Press Releases: 2021

Sumter County, GA (November 3, 2021) – On Thursday, August 12, 2021, the GBI Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office (SWRDEO), GBI Americus Field Office, Georgia State Patrol, Americus Police Department, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Schley County Sheriff’s Office, and Ellaville Police Department executed four search warrants and concluded a two-month investigation into the distribution of cocaine in Schley and Sumter Counties. Quintavious Tyron Miller, age 26, of Ellaville, Georgia and Jason Tarvares Patterson, age 41, of Americus, Georgia were arrested. Miller was charged with five counts of distribution of cocaine. Patterson was charged with five counts of distribution of cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Lee County, GA (November 1, 2021) – A collaborative investigation with the GBI Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office (SWRDEO), Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), Georgia State Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Columbus Resident Office has led to the largest methamphetamine seizure in Lee County, Georgia.

The following people have been arrested for multiple charges:

Matthew Bridges, age 28, of Albany, GA: Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and failure to maintain lane

Terrance Battle, age 40, of Albany, GA: Conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine, conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute

Quannesha Gatling, age 26, of Albany, GA: Trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute   

Atlanta, GA (October 29, 2021) - The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting at the request of the Atlanta Police Department. 

The preliminary information indicates that on Thursday, October 28, 2021, at around 9:30 p.m., officers were near Peek Rd and Magna Carta Dr in Atlanta when they attempted a felony stop on a person driving a stolen vehicle from a previous carjacking incident. 

Glennville, GA (October 29, 2021) – On Thursday, October 28, 2021, James Anthony Hackett, Jr., age 30, of Reidsville, GA, was arrested following a drug investigation initiated by Glennville Police Department and assisted by Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office (SRDEO) and Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office. During this investigation, nine ounces of methamphetamine, five pounds of marijuana, currency, two firearms, and a vehicle were seized. Hackett was charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, and Possession of Firearm During the Commission of Felony.

Ellaville, GA (October 29, 2021) – On Tuesday, October 26, 2021, the GBI arrested Juanita Bridges, age 57, of Ellaville, for Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony.

Schley County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home at 209 Georgia Highway 240 East, after receiving reports that someone had been shot. Deputies found Bobby Bridges with a gunshot wound to the chest. Juanita Bridges, Bobby Bridges’ wife, was also in the home and gave deputies a handgun. Juanita Bridges told deputies that she had shot her husband.

Jonesboro, GA (October 27, 2021) – On Monday, October 25, 2021, Laine Mullins, age 28, was arrested by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) on four Georgia arrests warrants for the Sexual Exploitation of Children (Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material). The arrest warrants were taken by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit after an investigation of Mullins’ online activity. The GBI CEACC Unit began an investigation after receiving a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the online possession and distribution of images depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This investigation led to a search warrant at Mullins’ home in Jonesboro, Clayton County, Georgia, where it was determined that Mullins had moved to North Carolina two weeks prior.  NCSBI was requested to assist the GBI in locating and seizing electronic devices related to Mullins. NCSBI subsequently executed a search warrant on Mullins’ new address in Hope Mills, NC, where evidence in this case was seized.

Mullins is currently awaiting extradition to the State of Georgia. 

10.26.21 Update:

The man who died in this incident has been identified as Jamon Darryl McCall, age 25, of Lithonia. The injured officer remains in stable condition. 

ORIGINAL RELEASE

(Atlanta, GA) - The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting that happened on 320 Luckie Street, in Atlanta. One man has died in the incident, and one Molena Police Department reserve police officer is injured. 

The preliminary information indicates that on Monday, October 25, 2021, at 9:52 p.m., an off-duty Molena Police Department reserve police officer was working with ATL Plus, a parking enforcement company.  The officer was sitting in his patrol vehicle when he was approached by a man who shot a firearm at the officer, hitting the officer in the neck.  During the incident, the officer shot his firearm, hitting the man.  The man died at the scene.  

Folkston, GA (October 26, 2021) – The GBI and the Folkston Police Department are asking for assistance in locating Terry Roberson, age 33. Roberson is a suspect in the deadly shooting of Javarr Nelson on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at Nelson’s home in Folkston, GA. Arrest warrants have been obtained for Roberson for Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime.

Roswell, GA (October 22, 2021) - The GBI is assisting the Roswell Police Department with identifying additional sexual assault victims in an ongoing criminal investigation.  The Roswell Police Department recently arrested Robert Vandel, age 63, of Canton, on multiple charges, including rape and aggravated child molestation.  Investigators believe that there are more victims in Holly Springs, Canton, Woodstock, Valdosta, Duluth, Savannah, Midland, GA and Opelika, AL and because of the multijurisdictional implications asked the GBI to assist in the efforts of locating these victims. 

All of the victims that have been identified so far were children under the age of 15 at the time of the incidents.  Anyone with information that can help investigators is urged to contact Roswell Police Department Detective Cheryl Dickerson by email at [email protected] or call 770-640-4453.

Tifton, GA (October 22, 2021) – On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, the GBI Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office (SWRDEO) and Tift County Sheriff’s Office arrested Edgar Fernando Neri, age 21, of Tifton, GA, for trafficking methamphetamine.

The GBI SWRDEO and Tift County Sheriff’s Office received information that Neri was distributing methamphetamine in Tifton, Georgia. The investigation culminated with the search warrant at Neri’s residence at 1802 Marion Drive, Tifton, Georgia. As a result of this search warrant and other investigative efforts, 2.9 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,935 suspected counterfeit Percocet tablets, and a quantity of cocaine were seized.