Press Releases: 2020

Gainesville, GA (December 11, 2020) - On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, several arrests were made across numerous counties in North Georgia as the culmination of a year-long investigation conducted by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, White County Sheriff’s Office, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Community Supervision, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender’s Task Force, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office.

Milledgeville, GA (December 11, 2020) – On Friday, December 11, 2020, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents arrested Eatonton Police Chief Kent Lawrence, age 61, for two counts of Simple Battery and one count of Battery. 

On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, the GBI Region 6 (Milledgevile) office was requested by the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit District Attorney Stephen Bradley to conduct an investigation regarding allegations that Eatonton Police Chief Kent Lawrence used excessive force against a female, in custody at the Eatonton Police Department.  The GBI Region 6 office immediately began conducting the investigation. 

December 10, 2020 Update - The deceased man has been identified as Oldrich Fejfar, age 67. 

ORIGINAL RELEASE

Savannah,  GA (December 5,  2020) – On Saturday, December 5, 2020, the GBI was requested by the Savannah Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred in Savannah, GA.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 8:30 a.m., Savannah Police Department officers responded to a homeless camp located in an area near Fulton Road and Navajo Road.  The officers were on scene following a request from land owners that homeless persons be removed from private property.  As officers approached the location of the last known homeless person located in a tent, the homeless man exited the tent in an aggressive manner holding a razor knife and another sharp object.  The man failed to drop the weapons and obey officers’ orders.  Two officers were able to retreat to a safe location.  One officer was not able to retreat and was backed into an area, eventually discharging his firearm at the man charging toward him with the weapon.

Conyers, GA (December 10, 2020) – On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, Newton County resident, Carlos Porter, age 21, was charged with the Sexual Exploitation of Children (Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material) in violation of O.C.G.A 16-12-100(b)(8) by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit. The GBI CEACC Unit began an investigation into Porter’s online activity after receiving a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the upload of suspected child pornography by Porter using a popular social media application.  A search of Porter’s home and electronic devices produced evidence which led to the arrest of Porter on December 8, 2020. Porter was taken into custody and booked into the Newton County Jail.

McRae-Helena, GA – On Thursday, December 3, 2020, Westly Jacob Moore, age 27, of Vidalia, was arrested in Albany, Georgia for felony murder and aggravated assault for the death of John Cory Godsey, age 33, of Milan. 

On Wednesday, December 2, 2020, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Eastman Office was requested by the Telfair County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a death investigation.  John Corey Godsey was discovered dead on Milan-Helena Road in rural Telfair County on this day.

The GBI is proud to announce two recognitions for the Georgia Information Sharing and Analysis Center (GISAC).  On December 10, 2020, GBI Special Agent in Charge Ryan Carmichael was named Fusion Center Director of the Year for 2020.  GISAC was named one of two Fusion Centers of the Year for 2020.  Each year, the National Fusion Center Association (NFCA) holds its annual training conference and awards ceremony in Alexandria, Virginia. This year, GISAC attended it virtually and listened to presentations from the NFCA’s closest Federal partners including FBI Director Chris Wray, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, and others, along with a briefing on current threat trends.  “These are tremendous honors that speak volumes about SAC Carmichael and his leadership at GISAC,” said Director Reynolds. “Everyone who is, or who has been assigned to the unit this year, has done a tremendous job.  We are so proud of Ryan and his team.”

Douglasville, GA (December 8, 2020) – On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the GBI Atlanta Regional Office was requested by the Douglasville Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 4:05 a.m., an officer on routine patrol spotted a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express, 7101 Concourse Parkway, Douglasville, Douglas County, Georgia. The officer made contact with two subjects in the vehicle, later identified as Zion Dorsett, 21 of Lithonia, and Christopher Wilson, 31 of East Point. A second officer arrived on scene. After a brief conversation, officers determined that the tag on the vehicle was not registered to that vehicle and the vehicle had been stolen. As officers were speaking to Dorsett and Wilson, the vehicle backed up abruptly up an embankment. As officers attempted to take Dorsett and Wilson into custody, the vehicle drove aggressively towards the officers. An officer discharged his firearm, striking the vehicle. The vehicle exited the parking lot, drove a short distance down the road, drove off a large embankment, and came to rest in the area of Sam’s Club, 6995 Concourse Parkway. After a brief foot chase, both Dorsett and Wilson were taken into custody. Neither the subjects nor the officers sustained any injuries.

Millen, GA (December 8, 2020) – On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the GBI was requested by the US Marshals Service to investigate an officer involved shooting.

Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 3:44 p.m., the Millen Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service were in the area of Herndon Street and Williams Street, Millen, GA, searching for Larry Jackson, age 29, who had active warrants for events that took place on the previous date during a domestic dispute. Two Deputy U.S. Marshals located Jackson near Herndon Street after a foot chase with officers from the Millen Police Department. During the confrontation, one of the Deputy U.S. Marshals fired his weapon, striking Jackson. A weapon was found at the location where Jackson was shot and treated by EMTs. Jackson was transported to Augusta University Medical Center in Augusta where is in critical condition. 

Update December 3, 2020

On Tuesday, December 1, 2020, as a result of a multi-jurisdictional manhunt, Billy Galvez, 22, of Atlanta, was arrested on the outstanding warrants of Malice Murder and Aggravated Assault.  These charges stemmed from the murder of Alejandro Ramirez, 35, which occurred on Sunday, July 5, 2020.  The arrest was made with assistance from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit.  Galvez was taken into custody in a park in Forsyth County after a brief foot chase.  Galvez was in the company of Jennifer “Jenni” Rodriguez-Cardona, who was charged with Hindering the Apprehension of Punishment of a Criminal.

The GBI investigation revealed that as a result of a dispute between Ramirez and Galvez, Galvez retrieved a firearm from a vehicle, drove through the parking lot to Ramirez’ location and shot Ramirez.  Galvez fled the scene and had been a fugitive. 

Galvez was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail. Rodriguez-Cardona was booked into the Forsyth County Jail.

The GBI would like to thank the Norcross Police Department, Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Sandy Springs Police Department, and the Chamblee Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the GBI.  Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.

Monticello, GA (December 2, 2020) – GBI Special Agents from the Georgia Cyber Crime Center have charged Edward Porter Allen, III, age 68, for the offense of Computer Theft relating to the theft of approximately $46,000 from the City of Monticello.  In May of 2019, the GBI was requested by the Jasper County Sheriff to assist in the investigation of a cyber related theft targeting the City of Monticello. The subsequent investigation revealed that the proceeds of the cyber crime had been deposited into Allen’s bank account in Sarasota Florida before a portion of the proceeds were transferred out of the US.