Homeless Man Charged With Assault, Battery
News June 7, 2017
Michael Anthony Jones
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Michael Anthony Jones, 34, of Portland, Maine, has been charged with aggravated assault by strangulation and simple battery, following an altercation at 376 Brianwood Drive in Cleveland last week.
According to the police report, Stephen Campbell told White County deputies he and Jones were involved in a verbal argument and that Jones began to strike him in the face and grabbed him around the throat. He said they fell to the floor and Jones continued to strike him in the face. He said his wife, Sherry, got a handgun and fired a shot into the floor in an effort to get him off her husband.
Jones told police that he was homeless and that the couple had allowed him to stay at their home for the past week. When the two men began fighting in the kitchen, Jones said Sherry struck him in the head with a stick and Stephen Campbell then pulled a knife on him. Campbell’s wife said she did not strike Jones and only fired the gun to try and get him off her husband.
Deputies observed a laceration on his Jones’ head and he was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. Campbell did not require transport.
When the hospital notified White County authorities that Jones was ready for discharge, he was handcuffed and transported to White County Detention Center.
Deputies reported that while Jones was being taken to the detention center he threatened to kill Campbell when he was released. The threat was audio and video recorded.
Helen Man Dies in Cleveland Traffic Accident
News April 21, 2017
CLEVELAND — James Henry Schmitt, 73, of Helen, died as a result of injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle accident in the pre-dawn hours Thursday.
According to a White County Sheriff’s Office report, the accident happened when Schmitt’s 1995 Nissan pickup truck ran off Asbestos Road near Dukes Creek Baptist Church, struck a tree and turned onto its side.
Schmitt was transported by White County EMS to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Cleveland Man Charged With Assault, Battery
News August 23, 2017
Dustin Elliott
CLEVELAND, Ga. – The White County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dustin Elliott, 30, of Purple Star Lane last week after his wife reported he beat her with his fists and hit her in the head with a piece of 2×4 wood board in front of their two children.
Courtney Elliott, 30, filed the complaint with Deputy Daniel Amoling at the Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 14, after being treated for her injuries at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, one day after the alleged incident took place.
Amoling said he observed bruising on Courtney Elliott’s face, cuts on her legs and other bruises and scratches.
According to the incident report, Courtney told the deputy she and her husband had been arguing and he pushed her down and began punching her in the face with his fists and struck her in the back of the head with the piece of wood.
She also stated that during the incident her two children, ages 6 and 8, had been awakened and witnessed the beating.
Warrants were obtained for Dustin Elliott and he was arrested Aug. 17 can charged with aggravated assault, battery and two counts of cruelty to children.
He was detained in White County Detention Center where his bond was set at $8,000.
Two Injured in Early Morning Crash in Helen
News June 5, 2017
HELEN, Ga. – Two people suffered what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries in the pre-dawn hours Sunday morning.
According to a report from Georgia State Patrol Post 6 in Gainesville, David Dority, 34, of Peachtree Corners was traveling southbound in a 2007 Chevy Cobalt when he failed to negotiate a curve. The car traveled off the west shoulder of the road, began to rotate counter clockwise and reentered the roadway. It then crossed the center line into the northbound lane of Ga. 75.
In an effort to avoid a collision, Sadie Johnson, 38, of Helen, who was driving northbound in a 1996 Chevy Lumina, traveled off the east shoulder of the roadway. The front driver’s side of her vehicle struck the front passenger’s side of Dority’s vehicle. The force generated by the collision caused the rear passenger’s side of Dority’s vehicle to strike the driver’s side of the Johnson vehicle.
Dority has been charged with DUI, failure to use a seat belt, failure to maintain lane and driving on the wrong side of a roadway. He was injured and transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. Johnson, 38 also was injured and transported to NEGMC.
White County Sheriff’s Office Releases Sketch of Robbery, Shooting Suspect
News March 2, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. — White County Sheriff’s Office has released a sketch of the suspect in Monday’s robbery and shooting at Woodlawn Gardens and Farm.
