Sheriff’s Office blood drive set Friday
News April 22, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — Some consequences of COVID-19 are readily apparent. Twice a day the Georgia Department of Health reports how many people have contracted the disease, how many have been hospitalized and how many have died.
But some consequences are not as apparent. For example, health experts say the pandemic has led to thousands of blood drive cancellations as Americans shelter in place. The nation’s blood supply is dwindling even though the need for emergency surgeries has not declined. In America alone, 32,000 pints of blood are needed daily to perform life-saving operations. Each pint donated can save up to three lives.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, expressed the need for blood donations on the organization’s website. “You can still go out and give blood,” he said. “We’re worried about shortages in the future. Social distancing does not mean social disengagement.”
One local organization is doing it’s part to donate life-saving blood. The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office has a LifeSouth Community Blood Center blood drive scheduled Friday (Apr. 24) from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Blood collection agencies like LifeSouth take extra precautions to ensure the safety of donors and employees. Employees and donors will be required to wear masks. Staff will disinfect the blood mobile between each donation and distancing requirements will be in place.
Jarrard experienced first-hand the importance of blood donations after being diagnosed with cancer in 2013. “I’m thankful for the people who donated blood when I needed it,” he said. “When they put in a call for blood, they had to have three buses come up here to collect it.”
The Sheriff’s Office has been sponsoring blood drives since 2013. More than 25 people have signed up to donate blood at Friday’s drive. No more can be accepted at this time, however, Jarrard said they are already in the process of scheduling another drive soon.
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 County woman charged with battery
News April 20, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – A 53-year-old Lumpkin County woman was arrested last week on charges of simple assault, simple battery and two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree, following an altercation with her daughter at 780 King Richard Court in Murrayville.
Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office deputy Kyle Kupari and Sgt. Rebecca Nix responded to a domestic call at 2:20 p.m. on April 15. According to the arrest report, Joni Deanne Etris said her mother, Juanita Hunt, had been staying at her home and watching her two children while she was at work. She told deputies that when she got home from work, she and her mother got into a heated argument that got out of hand and her mother pushed her.
One of the juveniles said there was a video of the incident and, after viewing the video, deputies arrested Hunt, placed her in handcuffs and transported her 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
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard makes strong case for reelection
News February 6, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – The first time he campaigned for Lumpkin County Sheriff in 2008, Stacy Jarrard promised to turn the agency into one of the most professional sheriff’s offices in Georgia. Thirteen months later, Lumpkin County became only the 13th sheriff’s office to achieve state certification.
Promise made. Promise kept.
Now, Jarrard is seeking his fourth term in office and he has built quite a resume for himself and the agency. After 31 years of carrying a badge and gun, Jarrard, 52, was named President of the powerful Georgia Sheriff’s Association last year, giving Lumpkin County a strong voice among state legislators.
He has been voted Best Elected Official 11 years in a row and Best Law Enforcement Officer 12 consecutive years.
But Jarrard is most proud of the 95 employees of the Sheriff’s Office. “We train as hard as we can throughout the year,” he said. “The state of Georgia only requires law enforcement officers to have 20 hours of in-service training a year. We require 60 hours. I believe in being the best trained agency we can be.”
Despite their level of training and professionalism, Jarrard says, “I’m always worried about their safety. When the phone rings, you’re always concerned about what is going on, what has happened. It’s like sitting on an egg shell. You’re always wondering if it’s going to crack somewhere.”
Jarrard’s concern intensified in the Summer of 2018 when approximately 4,000 out-of-county people descended on Lumpkin County for the Rainbow Family of Living Light gathering then again one year later at a pro-Trump rally on the square.
“Both had a potential to be real problems,” Jarrard said. “I’m thankful both ended well. Whenever you’re putting a plan together in that type situation where there is a potential for loss of life or loss of property. There was a lot of sleepless nights for me leading up to both events because of so much friction. But, as sheriff, you have to stay neutral. You can’t take sides.”
