One person was taken into custody on Wednesday and officers with the Banks County Sheriff’s Office confiscated approximately 2.2 lbs. of suspected methamphetamine during a drug operation conducted Wednesday afternoon.
The operation, conducted around 3 p.m., started at a restaurant in the Banks Crossing area and moved to the area between Pritchett Tire and Boots Etc.
A second person fled the scene. Officers searched the area with K-9s, but were not able to locate this person.
BCSO chief deputy Shawn Wilson said two Hispanic males delivered the drugs and while one conducted the deal the other left the scene.
“We think he possibly had a cell phone and was able to call someone and he is out of the area,” Wilson said.
Wilson said at this time officers are working to obtain the identification of the male taken into custody and to check with ICE to see if he is a legal immigrant. Officers are also working to obtain the identity of the male who fled the scene.
When asked if the drugs were coming into Banks County or intended to go out to other areas, Wilson said, “All I can say is the drug is directly tied to this area.”
[Full Story »]
I-85 high speed chase started in Banks County
A high-speed chase Tuesday afternoon that ended in Franklin County with one dead and two injured began in Banks County.
Banks County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Shawn Wilson said at approximately 1:50 p.m. BCSO officers observed a car containing three occupants, traveling north bound on Interstate 85 at Exit 149 – Banks Crossing.
“The car was paced at approximately 95 m.p.h. and continued at a high rate of speed even after entering a Department of Transportation construction zone,” Wilson said. “Officers activated their emergency lights and siren, but the driver refused to sop and actually accelerated reaching speeds in excess of 100 m.p.h.”
The driver entered Franklin County, and shortly thereafter, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol took over the pursuit until the driver crashed around Exit 175.
One passenger in the car died at the scene, the driver sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital, and a second passenger was transported to Ty Cobb Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Wilson said the identities of the driver and passengers are being withheld pending investigation and notification of family members of the person killed.
The accident shut down the north bound lanes of I-85 for several hours.
Banks County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Shawn Wilson said at approximately 1:50 p.m. BCSO officers observed a car containing three occupants, traveling north bound on Interstate 85 at Exit 149 – Banks Crossing.
“The car was paced at approximately 95 m.p.h. and continued at a high rate of speed even after entering a Department of Transportation construction zone,” Wilson said. “Officers activated their emergency lights and siren, but the driver refused to sop and actually accelerated reaching speeds in excess of 100 m.p.h.”
The driver entered Franklin County, and shortly thereafter, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol took over the pursuit until the driver crashed around Exit 175.
One passenger in the car died at the scene, the driver sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Greenville Memorial Hospital, and a second passenger was transported to Ty Cobb Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Wilson said the identities of the driver and passengers are being withheld pending investigation and notification of family members of the person killed.
The accident shut down the north bound lanes of I-85 for several hours.
Three face robbery charges in Banks County
Three people with Florida addresses were arrested on Saturday afternoon for their part in “till tapping” at Walmart, Commerce.
According to the report on file at the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, Mike Marks, 78, 8010 Colony Circle 105, Tamarac, Fla., Richard Lee Mitchell, 57, 2017 South Ocean Drive, Holandell, Fla., and Tiffany Mitchell, 18, 8010 Colony Circle 105, Tamarac, Fla., each face charges of party to a crime – robbery. Marks and R. Mitchell are also charges with obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer.
A warrant was taken for a fourth person, a 55-year-old female, in connection with the crime and a female juvenile that was with the group was placed in foster care by a Banks County Department of Family & Children Services caseworker that was called to the scene. [Full Story »]
According to the report on file at the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, Mike Marks, 78, 8010 Colony Circle 105, Tamarac, Fla., Richard Lee Mitchell, 57, 2017 South Ocean Drive, Holandell, Fla., and Tiffany Mitchell, 18, 8010 Colony Circle 105, Tamarac, Fla., each face charges of party to a crime – robbery. Marks and R. Mitchell are also charges with obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer.