Sheriff Neal Walden said a white male believed to be about 40-50 years old, approximately 5’8″ tall, weighing 150 pounds with a tattoo on the left side of his face attempted to rob Tim Motes who was cleaning the restaurant at the time. When Motes said he didn’t have any money, the suspect shot him in the stomach.
Motes was transported by White County EMS to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where his injury is believed to be non life-threatening.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call White County Sheriff’s Office at 706-865-5177.
Search Continues for Suspect Who Robbed Woodlawn Gardens and Farms and Shot Worker
News February 28, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The search continued Tuesday afternoon for a lone gunman who shot a worker at Woodlawn Gardens and Farms during an attempted robbery around 10:30 p.m. Monday.
White County Chief Deputy Bob Ingram said authorities from the White County Sheriff’s Office, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol and Alto K-9 unit combed the area last night and throughout the day today but have not located the suspect.
Sheriff Neal Walden reported that a white male with a tattoo on the left side of his face walked up to the drive-in window at the restaurant and demanded money from Tim Motes, who was cleaning the restaurant at the time. When Motes said he didn’t have any money, he was shot in the stomach.
Motes was transported by White County EMS to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where his injury is believed to be non life-threatening.
Fetch Your News will continue to follow this story and present more details as they become available.
Two Injured in Separate Wrecks Thursday
News July 7, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Two people were transported to the hospital within about four hours of each other Thursday, following two separate automobile accidents in White County.
John Seabolt, 71, of Demorest was traveling north in the 9000 block of Duncan Bridge Road at about 1:18 p.m and, while attempting to turn right, his 1990 Ford F150 truck was struck in the rear by a 2007 Honda Ridgeline driven by Jerry Wood, 70, of Sautee Nacoochee.
Seabolt suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where he was treated and released.
At 5:41 p.m., Jamie Rene Loewy, 18, of Franklin, N.C., was injured in a single-vehicle accident when her 1995 Toyota Tacoma overturned on Hwy. 255 South.
Loewy told a White County deputy that she was distracted, her passenger side tire went off the road and she lost control of her vehicle. The car hit a roadside ditch and flipped onto its roof. Lowey was trapped inside but was conscious and alert when White County Fire Department rescue unit freed her.
She was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where she was treated for non-life threatening injuries and has been released.
White, Lumpkin County Authorities Search for Robbery Suspect Who Shot a Man Monday
News February 28, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. — White County Sheriff’s Office, Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol and a K-9 unit from Alto are searching this morning for a suspect who robbed Woodlawn Gardens and Farms at 3778 Hwy. 254 in White County at about 10:30 p.m. Monday and shot an unidentified male.
White County Sheriff Neal Walden said the suspect is a white male with a tattoo on the left side of his face who was wearing a hoodie at the time of the robbery.
Walden said the victim was transported by White County EMS to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville with what appears to be non-life threatening injuries.
Fetch Your News will have more details as they become available.
Helen Police Arrest Man in Stabbing Incident
News January 16, 2017
HELEN, Ga. — Charles Casey Roper, 25, has been charged with aggravated assault and burglary after he allegedly entered a relative’s apartment on Brucken Strasse late Saturday evening.
According to Helen Police Chief Brian Stephens, an argument ensued and 47-year-old Scott Cecil Ramey was stabbed. Ramey was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where he was treated for what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
Roper, who has a criminal record, fled the scene following the stabbing. Helen Police found him nd hiding in a nearby utility room and arrested him at about 10:45 p.m. He was taken to the White County Detention Center where no bond has been set.
The incident is still under investigation.
Child Struck by Pickup Truck in Ingles Parking Lot
News January 17, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. — A three-year-old child was seriously injured today when he was struck by a pickup truck in the parking lot of Cleveland Ingles store.
Cleveland Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt said the child’s mother was placing groceries in the back of her car when the pickup truck backed out of the opposite parking space and pinned the child between the truck and his mother’s car.
Paramedics arrived and performed CPR and a helicopter was called to airlift the child but due to his condition, he was transported instead by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating. Fetch Your News will have more details when they become available.
Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle on Appalachian Hwy.