Jarrard said he is also proud of the advancement in technology at the 911 Center. “Our 911 system is unbelievable. It is state-of-the-art with the technology we have there now and we’re working on a system that will allow the public to text 911.”
Asked about the challenge of the next few years, Jarrard said the budget is a concern.
“We still have some growing to do,” he said. More upgrades of equipment are needed at the Justice Center and the roof at the detention center is 20 years old. “We will have to start roof repairs soon. We also need to get the pay up and we need better insurance rates for our employees.”
As a constitutional officer, Jarrard recognizes that he is required to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars.
“Housing out-of-county inmates like we have done for years, brings money into the community to help offset taxes,” he said. “It’s important the sheriff has the mindset to do that. I have that mindset.” He estimates that the county receives between $400,000 and $600,000 annually.”
Jarrard serves the community in many other ways. He has served on the Boards of Enotah Family Drug Court Foundation, Child Fatality Review Board, Lumpkin County Family Connection and No One Alone: Family Violence.
He and wife Rebecca have been married 16 years and have three children, McKenzie, Briana and Luke.
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
BOC discusses 2nd Amendment Sanctuary resolution
News February 5, 2020
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. — The Lumpkin County Board of Commissioners discussed joining a growing number of Georgia counties in adopting a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution during Tuesday’s work session. A vote is expected at the next regular meeting.
The movement to declare sanctuary counties started in Virginia when Gov. Ralph Northam introduced a package of gun-control legislation, including red flag laws, universal background checks and a limit of one gun purchase per month.
That movement quickly spread to Georgia where many counties have already adopted Second Amendment Sanctuary resolutions or are considering doing so. But passing any form of gun control would be a lot more difficult in Georgia with a Republican governor and a Republican-controlled Legislature.
Lumpkin County commissioners (Chairman Chris Dockery was absent due to an illness) expressed support for the Second Amendment Tuesday, but questioned whether the resolution was necessary of merely symbolic.
Sheriff Stacy Jarrard addressed the Board saying, ”I can tell you we have a Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office that is very pro-Second Amendment. We have a skeet shoot every year. I teach hunter safety and firearm safety. We open the gun range to the public. I hold a gun show yearly and a fundraiser. I don’t know how much more pro-gun rights I can actually be.”
Georgia has very specific laws to protect gun owners. “O.C.G.A. 38-3-37 states rules regarding the right to carry will not be changed by declaring a state of emergency,” Jarrard stated. “Any person from the government, including the National Guard, is prohibited from seizing any firearm or ammunition in the possession of a license holder. So what does it really do, becoming a sanctuary county? “If someone came to me and told me I would have to collect people’s firearms that would be the day I would resign. I could not fulfill that obligation and by not fulfilling that obligation, I could be arrested.”
Commissioner Bobby Mayfield proposed passing a “pro-Constitution county proclamation” rather than the Second Amendment resolution. “Fortunately, we live in a state where our Second Amendment rights are not at risk,” he said. “Many of our other rights are being challenged as well – freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble, freedom of life. If we are going to do something, I suggest doing something similar to what our friends in Floyd and Hart counties have done and that is to pass a pro-Constitution proclamation. That really makes a statement about our commitment to uphold our Second Amendment rights but also the rest of the Constitution and its amendments.”
During the public comment period, two speakers rose in support of the resolution. Zane Doles said, “This is about being proactive and getting ahead of the rash of bills that will be introduced. Let’s make it clear that the representatives of Lumpkin County stand with the citizens, side-by-side in their intent to make Lumpkin County a Second Amendment Sanctuary county.”
