Press Releases: 2021

Ivey, GA (March 24, 2021) – On Wednesday, March 24, 2021, the GBI arrested Christopher Dale Tiggs, age 31, of Ivey, and charged him with Murder and Felony Obstruction. Tiggs was booked into the Wilkinson County Detention Center. 

Clayton County, GA (March 22, 2021) – Last week, a total of four people were arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and at least two children were identified as possible prior victims of molestation during a two day coordinated effort between the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit, and the GBI’s Special Enforcement Team (SET). The GBI work units partnered to investigate numerous cybertips received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Those cybertips involved the possession and/or distribution of explicit child sexual abuse images, commonly referred to as child pornography, that resolved to Clayton County. The planning for this operation began approximately two months ago and culminated in two days of investigative actions to include search warrant executions, knock and talks, interviews, data and image analysis, digital forensic processing, and arrests. Those arrested were charged with crimes pursuant to O.C.G.A. 16-12-100, Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 2007 along with several other crimes including enticing a child for indecent purposes and charges related to illegal drug possession. Additional charges are likely and other arrests will occur after analysis of seized digital devices.

Norcross, GA (March 22, 2021) – On Friday, March 19, 2021, as a result of a lengthy murder investigation, Leslie Garcia-Juarez, 16, of Norcross, was arrested and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. The charges stem from the murder of Osiel Montano, 19, of Norcross, which occurred in December of 2019. Garcia-Juarez was arrested at the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Gainesville. Garcia-Juarez was being held at the Gainesville RYDC after being charged in December 2020 by the Gwinnett County Police Department on an unrelated murder.

Norcross, GA (March 22, 2021) – On Friday, March 19, 2021, as a result of a lengthy murder investigation, Leslie Garcia-Juarez, 16, of Norcross, was arrested and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. The charges stem from the murder of Osiel Montano, 19, of Norcross, which occurred in December of 2019. Garcia-Juarez was arrested at the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Gainesville. Garcia-Juarez was being held at the Gainesville RYDC after being charged in December 2020 by the Gwinnett County Police Department on an unrelated murder.

Centerville, GA (March 21, 2021) – On Sunday, March 21, 2021, the GBI was requested by the Houston County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an officer involved shooting investigation.  

Rome, GA (March 19, 2021) – On Wednesday, March 17, 2021, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Kimberly Lynn Davis, 43, and Barbara Nicole Rayburn, 25, both of Rome, GA. Davis was charged with Theft by Taking, Theft by Deception, Theft by Conversion, and Financial Transaction Card Fraud and Rayburn was charged with Theft by Deception. The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrests. The arrests were the result of an investigation into questionable financial transactions from funds belonging to the Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia. Davis, the former Executive Director, was terminated from employment in July 2019.

Vienna, GA (March 18, 2021) – After a three-year long death investigation, 15 people were arrested on March 2 and March 17, 2021 for numerous charges including Violation of Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Felony, Tampering With Evidence, and Criminal Damage to Property.

UPDATE:

Americus, GA (March 17, 2021) – Additional charges and arrests have been made in this case. On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, Prelvis McKenzie was charged with Participation in Criminal Gang Activity Prohibited. McKenzie was previously arrested on January 3 on murder charges and remains in the Sumter County Jail. Also arrested on Thursday, March 4, 2021, was Anitha Brantley, 54, of Americus, GA, and charged with False Statements, and on Monday, March 8, 2021, Annissa Lassiter, 48, of Americus, GA, was arrested and charged with False Statements, Robbery, and Murder. Lassiter was already in custody in the Sumter County Jail on unrelated charges.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Americus, GA (February 15, 2021) - On Friday, February 12, 2021, Prelvis McKenzie, age 31 of Americus, and Kenyatta Harvey, age 30 of Americus, were charged with murder and aggravated assault (two counts). These arrests stem from the January 3, 2021 death of Sammie White at 121A Cherokee Street in Americus, GA. Harvey was taken into custody at the Americus Police Department and subsequently transported to the Sumter County Law Enforcement Center for booking. McKenzie was already incarcerated at the Sumter County Law Enforcement Center at the time of his arrest on unrelated charges. This was a joint investigation between the GBI and Americus Police Department.

Thomasville, GA (March 16, 2021) – On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, the GBI arrested Dexter Toles and charged him with Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime.

UPDATE: The man involved in this OIS has been identified as Raymond Whitfield Tarbox, II, 43, of Valdosta, GA.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Valdosta, GA (March 12, 2021)  - On Friday, March 12, 2021, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an officer involved shooting.