Dahlonega man, wife face felony charges
News June 15, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – A Dahlonega man and his wife face multiple felony charges following a pre-dawn traffic stop on South Chestatee Street on June 6.
According to the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office incident report, Deputy George Albert observed a gold Infiniti sedan driving erratically and conducted a traffic stop. Upon approaching the vehicle, he detected the smell of marijuana and conducted a search that produced the illegal drugs and a stolen handgun equipped with a silencer.
Tina Mann
Bobby Joe Mann, 63, is charged with theft by receiving stolen property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm with a silencer, possession of methamphetamine and DUI.
Tina Mann, 56, is charged with theft by receiving, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana.
Bobby Joe Mann and Tina Mann were transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center.
Dawsonville men charged with possession of heroin
Business June 2, 2021
Kevin Smallwood
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Two Dawsonville men were arrested near the public square and Park Street May 26. Kevin Smallwood, 27, and Wesley Smallwood, 39, both of Dawsonville were charged with possession of heroin, possession, manufacturing of a controlled substance and crossing a guard line with weapons, intoxicants or drugs.
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office deputy George Albert Jr. responded in reference to two suspicious males who appeared to be intoxicated on the square. When he arrived one was standing by his vehicle the other laying on the ground.
Wesley Smallwood
After questioning both men and conducting field sobriety arrests, Albert arrested Kevin Smallwood. A subsequent search of their vehicle, he located a small plastic bag that contained a substance consistent with heroin.
Deputy Nicholas Weathington questioned Wesley Smallwood and during a body search, located a small plastic vial of white powdery substance that Smallwood said was crushed oxycontin.
Both men were transported to Lumpkin County Detention Center.
Teen who drowned in Dicks Creek on Memorial Day identified
News June 1, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Lumpkin County Coroner Mark Cox today identified the teenager who drowned in Dicks Creek on Memorial Day as 15-year-old Michael Cole of Lithonia.
According to Department of Natural Resources spokesman Mark McKinnon, Cole was swimming with his family when he slipped on a rock and went under. The body was recovered with a Lumpkin County Fire Department crew and transported to the Coroner’s Office.
Meanwhile, the search continues today for the body of Xi Zhu who disappeared Saturday near Shoal Creek in Lake Lanier. The 56-year man left an inflatable raft to recover an oar when he disappeared.
A third drowning death occurred when a 3-year-old boy drowned in Carter’s Lake in Murray County.
Lumpkin County Missing Person Alert
Business May 13, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
MISSING PERSON
5/13/2021
PRESS RELEASE
Missing from Lumpkin County, Georgia
Tony Cates without beard
Tony Cates with beard
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Tony Lamar Cates, a 50-year-old white male, is a missing person from Lumpkin County, Georgia. On Sunday 5/9/2021, Tony Lamar Cates was last seen and appeared to be in good condition. On Monday morning 5/10/2021, Tony Lamar Cates spoke with a coworker on the phone and appeared to be in good condition. Later on, 5/10/2021 at 5:30 am, the truck that is normally driven by Tony Lamar Cates was found parked at Mill Creek Baptist Church. The last Tony Lamar Cates was seen he had a beard. Shown below are pictures with and without a beard. Please if anyone has any information on Tony Lamar Cates or his location, please contact Captain Marcus Sewell at 706-482-2619 or via email at [email protected] .
Dahlonega man charged with aggravated assault and battery
News May 11, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – A 38-year-old Dahlonega man has been charged with aggravated assault and battery following a domestic argument on May 1.
According to the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office incident report, deputies responded to a domestic violence call on Rider Road Spur at approximately 3:27 a.m. but Hubert Daniel Rider, 38, and Joann Michell, 44, had left the scene. Friends told deputies that Michell went to her mother’s house in Dawsonville.
When they spoke to her on the phone, Michell told Lumpkin County deputies that she and Rider got into a verbal argument and when she tried to walk away, he placed her in a choke hold until she nearly lost consciousness. Michell said he then released her and slammed her into a wall, breaking her arm.
Later that day, Michell said she went to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where they confirmed she did have a hairline fracture of the upper arm.
Warrants were taken on Rider who was arrested on May 4.
Four arrested in Lumpkin County drug bust
News April 14, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — A multi-agency task force arrested four individuals and took 295 grams of methamphetamine and an undisclosed amount of heroin off the street Wednesday (Apr 13).
Following months of investigation, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, the GBI Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office served a warrant at 1085 Lewis School Road. During the service of this search warrant four individuals were arrested.