Other issues discussed during the work session that will be voted on during the regular meeting include the following:
RESOLUTIONS
Veteran’s Affairs Advisory Committee name change request
Reappoint members to Development Authority
Reappoint Member to Public Building Authority
Reappoint Members to Hospital Authority
Identity Theft Prevention Program Update (Finance Director Abby Branan)
2020 – 09 – Georgia Fund 1 – General Fund Account (Finance Director Abby Branan)
2020 – 10 – Georgia Fund 1 – 2020 SPLOST Account (Finance Director Abby Branan)
2020 – 11 – Georgia Fund 1 – 2019 TSPLOST Account (Finance Director Abby Branan) •
CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS
GMRC Addendum to the CDBG Senior Center Expansion Project Contract (Finance Director Abby Branan)
GMRC Regional Pay Study Agreement (Community and Employee Services Director Alicia Davis)
GEMA Statewide Mutual Aid and Assistance Agreement (EMA Director David Wimpy)
LMIG Road Resurfacing Contract Award (Public Works Director Larry Reiter)
TSPLOST Road Resurfacing Contract Award (Public Works Director Larry Reiter)
UGA Cooperative Extension and Lumpkin County MOU (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)
Community Center Gymnasium Goal Lift System Bid Award (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)
Ratify Contract for Land Purchase (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)
Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Contract Extension – North GA Consulting Group LLC (EMS Director David Wimpy)
OTHER ITEMS
2020 SPLOST Work Plan (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)
2020 SPLOST Work Plan (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)
Road Maintenance & Improvement Tax 2020 Work Plan (Special Projects Director Allison Martin)
TSPLOST Bond (Trey Monroe)
Abandonment of George Avery Road (Public Works Director Larry Reiter)
Murrayville woman charged with forgery, ID fraud
News December 29, 2019
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Casey Posten, 34, of Murrayville was arrested Dec. 21 and charged with forgery, theft by taking and identity fraud.
Posten’s arrest follows a six-month investigation by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office that started in July when Ronald Cartledge told authorities he believes Posten, a former employee, forged checks on his bank account and charged items to his credit card without authorization.
According to the arrest report, Cartledge asked his daughter Frania Cartledge to check his accounting books when something seemed to be wrong. She compiled a 139-page report that included bank statements, text messages, Paypal statements and credit card statements that lead to Posten’s arrest.
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 County man dies in officer involved shooting
News November 20, 2019
Lumpkin County, Ga (November 20, 2019) – On Wednesday, November 20, 2019, the Georgia
Bureau of Investigation was requested by the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an
officer involved shooting.
Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 1:24 pm, Lumpkin County 911 was
contacted by Wylene Cheek, 66, who reported a domestic disturbance involving her husband,
Paul Cheek, 55, at their residence located at 1851 Black Mountain Road, Dahlonega.
A responding Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Deputy made contact with Paul Cheek in the front yard
of the residence, at which time Cheek pulled out a knife. During the confrontation, Cheek was
shot by the deputy one time. Cheek was pronounced dead at the scene.
No officers were injured in this incident.
The GBI will continue its independent investigation. Once complete, it will be turned over to the
Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney for review.
Update: Missing woman’s body found in Forsyth Co.
News September 25, 2019
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Lumpkin County Sheriff Stacy Jarrard announced today the body of 21-year-old Hannah Bender, has been found in a partially-wooded, partially-pasture land area off Parks Road in Forsyth County.
Hannah Bender
Authorities with the Sheriff’s Office and Georgia Bureau of Investigation were led to the discovery through leads developed during the investigation.
Ms. Bender’s mother reported her missing Sept. 14 and a murder warrant was issued for her one-time boyfriend Austin Todd Stryker, 21, of Dawson County. Authorities also want to talk to 78-year-old Jerry Harper they describe as a person of interest.
Investigators found a black Ford Ranger pickup truck on Monday near where the body was discovered they believe belongs to Harper.
Austin Todd Stryker
The West Virginia State Patrol Facebook page reports that Stryker was seen in Clay County, West Virginia.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Captain Marcus Sewell at 706-974-6824.
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 child molestation
News November 14, 2018
James Millen Nester
DAHLONEGA, Ga. — Lumpkin County authorities have charged James Millen Nester, 28, of Dahlonega with child molestation, aggravated child molestation and enticing a child for indecent purposes, all felonies.
The alleged incident reportedly took place in late July or early August. However, the mother of the child, who is not identified, did not learn about it until last week, at which time she reported to the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office.