A warrant was taken for a fourth person, a 55-year-old female, in connection with the crime and a female juvenile that was with the group was placed in foster care by a Banks County Department of Family & Children Services caseworker that was called to the scene. [Full Story »]
11 arrested for pandering
The Banks County Sheriff’s Office conducted a sex-for-hire operation in the Banks Crossing area and 11 people were arrested for pandering. Two of those arrested also face drug charges.
One charge is still pending further investigation, chief deputy Shawn Wilson said on Thursday morning.
Wilson said those arrested were calling females soliciting sex for money and then setting up meetings with the females at establishments in the Banks Crossing area.
Those arrested and their charges include:
•Lyles Travis Atwain, 25, 599 Peter Street, Statham, purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana and pandering.
•John Charles Brundige, 48, 98 Pine Street, Danielsville, pandering.
•Larry Avery Dalton, 68, 3518 Dover Road, Gainesville, pandering.
•Cuong Nam Dao, 42, 4520 Nohl Crest Drive, Flowery Branch, pandering.
•Tim Edward Durham, 39, 140 Summit Lane, Carnesville, pandering.
•Antone Lyles, 24, 186 Westwood Drive, Athens, pandering and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
•Gabriel Franchesco Mayberry, 39, 140 Edgefield Drive, Commerce, pandering.
•John Wesley Meadows, 36, 2967 Eleys Ford Road, Richardsville, Va., pandering.
•Thad Robert Pruitt, 44, 297 Christmas Tree Road, Homer, pandering.
•Horice Keith Segars, 46, 948 Silver Shoals Road, Lula, pandering.
•Mark Lewis Wilmot, 56, 224 Storey Porter Road, Jefferson, pandering and possession of marijuana.
One charge is still pending further investigation, chief deputy Shawn Wilson said on Thursday morning.
Wilson said those arrested were calling females soliciting sex for money and then setting up meetings with the females at establishments in the Banks Crossing area.
Those arrested and their charges include:
•Lyles Travis Atwain, 25, 599 Peter Street, Statham, purchase, possession, manufacture, distribution or sale of marijuana and pandering.
•John Charles Brundige, 48, 98 Pine Street, Danielsville, pandering.
•Larry Avery Dalton, 68, 3518 Dover Road, Gainesville, pandering.
•Cuong Nam Dao, 42, 4520 Nohl Crest Drive, Flowery Branch, pandering.
•Tim Edward Durham, 39, 140 Summit Lane, Carnesville, pandering.
•Antone Lyles, 24, 186 Westwood Drive, Athens, pandering and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
•Gabriel Franchesco Mayberry, 39, 140 Edgefield Drive, Commerce, pandering.
•John Wesley Meadows, 36, 2967 Eleys Ford Road, Richardsville, Va., pandering.
•Thad Robert Pruitt, 44, 297 Christmas Tree Road, Homer, pandering.
•Horice Keith Segars, 46, 948 Silver Shoals Road, Lula, pandering.
•Mark Lewis Wilmot, 56, 224 Storey Porter Road, Jefferson, pandering and possession of marijuana.
Sheriff’s office arrests 14 on drug charges
The Banks County Sheriff’s Office arrested 14 people on drug charges this week after executing four search warrants.
The Banks County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol and their aviation unit, along with officers from Pardons and Parole and officers from the Georgia Department of Probation, conducted an early morning operation Monday where four search warrants were executed. Four teams of officers spread out across the county to make the arrests, as a helicopter flew overhead. Officers seized drugs, guns and U.S. currency during this operation. Twelve arrests were made at that time, with three more being arrested later.
Search warrants were executed at 210 Woodland Street, Homer; 5509 Highway 51 South, Lula; 257 Highway 98, Homer; and on a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup, chief deputy Shawn Wilson reported.
Sheriff Carlton Speed said, “This is just a small step in our first days in office to demonstrate to the citizens of Banks County that we are committed to the fight against illegal drugs within Banks County.” [Full Story »]
The Banks County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol and their aviation unit, along with officers from Pardons and Parole and officers from the Georgia Department of Probation, conducted an early morning operation Monday where four search warrants were executed. Four teams of officers spread out across the county to make the arrests, as a helicopter flew overhead. Officers seized drugs, guns and U.S. currency during this operation. Twelve arrests were made at that time, with three more being arrested later.
