The complainant, a resident of Spruce Street, told BPS that he was sitting on his front porch smoking a cigar and drinking a cup of coffee. According to the resident, a man wearing a mask and carrying a large knife approached and demanded that he hand over his wallet.
The citizen said he told the masked robber that he had to go inside the house to get the wallet.
The homeowner returned, not with his wallet in hand, but instead wielding a pistol, which sent the robber off running.
Officer Gary Hines attempted to locate a suspect but was unsuccessful.
Georgia is one of several states that does not require people who are attacked or threatened to retreat before using deadly force to protect themselves, other persons or a property, according to Sgt. Ryan Wimberly of BPS. In fact, Georgia law gives legal immunity to people who "stand their ground" in self-defense but does require that a person can only use deadly force if they believe a human life is in danger or to prevent a forcible felony, Sgt. Wimberly said. Forcible felonies, which involve the use or threat of physical force or violence, include crimes ranging from rape to armed robbery.
GSP responds to variety of incidents
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| LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARREST Randall Gary Folsom, 45, of Whigham, as part of a large-scale safety checkpoint conducted on U.S. 84 West on Friday night. Folsom was charged with possession of a misdemeanor amount of marijuana. |
While primarily known for patrolling Georgia's highways, state troopers handle a variety of criminal incidents and emergency situations.
A recent arrest made by State Trooper 1st Class Walt Landrum underscored why law enforcement officers are such sticklers for safety.
Landrum was participating in a safety road check conducted at the intersection of Georgia 262 and Old Whigham Road on the evening of July 3. One of the motorists who approached the checkpoint was 25-year-old Tabatha Denise Brown of Whigham, Ga. Landrum said he was immediately concerned upon smelling what he believed to be a pungent marijuana odor coming from inside Brown's car. He also observed an infant child improperly restrained in the car's back seat.
After finding a small amount of marijuana in her car, Landrum arrested Brown and charged her with driving under the influence, child endangerment by DUI, violation of Georgia's child seat safety law and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
This past Saturday night, Landrum said he and other law enforcement officers were kept busy controlling a hazardous situation when approximately 70 cows got loose and began walking across U.S. 84 near the border between Seminole and Early counties. Troopers and Seminole County Sheriff's deputies responded to three separate wrecks resulting from the livestock in the four-lane roadway. One of the drivers involved in the wrecks was seriously injured and had to be transported to a Dothan, Ala., hospital, Landrum said.
Arrests & Citations
The following arrests and citations, occurring between July 11-14, have been reported by Bainbridge Public Safety and the Decatur County Jail:• Tony Devoil Butler, 53, 128 Black Jack Road, Bainbridge, theft by taking, SO;
• James Dewayne Frazier Jr., 28, 116 St. Paul Church Road, Bainbridge, parole violation-original charge sale of cocaine, SO;
• Christopher John Jensen, 22, 115 Bethel Lane, Bainbridge, battery, SO;
• William James Johnson, 37, 2124 Central Drive, Bainbridge, harassing phone calls, SO;
• Quinton Dwayne Lanier, 23, 108 Rich Lane, Bainbridge, battery, SO;
• Vick Lamar Strong, 34, Cairo, Ga., driving while license suspended or revoked, SO;
• Bruce William Washington, 51, 508 E. Columbia St., Bainbridge, Ga., theft by taking, SO;
• Avery Cornelius Bishop, 32, Birmingham, Ala., driving while license suspended or revoked, SO;
• Otis James Brown, 40, Tallahassee, Fla., driving while license suspended or revoked, SO;
• Eddie James Choice, 51, 547 Eddie Avery Road, Bainbridge, DUI, driving while license suspended or revoked, GSP;
• Sarah Elizabeth Graves, 21, Donalsonville, Ga., disorderly conduct, BPS;
• Harrison Buck Lane, 19, 919 West St., Bainbridge, deposit account fraud, SO;
• Edwin Dale Lewis, 56, 109 Asphalt Plant Road, Bainbridge, probation violation-original charge DUI, BPS;
• Ashley Lakara Moton, 19, 436 Priest Road, Bainbridge, no insurance, driving while license suspended or revoked, improper turn, GSP;
• Raymond Jobe Nelson, 46, 229 Lake Douglas Road Extension, Bainbridge, driving while license suspended or revoked, GSP;
• Enemias Pere Perez, 27, 2550 E. Shotwell St., Bainbridge, tail lights required, seat belt violation, driving while tag is suspended, driving while license suspended or revoked, BPS;
• Kaleigh Adair Todd, 35, Palatka, Fla., sale of cocaine, SO;
• Nathan Eugene Burke, 31, 1109 N. Meridian Drive, Bainbridge, no insurance, BPS;
• Shannon Barber, 22, 905 Anderson St., Bainbridge, driving without valid license, BPS;
• Derick Bernard Smith, 21, driving without license, seat belt violation, child restraint law, window tint violation, BPS.
• Luke Colby Barnard, 19, 264 River Chase Drive, Bainbridge, influencing witnesses, terroristic threats and acts, possession of marijuana, possession of drug related objects, SO.
Clarification
Robert Shannon Spooner, who was reported as being arrested in last Saturday's issue, is the brother of James "Bubba" Spooner, Jr., who is presently employed as a Decatur County Sheriff's deputy. James Spooner Sr., the two men's father, is police chief in Attapulgus. Neither the elder or junior James Spooner were involved with BPS' investigation of Shannon Spooner.Taylor Seay can be reached by e-mail at tsnews@e-postprint.com, or by telephone at (229) 246-2827, Ext. 113.
