Crime

Scamming targeting Byron drivers

Friday, January 17th, 2014, 2:10pm

Byron police say they're looking for two men they say are targeting travelers and the elderly with a car-repair scam.

A police news release says the men spray brake fluid behind people's back tires. They tell the drivers they have a brake-line leak and that the car is dangerous to drive.

They also tell the drivers that they are mechanics at Jeff Smith Ford and Chevrolet in Byron, and one presents a fake ID.

Surveillance-camera photos of alleged car-repair scammers (Photo: Byron Police)

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff

Monday, December 30th, 2013, 2:02pm

A Florida woman who reportedly kidnapped her own daughter from Florida and drove her to Central Georgia is in the Houston County jail this afternoon.

Charity Chatman was arrested Sunday night on a warrant accusing her of interfering with custody.

An Amber Alert went out this weekend for 6-year-old Onnika Fisher of Jacksonville.

She went missing on Friday.

But the Amber Alert was lifted overnight, after the GBI reported that she was safe.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Department says the mother and daughter were located during a traffic stop in Perry, around 11:30 p.m.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff

Wednesday, December 4th, 2013, 2:37pm

Court records: Slain doctor from Kathleen was lured by sex encounter

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) - Court records state that a surgeon found dead in an east Georgia creek was lured to Augusta for a sexual encounter.

An affidavit used to obtain a search warrant says that Dr. Charles Mann III and the man suspected of killing him had exchanged online messages about sex before Mann traveled to Augusta last month. The Augusta Chronicle reported on the court records Tuesday.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff

Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013, 4:00pm

Two men and one woman were arrested on multiple felony charges after Houston County detention officers say they found narcotics within a letter meant for a detainee.

That's the second instance of substance smuggling at the Houston County Sheriff's Office Detention Center in less than a week.

Ashley Mock of Perry, Jered McCain of Fort Valley and James Tolbert of Warner Robins were arrested Tuesday, according to a release.

McCain was already in jail on charges related to Financial Card Fraud and Violation of Probation Superior Court.

The three are now being held without bond at the jail.

Last Friday, two men were accused of attempting to smuggle prescription drugs into Houston County's detention center, according to a release.

A detention officer found a substance in a letter sent to Sonny Bennett of Macon. He was already being held on charges for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana as well as a state warrant for bail jumping.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by Bernard O'Donnell

Friday, August 30th, 2013, 4:51pm

The Houston County sheriff's department says an Aug. 18 double murder was a drug-related "execution-type" killing.

Three men are charged in connection with the killings. Two women are also accused of cleaning up the murder scene and disposing of evidence.

A news release from the sheriff's department says the murders of Ruben Miranda and Shaland McConnell were "planned and premeditated" by three suspects.

The three --19-year-old Thomas A. Kelley of Byron, 21-year-old Coleman L. Crouch of Warner Robins and 20-year-old Justice B. Evans of Macon -- are in the Houston County jail.

Kelley is charged with two counts of murder; Evans with one count of murder, one count of tampering with evidence and two counts of concealing a death; Crouch is charged with one count of tampering with evidence, two counts of concealing a death and two counts of being party to murder.

According to the news release:

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by 13WMAZ Web Staff

Thursday, August 15th, 2013, 5:06pm

Perry police say they arrested four prostitutes and five suspected pimps at Central Georgia hotels Wednesday.

They say the arrests came out of a sting aimed at finding victims of human trafficking, juvenile prostitutes and their pimps.

During the sting, Perry police, Macon and Atlanta FBI offices, Georgia Department of Corrections and Sandy Springs Police Department worked together.

They say they didn't find any minors involved. Instead, officials found four adult females and five males at Perry-area hotels.

Scott Mander, 39, Rodney Cooper, Jr., 26,William Redford, 30, Daniel Washburn, 29, all of Macon, and William Rowell, 54, of Warner Robins were charged with pimping.

Amanda Hulsey, 20, of Warner Robins, Kelly Roberts, 43, also from Warner Robins, Kristy Ussery, 22, of Macon and Judith Hammock of Lizella were all charged with prostitution.

All eight were being held Thursday in the Houston County jail.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Submitted by Bernard O'Donnell

Friday, June 21st, 2013, 11:42am

A disabled pickup in a ditch Friday morning turned into a foot chase and three burglary arrests.

That's according to Perry police captain Heath Dykes.

Dykes says it all started around 4 a.m. when a Peach County officer stopped to help a driver whose pickup was stuck in the ditch on Highway 96.

He noticed cartons of cigars and cigarettes inside.

Officers also found trash bags of goods dumped nearby and noticed several sets of shoes in the truck.

A little later, Dykes said, a woman in a Peach County subdivision reported two other men running across her lawn.

They were caught in some woods nearby after several agencies and State Police choppers joined the search.

He said the three suspects are accused of two store burglaries over night : the Speedy convenience store on Houston Lake Road in Perry and the Highway Haven on Highway 41 in Peach County.

View Comments | Post a Comment