Search warrants were executed at 210 Woodland Street, Homer; 5509 Highway 51 South, Lula; 257 Highway 98, Homer; and on a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup, chief deputy Shawn Wilson reported.
Sheriff Carlton Speed said, “This is just a small step in our first days in office to demonstrate to the citizens of Banks County that we are committed to the fight against illegal drugs within Banks County.” [Full Story »]
Bank robbery suspect charged
A 39-year-old man from Greensboro, N.C., faces robbery charges in Banks County in connection with the April 24, 2008, robbery at Northeast Georgia Bank, 30990 Highway 441 South, Commerce.
Last week, Banks County Sheriff’s Office authorities picked up Darris Antoine Workman, 4708 Meadowcroft Road, in Greensboro, N.C., where he had been arrested.
BCSO Chief Deputy Shawn Wilson said on Monday, “Workman allegedly drove the vehicle used in the armed robbery. He drove the vehicle to and from the robbery location. He aided another in committing the robbery at Northeast Georgia Bank.”
The warrant taken out on Workman after he was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Wilson added.
Workman is currently being housed in the Banks County Jail.
Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed said another man facing charges in the Banks County robbery, William Otis James Brown, also from Greensboro, N.C., is in federal prison on an armed robbery charge.
“As soon as he is released from federal prison, we have a hold on him and we will pick him up on the outstanding warrants we have for his arrest,” Speed said.
Last week, Banks County Sheriff’s Office authorities picked up Darris Antoine Workman, 4708 Meadowcroft Road, in Greensboro, N.C., where he had been arrested.
BCSO Chief Deputy Shawn Wilson said on Monday, “Workman allegedly drove the vehicle used in the armed robbery. He drove the vehicle to and from the robbery location. He aided another in committing the robbery at Northeast Georgia Bank.”
The warrant taken out on Workman after he was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Wilson added.
Workman is currently being housed in the Banks County Jail.
Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed said another man facing charges in the Banks County robbery, William Otis James Brown, also from Greensboro, N.C., is in federal prison on an armed robbery charge.
“As soon as he is released from federal prison, we have a hold on him and we will pick him up on the outstanding warrants we have for his arrest,” Speed said.
Two shootings reported in the county in just four days
Officers with the Banks County Sheriff’s Office responded to two reported shootings in the county in just four days last week.
On Thursday, Dec. 12, officers were called to Northridge Medical Center where a 26-year-old male was being treated for a reported gunshot wound to his right side.
Gregory Dane Gamble, 158 North Center Street, Winder, stated as he was walking to Tanger Outlet Center along the left side of East Ridgeway Road when he heard a car coming behind him and he heard a loud popping noise which he believed to be the vehicle “backfiring.”
Gamble described the vehicle as a white in color Cadillac occupied by three black males and one “heavier” white female who was driving. [Full Story »]
On Thursday, Dec. 12, officers were called to Northridge Medical Center where a 26-year-old male was being treated for a reported gunshot wound to his right side.
Gregory Dane Gamble, 158 North Center Street, Winder, stated as he was walking to Tanger Outlet Center along the left side of East Ridgeway Road when he heard a car coming behind him and he heard a loud popping noise which he believed to be the vehicle “backfiring.”
Gamble described the vehicle as a white in color Cadillac occupied by three black males and one “heavier” white female who was driving. [Full Story »]
Habersham County youth drowns in Banks County lake
A 15-year-old boy swimming with two other juveniles and one adult on Thursday afternoon in the Banks County Watershed Lake has reportedly drowned.
Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman reported the body of Jobe Hart, Clarkesville, was discovered, by a dive team from Jackson County, around 7:45 p.m. approximately 15 feet from the bank of the lake located just off Purvis Road in Baldwin.
The 911 call came in to Banks County E-911 at 4:33 p.m.
Chapman said a witness reported Hart and the others swam out in the lake and Hart turned around to come back and went under about 15-feet from the bank and never came back up.
Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman reported the body of Jobe Hart, Clarkesville, was discovered, by a dive team from Jackson County, around 7:45 p.m. approximately 15 feet from the bank of the lake located just off Purvis Road in Baldwin.