The following were arrested: 34-year-old Terri Lynn Gee of Dahlonega, 59-year-old Sandra Louise Whitlow of Dahlonega, 40-year-old Michael Troy Sexton of Oakwood and 26-year-old Austin Lamar Mote of Braselton.
All four individuals are being charged with Trafficking methamphetamine. Terri Gee is also charged with sale of methamphetamine, possession of drug related objects, and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Sandra Whitlow and Michael Sexton are also being charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug related objects.
Teri Lynn Gee
Sandra Louise Whitlow
Michael Troy Sexton
Austin Mote
Dahlonega man charged with murder
Business April 9, 2021
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – On Wednesday, April 7, 2021, the GBI and Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jeffrey Wayne Burns, 46, of Dahlonega, GA, and charged him with Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Homicide by Vehicle. The arrest was in connection to the death of Cheynne Jean Burns, 24, also of Dahlonega. Burns was booked into the Lumpkin County Detention Center.
On Saturday, April 3, 2021, the GBI was requested by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office to assist in a death investigation at a residence on Clayton Burns Road, Dahlonega, GA. The investigation revealed that an argument between several individuals resulted in a vehicular confrontation which resulted in Cheynne Burns’ death.
Also arrested for his involvement in this incident was Allen Stamey, 19, of Dahlonega, for reckless conduct. Warrants have been issued for David Godbout, 25, and Johnathon Hampel, 38, both of Dahlonega, for reckless conduct. Both Godbout and Hampel are currently wanted on the outstanding charges. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Godbout or Hampel is asked to contact Lumpkin County 911 or the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the case will be provided to the Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney for prosecution.
Hudgins charged with kidnapping, assault and terroristic threats
News March 24, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — A 55-year-old Lumpkin County man has been charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault and making terroristic threats.
According to the incident report, Larry Calvin Hudgins shared a trailer with the unidentified female complainant and another man. Following a domestic dispute and break up on March18, Hudgins moved out of the trailer and the woman drove him to Forsyth County. She told Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy George Albert Jr. that Hudgins held a knife on her all the way and “threatened to cut her throat and to return with some family members to blow up the trailer.”
After she dropped him off in Forsyth County, she filed a complaint with the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office. Hudgins was taken into custody by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Albert drove to Forsyth County to take custody of the prisoner and transported to the detention center.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Dahlonega man charged with aggravated battery
Business February 23, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – A 57-year-old Dahlonega man was charged with aggravated battery following a argument with his girlfriend at a residence on Dogwood Trail last week.
Darrell Lee Hayes was arrested for allegedly striking Robin Brown with a metal pole after the couple argued over his bank account.
When Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived, they reported the victim’s forearm was extremely swollen and a bruise was beginning to form around the wrist.
While Brown repeatedly said she believed her arm was broken, she refused Lumpkin County EMS services. Hayes was handcuffed and transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Lumpkin Co. investigation leads to arrest of Dawson County woman
News February 15, 2021
LUMPKIN CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE
PRESS RELEASE
DAWSON COUNTY, Ga. – Today (Mon. Feb. 15) the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, along with the GBI’s West Metro Regional Drug Enforcement Office (WMRDEO), and the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search, in Dawson County. This search resulted in an arrest and seizure of Methamphetamines. During the search, 165 grams of Methamphetamine was located. This Methamphetamine was in the possession of Stacey Lynn Evans, a Dawsonville resident. She is a white female 51 years of age. This arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation that began in Lumpkin County. Evans was transported to Dawson Counties jail for charges of Trafficking Methamphetamines.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Dahlonega man charged with aggravated assault
News January 12, 2021
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Dahlonega man last week after he allegedly threatened to kill his aunt at a residence on Pine Tree Lane.
The victim called deputies to report her nephew, 32-year-old Andrew Phagan, was high on meth and that he held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.
When deputies arrived, the woman was in the driveway and Phagan was inside the residence. According to the incident report, she said her nephew was high on meth and had not slept for three days. When Phagan, a convicted felon, emerged from the residence, deputies discovered he had a loaded handgun, pocket knife and marijuana in his pants pockets.
He was transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center where he is charged with aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of marijuana.
Dahlonega man charged with battery
News December 30, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – A 20-year-old Dahlonega man was arrested last week after he allegedly punched his mother in the face and chest at a residence on Pony Lake Road.
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s deputies were called to respond to a physical domestic incident. When they arrived, according to the incident report, the victim said she and her son, Bradley Blount, argued about his failure to take care of an automobile when he became violent and punched her in the face and chest. Blount then walked to the house where he punched and broke a glass window.