Nester was arrested on a warrant on Nov. 11.
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 possession of heroin
News September 18, 2018
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – What started out as a routine traffic stop last week resulted in the arrest of a Dahlonega man for possession of heroin and prescription pills not in the original container.
According to the arrest report, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped a blue Chevrolet Blazer on East Main Street driven by 44-year-old Don Edmondson for failure to maintain a lane. Deputies say they became suspicious when the driver appeared more anxious than most for a routine traffic stop.
After patting Edmondson down, deputies noticed an orange and white medication bottle with no label that contained pills. Edmondson said they were hydrocodone and that he had a prescription, but was unable to produce it.
Edmondson was placed under arrest for prescription pills not in the original container and transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center. When he was searched at the detention center, deputies discovered a grey powder substance in a small bag in his pocket which was confirmed to be heroin.
In addition to the original charge of prescription pills not in the original container, Edmondson was charged with possession of heroin and crossing the guard line with an illegal substance.
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
University of North Georgia men’s soccer scores late to earn 4-4 draw
Team FYN Sports September 7, 2018
Eren Ozer Forward for the UNG Men’s soccer team
MORROW, GA.
By UNG Athletics Communications
Eduardo Pessoa scored twice and Eren Ozer scored late as the University of North Georgia men’s soccer team earned a 4-4 draw with Tampa Thursday night at Clayton State’s Laker Field.
Tampa got things going in the 12th minute with a goal from Till Neumann, but the Nighthawks answered as Adam Farrell put home the first UNG goal of 2018 on a penalty kick in the 37th
minute. Just four minutes later, though, the Spartans regained the lead on a shot from distance to take a 2-1 lead to halftime.
After most of the second half went by scoreless, UNG evened it up with the first Pessoa goal of the night off a Prince Domafriyie pass. Tampa answered with two goals within 60 seconds of one another to take a 4-2 lead.
Eduardo Pessoa. Forward for the UNG men’s soccer team
The Nighthawks didn’t give up, however, as Pessoa scored his second with 12 minutes left off a rebound before Eren Ozer hit a penalty kick in the 82nd minute to tie the game back up. Tampa took 12 shots in the overtime periods but could not find a fifth goal and the game ended in a draw.
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Missing teen reported “alive and well” in South Carolina
News July 17, 2018
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – A second person reported missing following the Rainbow Family of Light gathering in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in Lumpkin County has been located alive and well in Ridgeville, South Carolina.
The Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office reported 18-year-old William Johnson as missing Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson was described as a white, male, six feet tall with brown hair and brown eyes. The sheriff’s office reported that Johnson’s cell phone was found in the trash in the part of the forest where the gathering took place.
At 11:20 a.m. Lt. Alan roach sent out an email to advise that Johnson had been located “alive and well” in South Carolina.
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
Man apparently died before car crash on Auraria Rd.
News June 10, 2018
Lumpkin County Coroner James Sheppard
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Lumpkin County Coroner James Sheppard said it appears a Dahlonega man apparently died before his car crashed on Auraria Road in Lumpkin County early Saturday morning.
According to the coroner’s report, 44-year-old Christopher G. Mitchell, of 129 Eagles Pointe Drive in Dahlonega, was driving north on Auraria Road near the intersection of Burt Stand Road when he failed to negotiate a left-hand curve and continued into a small ravine before coming to a rest.
Sheppard said there were no external injuries to the victim and no braking marks that are indicative of a braking attempt. The vehicle remained in this location, just slightly below the roadway, for several hours until daylight. An unknown caller to 911 indicated that a vehicle had an accident and Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol responded.
Sheppard said the vehicle transmission was still in the “drive” position and the emergency brake had not been set. He pronounced Mitchell dead at the scene.
After consultation with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, it was determined the body would be sent to the GBI crime lab in Decatur for a complete autopsy to determine the cause of death.
