Press Releases: 2021

Manchester, GA (October 22, 2021) – The GBI and Manchester Police Department are continuing to seek information on a deadly shooting that occurred on Sunday, July 18, 2021. At 12:43 a.m., the Manchester Police Department responded to a 911 call of a vehicle in the road. Ryan Wright, Jr., age 18, of Manchester, GA, was found shot to death in the front driver’s seat of the vehicle at the intersection of North Trigville Street and Ted Anderson Avenue in Manchester. An autopsy on Wright was conducted at the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office.

Americus, GA (October 22, 2021) – On Wednesday, October 13, 2021, the GBI Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office and Americus Police Department arrested Barbara Kathran Castleberry, age 63, of Americus, GA, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and trafficking methamphetamine.

The GBI SWRDEO, Americus Police Department, and Sumter County Sheriff’s Office received information that Castleberry was distributing methamphetamine in her place of employment, an apartment complex management office, in Americus, Georgia. The investigation culminated with a traffic stop by the Americus Police Department, resulting in the seizure of trafficking amounts of methamphetamine in Castleberry’s vehicle. Castleberry was then transported to the Sumter County Jail.  

The GBI is conducting a death investigation in Fulton County. On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) asked the GBI to investigate the death of Shavoz Levon Seals, 28, of Union City. 

Preliminary information indicates that at 3:52 p.m., GSP attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Seals. GSP was attempting to arrest Seals due to active warrants in reference to a murder investigation. Seals fled in the vehicle away from officers in the area of Abernathy Road NW and Brandon Mill Road. GSP performed a PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle in the area of Brandon Mill Road and Brandon Ridge Road.  Immediately following the PIT maneuver, Seals shot himself inside his vehicle. Seals was transported to a local area hospital where he died. A firearm was located in Seals’ vehicle. During the incident, a GSP trooper had an accidental discharge in a direction away from Seals. 

Atlanta, GA (October 20, 2021) – The GBI is investigating an officer involved shooting that happened at the Atlantic House, a high-rise apartment building at 1163 West Peachtree Street in Atlanta.  On Wednesday, October 20, 2021, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) asked the GBI to begin an investigation into the shooting incident.  The early information indicates that at 3:14 a.m., APD officers responded to a report of gunfire at the Atlantic House.  Officers determined that the source of the shots was coming from the 21st floor.  Officers approached the scene and saw a man, later identified as Jarvis Jarrette, 32, of Milledgeville, GA who was actively shooting from a balcony.  Jarrette fired a rifle at responding officers, and at least one officer returned fire.  Officers went into the apartment and found one woman dead.  Officers also found Jarrette dead on a balcony. 

Glennville, GA (October 20, 2021) – On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, Kevin Joshua Bowen, age 40, of Metter, GA, was arrested following a drug investigation initiated by Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office (SRDEO) and assisted by Glennville Police Department, Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office, and Evans County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. During this investigation, agents seized a quantity of methamphetamine, a quantity of marijuana, drug related paraphernalia, and a vehicle. Bowen was charged with Sale of Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Use of a Communication Facility in Commission of a Felony Involving Controlled Substances.

Update 10/18/2021: 

After several days under medical care, Jermaine M. Jones, Jr. has died.

ORIGINAL STATEMENT: 10/12/2021

The GBI is investigating a use of force incident in Richmond County. On October 12, 2021, at around 10:30 a.m., the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to investigate an incident that began as a traffic stop at Highland Avenue and Clifton Street in Richmond County. Officers stopped a vehicle with three men in it. One of the men, Jermaine M. Jones, Jr., age 24, of Augusta, GA, ran from police and was tased by one officer. After being tased, multiple officers detained him. There was a struggle between officers and Jones in the attempts to detain him. While on the way to the Richmond County Jail, Jones experienced symptoms requiring medical treatment. He was taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.