A deputy who interviewed Blount said he admitted to punching her. He was charged with battery- family violence and criminal trespass – family violence.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Helen man charged with heroin possession, DUI
Business, News December 29, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – A Helen man was charged with possession of heroin, crossing guard lines with weapons, intoxicants or drugs and DUI on Dec 23 following a traffic stop on Long Branch Road.
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin Ellison ,34, witnessed a gray Honda driven by Brett Kuhlman cross the center line and white fog lines several times and initiated a stop at 3:20 a.m. Deputy George Albert arrived on scene to assist Ellison with a DUI investigation and spotted packaging for hypodermic needles, a bent metal spoon, needles and an open bottle rubbing alcohol.
After arriving at the Lumpkin County Detention Center, a detention officer found a small bag that contained a brown substance with heroin tucked into Kuhlman’s waste band which led to the charge of crossing guard line with weapons, intoxicants or drugs.
Authorities serve 12 warrants in connection with major drug bust
News, Press Release December 18, 2020
PRESS RELEASE
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, along with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO), The Federal Bureau of Investigations Safe Streets Task Force, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations conducted a multi-location service of 12 arrest warrants involving a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO).
Two additional arrest were made during the service of the original 12 arrest warrants. The investigation led to all 12 persons being affiliated and connected with this DTO and they were charged with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). All 12 suspects were previously charged with drug violations in Lumpkin County in the past year.
This was the culmination of a year-long investigation conducted by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office.
Throughout the investigation, law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of methamphetamine, multiple kilograms of heroin, and a large amount of U.S. Currency along with other assets. The primary suspect of the investigation, Jeremy Ball 34, is currently incarcerated in the Georgia Department of Corrections, charged with violating the RICO Act.
Also Arrested were the following Lumpkin County residents who were charged with violating the RICO Act: Lisa Andrews 35, Justin Walker 33, Casey Daughtry 41, Kimberly Biggs 26, Justin Newell 30, Candice Newell 32, Morgan Lee 35, Cedric Bearden 41, Shannon Perry Major 49, Carrie Stephens 38 and Sandra Sullens 30, both of whom were already in jail and were also charged with a RICO Violation as a result of this investigation, James Graham, 57, is being charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug-Related Objects, Gary Dowdle, 34, was also arrested during this operation for outstanding warrants for previous crimes in Habersham County, The investigation is ongoing and further charges are pending.
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office receives life-saving donation of Narcan
News December 13, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – On Friday (Dec. 11) Lumpkin County received a badly-needed donation of approximately 60 doses of Narcan (naloxoneHCI) — a tool that can save the lives of people experiencing a drug overdose.
Jennifer Hodge and Forsyth County Commissioner Todd Levent withrealty4recovery delivered the gift to Sheriff Stacy Jarrard and the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office.
Hodge’s son, Robbie, died in 2016 after a long struggle with pain killers and anti-anxiety medication.
“Our goal is to make sure no other parent goes through what we’ve been through,” Hodge said Friday. “Lumpkin County means a lot to us. They are our neighbors and to just know we can help them means so much. I’m very thankful and lucky the real estate community is standing tall and this year we have been able to donate 800 NARCANs to save lives. It’s going to make a lot of people very happy this Christmas season. When you are able to bring your child back and give them help that means everything to me.”
Jarrard said, “It’s a great day in this community and I’d like to thank Mr. Levent and Jennifer. I’d also like to thank (Lumpkin County Commission) Chairman Chris Dockery for hooking me up with them and getting this in motion.”
Commissioner David Miller stated, “I want to give a shout out to you guys in Forsyth County for bringing us this help. We appreciate it up here. As chairman of the Board of Health, I know we see a lot of (drug use) up here in Lumpkin County so any cooperation between our counties and the public and private sectors is what we’re looking for. We appreciate so much you coming out today to donate this.”
Levent said he and Hodge have worked together for many years on this project. “She called me the other day and let me know she had some extra Narcan to donate and I suggested we call Lumpkin County to see if they could use the donation.”
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
8th grader in custody after pulling a knife on another student in class
News December 9, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — A 13-year-old female student at Lumpkin County Middle School is in custody today after she allegedly pulled a knife on another student in an 8th grade classroom.
The incident took place between 10:30 and 11 a.m. The classroom was evacuated and no one was injured.
The teacher was able to get the knife from the student and the School Resource Officer took possession of it.
Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard said, “The teacher did a great job of deescalating the situation, along with the School Resource Officer. Both sets of parents have been notified and the situation has returned to normal.”