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
Armstrong charged with burglary, possession of heroin
News February 13, 2018
Christopher Armstrong
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Lumpkin County authorities have arrested 25-year-old Christopher Armstrong, 46-year-old William Clay Mitchell and Tyler Mitchell, 25, in connection with the Jan. 24 burglary of a Pinewood Place home.
The burglary was reported by the homeowner Melissa Gilbert. Gilbert said when she and her mother returned home shortly after noon, they found the home had been rifled through and called the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office.
After a preliminary inspection, Gilbert discovered that two loaded pistols, jewelry, two cameras, a PlayStation, headphones, an iPad and an iPhone had been stolen.
On Feb. 5, deputies were assisting a parole officer in conducting a search when they discovered the stolen iPad. The next day, authorities raided 1809 Martins Ford Road where they located some of the stolen items and arrested the suspect who is charged with burglary and possession of heroin.
Tyler Mitchell is charged with burglary and theft by receiving. William Mitchell is charged with theft by receiving.
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. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
ARDEO Shuts Down Multi-Million Dollar Meth Lab
News September 17, 2017
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Agents with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) and the FBI’s North Georgia Major Offender Squad shut down a massive methamphetamine conversion lab in Suches Friday, capable of producing more than $3.2 million worth of crystal meth and arrested five suspected drug traffickers.
ARDEO special agent in charge Mitchell Posey said in a press release that a traffic stop of Angel Luis Rivera-Santiago and Victor Rafael Aponte yielded the seizure of 15 kilograms of methamphetamine. During the subsequent investigation, Lumpkin County authorities and FBI agents executed a search warrant at 990 Flanders Road in Dahlonega. Valentine Duarte-Vejar ran from the residence but was captured and was in possession of a handgun.
This search warrant yielded a few grams of cocaine and $166,000 in cash. Agents continued to follow investigative leads until a conversion lab was located at 843 Cooper Creek Road in Suches. A conversion lab is used to convert liquid methamphetamine to its crystal form. Agents located a handgun and 15 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine at the lab.
ARDEO agents processed approximately 300 pounds of environmental waste largely containing methamphetamine oil. Agents on scene estimated the lab was capable of producing a minimum of 25-50 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine at a time. The Union County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and Fire Department assisted with safely processing the lab.
This short but effective investigation was a federal, state, and local partnership that disrupted and dismantled a drug distribution network’s attempt to flood our communities with this destructive drug for their own financial gain. The street value of the 30 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine is $3,234,000.
“This was a surprise find for us,” Posey said. “It was something that fell in our lap and we realized that it could turn into something bigger, all it required was just some good old-fashioned hard work.”
Angel Luis Rivera- Santiago, 42, of Norcross, Victor Rafael Aponte, 30, of Dahlonega and Valentine Duarte-Vejar, 25, of Dahlonega were charged with trafficking methamphetamine.
Eleoncio Perez-Pineda, 29, of Dahlonega, and Jose Mario Duarte-Vejar, 25, of Dahlonega were later arrested in Dahlonega and charged with conspiracy to manufactory methamphetamine. The five men were transported to the Lumpkin County Detention Center. Their immigration status is pending. Additional charges are pending in Union County.
“Shuttind down something of this magnitude is huge for North Georgia,” Posey said.
This investigation continues. ARDEO encourages citizens to report any suspicious drug activity via Instant Message or by calling 706-348-7410 or your local sheriff’s office or police department.
The Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office is a multi-agency unit that consists of the following Sheriff’s Offices: White County, Lumpkin County, Towns County, Banks County, Habersham County, Stephens County, Rabun County and Franklin County, along with the Cleveland Police Department, Lavonia Police Department, the Georgia National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, the Department of Public Safety, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The operation was a joint effort of the ARDEO, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s North Georgia Major Offender Squad.
NOTE: The names on the mugshots do not always match the names in this article because some suspects gave a fictitious name.
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. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Angel Luis
Ruben Herrera
Eloncio Perez-Pineda
Javier Duarte-Vejar
Jose Duarte-Vejar
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.