The 911 call came in to Banks County E-911 at 4:33 p.m.
Chapman said a witness reported Hart and the others swam out in the lake and Hart turned around to come back and went under about 15-feet from the bank and never came back up.
Armed robbery suspect caught
An armed robber held up the clerk at the Express Mart Valero Convenience Store at Banks Crossing Sunday night.
Sheriff Charles Chapman said a call came in to the Banks County E-911 dispatch at 10:05 p.m. of an armed robbery at the Express Mart Valero Convenience Store, 30581 Highway 441 South.
“The clerk on duty stated that a black male wearing a ski mask, a dark colored or black shirt, and blue jeans entered the store, came behind the counter and robbed her at gun point,” Chapman said.
A search was made of the area for the person whom the clerk stated left the store on foot, Chapman added.
“The clerk at the Best Western told officers that a white SUV had pulled into the parking lot at the motel, but no one came in and, in about 10 minutes, the vehicle left,” Chapman said.
Believing this could be the vehicle used by the robber, a lookout was given out on the vehicle with a description of the robber.
“Several minutes later a Braselton police officer stopped a vehicle on Interstate 85 fitting the description of the vehicle and the person,” Chapman said.
A Banks County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the 126-mile marker on I-85 and met with Braselton police officers and took Jumarkes Lee Miller, 30, 2843 McDuffie Street, Anderson, S.C., into custody.
“Items in the vehicle were recovered, along with the ski mask, that Miller wore during the armed robbery,” Chapman said.
Miller was transported to the Banks County Jail where he is being held on charges of armed robbery.
“Our thanks go out to the surrounding agencies who assisted with this and brought about the quick apprehension of this person,” Chapman added.
Sheriff Charles Chapman said a call came in to the Banks County E-911 dispatch at 10:05 p.m. of an armed robbery at the Express Mart Valero Convenience Store, 30581 Highway 441 South.
“The clerk on duty stated that a black male wearing a ski mask, a dark colored or black shirt, and blue jeans entered the store, came behind the counter and robbed her at gun point,” Chapman said.
A search was made of the area for the person whom the clerk stated left the store on foot, Chapman added.
“The clerk at the Best Western told officers that a white SUV had pulled into the parking lot at the motel, but no one came in and, in about 10 minutes, the vehicle left,” Chapman said.
Believing this could be the vehicle used by the robber, a lookout was given out on the vehicle with a description of the robber.
“Several minutes later a Braselton police officer stopped a vehicle on Interstate 85 fitting the description of the vehicle and the person,” Chapman said.
A Banks County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the 126-mile marker on I-85 and met with Braselton police officers and took Jumarkes Lee Miller, 30, 2843 McDuffie Street, Anderson, S.C., into custody.
“Items in the vehicle were recovered, along with the ski mask, that Miller wore during the armed robbery,” Chapman said.
Miller was transported to the Banks County Jail where he is being held on charges of armed robbery.
“Our thanks go out to the surrounding agencies who assisted with this and brought about the quick apprehension of this person,” Chapman added.
After almost two years, still no news on missing Banks woman
Banks County Sheriff Charles Chapman said on Monday there is no news on Brenda Mashburn, who has been missing for almost two years.
“It has been one year and eight months since the family has heard from her,” Chapman said.
Chapman said in the past few weeks Mashburn’s family has met with authorities at the Banks County Sheriff’s Office to talk with them about the case.
Chapman said, according to Mashburn’s mother, she never would go over a month or two without contacting her and she has not talked with her since Aug. 25, 2010.
“Mashburn was last seen by family members on Aug. 25, 2010, in Habersham County,” Chapman said. [Full Story »]
“It has been one year and eight months since the family has heard from her,” Chapman said.
Chapman said in the past few weeks Mashburn’s family has met with authorities at the Banks County Sheriff’s Office to talk with them about the case.
Chapman said, according to Mashburn’s mother, she never would go over a month or two without contacting her and she has not talked with her since Aug. 25, 2010.
“Mashburn was last seen by family members on Aug. 25, 2010, in Habersham County,” Chapman said. [Full Story »]
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