Decatur, GA (October 18, 2021) – A Newton County man has been arrested in a joint GBI, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, and  Newton County Sheriff’s Office online exploitation and child molestation investigation.  On October 15, 2021, Derrick Crooms, age 45, was arrested and charged with the following offenses:

Incest (2 counts)

Aggravated Sexual Battery (2 counts)

Aggravated Child Molestation (2 counts)

Child Molestation (2 counts)

Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes

In December 2020, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes (CEACC) Unit received a request for assistance from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation of numerous sex offenses against children by Crooms.  The investigation revealed that these crimes allegedly occurred in Newton County, Georgia, as well as several different locations throughout the United States.

Terrell County (October 18, 2021) - The GBI has charged Larry Eugene Calloway, age 54, of Parrott, GA with felony murder in a triple homicide investigation in Terrell County.  On Monday, October 18, 2021, the Terrell County Sheriff’s Office asked the GBI to investigate two men found shot to death at 114-B Oak Street, Bronwood, GA.  The men have been identified as John Baisden, Sr, age 54, and Joshua Brown, age 19.  Later, the Dawson Police Department asked the GBI to investigate a report of a woman shot at 456 Stonewall Street, Dawson, GA.  The woman was later identified as Ida Mae Johnson, age 57.  She died from her injuries at the scene.  Further investigation revealed the shootings were related. 

UPDATE:

Alamo, GA (October 13, 2021) – On Tuesday, October 12, 2021, Charlotte Ferguson, age 45, of Alamo, GA, was arrested and charged with Hindering the Apprehension or Punishment of a Criminal. Charlotte Ferguson is the sister of Damien Anthony Ferguson, aka Luke Ferguson.

On Wednesday, October 13, 2021, Damien Ferguson was also charged with Bias Motivated Intimidation of First Responders, related to the shooting death of Officer Dylan Harrison. Asia Kinsey, age 24, of Alamo, GA, was also arrested and charged with Terroristic Threats and Acts. Kinsey’s arrest is for a threatening social media post she made on October 9 relating to this investigation.

Charlotte Ferguson was taken to the Crisp County Jail and Asia Kinsey was taken to the Truetlen County Jail. Damien Ferguson remains in the Laurens County Jail.

This investigation is active and ongoing. Additional arrests and charges are expected. Anyone with information regarding this investigation, please contact the GBI Eastman Office at 478-374-6988. Anonymous tips can also 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.

Alamo, GA (October 10, 2021) – On Sunday, October 10, 2021, shortly before 2:30 p.m., Damien Ferguson was taken into custody during the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Alamo, GA without incident by the State of Georgia SWAT Team and U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Ferguson has been arrested and charged with Murder for the shooting death of Officer Dylan Harrison and Aggravated Stalking related to a previous domestic incident. He is currently being held at the Laurens County Jail.

On Friday night, Officer Dylan Harrison was on duty when he made contact with a man for a traffic violation in the parking lot of the Circle K located across the street from the Alamo Police Department. Officer Harrison asked the man for his name and identification and the man refused. The man got into a verbal altercation with Officer Harrison, that escalated to the man pushing the officer. Officer Harrison attempted to place the man under arrest. The man did not comply which led to the officer discharging his Taser. The man was arrested and taken to the Wheeler County Jail. He is a known associate of Damien Ferguson. It is believed that the ambush-style attack on Officer Harrison was retaliation for the incident and arrest of the man.

News conference livestream from 6:00 p.m. today: https://youtu.be/c2X054Vkgok

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Alamo, GA (October 9, 2021) – On Saturday, October 9, 2021, at 1:01 a.m., part-time Alamo Police Department Officer Dylan Harrison was shot and killed outside the Alamo Police Department.

A Blue Alert has been issued for Damien Anthony Ferguson, aka Luke Ferguson, age 43, of Alamo, GA. A Blue Alert is a public safety alert that is issued when a suspect who has killed or seriously injured an officer has not been apprehended and may be a serious threat to the public.

Monroe, GA (October 9, 2021) - On Friday, October 8, 2021, the GBI was requested by the Monroe Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting. Preliminary information reveals that at approximately 3:00 p.m., Monroe Police Department officers were executing a search warrant at 340 Towler Street, Lot 12, in Monroe, GA. Upon entry, Daniel Hernandez, 21, pointed a gun at the police officers. One officer fired his weapon, but no one was struck. Hernandez surrendered to officers. No officers were injured during the incident.