfrogner said the sighting could not be substantiated.
Herron is 5-foot-2 and weighs 140 pounds with brown eyes and hair.
Anyone who has seen Herron or has information of her whereabouts is asked to contact Investigator J. Canupp at 706-482-2615.