News December 30, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The Cleveland Police Department reports that an unidentified female was struck by a vehicle shortly before noon Wednesday at the intersection of Appalachian Trail Drive and Highway 75.
The 56-year old white female was walking on the sidewalk from Ingle’s north and was attempting to cross Appalachian Trail Drive when a male driver pulled into the intersection and struck her. The woman suffered undisclosed injuries and was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville by White County EMS
Cleveland Police Officer Pete Dorsey said the driver, who was not identified, will face charges in connection with the accident.
Child Struck by Pickup Truck at Ingles Dies of His Injuries
News January 17, 2017CLEVELAND, Ga — Three-year-old Easton Cain of Cleveland was killed Monday when he was struck by a pickup truck in the parking lot of the Ingles grocery at 12:49 p.m.
Cleveland Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt said the child’s mother was placing groceries in the back of her car, a 2012 Ford Explorer when a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche drove forward from the opposite parking space and pinned the child between the truck and his mother’s car.
Paramedics arrived and performed CPR and a helicopter was called to airlift the child but due to his injuries, he was transported instead by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville where he was pronounced dead.
The Avalanche was driven by James Holcomb, 36, of Cleveland. Georgia State Patrol was asked to investigate the accident. Holcomb has been charged with D.U.I., reckless driving, no insurance and first degree vehicular homicide.
Oktoberfest Marred by Hit and Run Accident
News October 19, 2016
HELEN, Ga. – Helen’s annual Oktoberfest celebration took an ugly turn over the weekend when a pickup truck swerved onto the sidewalk between Huddle House and the Super 8 Motel and barreled into a large group of people, injuring two women then left the scene.
Elsa M. Rodriguez Olsen, 64 of Illinois and Leticia Rodriguez Salazar, 60 of Marietta, Ga.
were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville with undisclosed injuries.
The driver of the Ford F-250 that struck the women has been identified as Nicholas Allen Ivester, 34 of Cleveland, Ga.
He was arrested by White County deputies and taken to the White County Jail where he is charged with D.U.I., Failure to maintain lane, reckless driving and hit and run. The case remains under investigation.
Mayor Shan Ash Injured in Ultralight Plane Crash
News September 13, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — The White County Sheriff’s Office confirmed today that Cleveland Mayor Shan Ash was a passenger in the Ultralight plane that crashed into the woods off Hwy. 115 in Cleveland Friday evening.
The crash took place about 7 p.m. on property owned by Ash, but White County Deputy Chuck Williamson was not called to the scene until 11:52 a.m. on Saturday.
Williamson made contact with the mayor by phone and asked if he was hurt. Ash said his back was hurt and he had gone to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville for treatment.
The plane owner and pilot was 75-year-old Henry Vanginkle of Cleveland. Williamson contacted Vanginkle who said he was not sure what happened but he was flying above the crash site when the plane started to go down. He indicated that he couldn’t remember anything after the plane hit the ground.
Williamson said while he was at the crash site, Shan Ash’s son arrived and told him that EMS had come to the scene and saw the plane crash but that his father did not want to be transported to the hospital.
Crime scene tape was put up around the scene and Deputy Casey Davis located what appeared to be two fresh cans of Coors Light next to the crash site.
Williamson took pictures of the scene and attached them to the report to the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA). The agency dispatched investigator David Detscher to the scene.
Men Injured When Their Pickuptruck Rolls Over Them
News August 17, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. – A unidentified man and his neighbor were doing some yard work at home Tuesday when the pickup truck they were using rolled over them on Thunder Ridge just east of Cleveland after the owner apparently failed to put the truck in Park.
Cleveland Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt did not release the victims’ names, but did say they were transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by ambulance with what he described as non-life threatening injuries.
Pruitt said the accident happened about 7:20 p.m. at 206 Pointe Willow Drive.
Bicyclist Struck by Vehicle Faces DUI Charge
News August 8, 2016
CLEVELAND — The bicyclist who was struck by a vehicle on South Main Street in Cleveland over the weekend has been charged with DUI and driving on the wrong side of the highway.
Sean Speagle, 35 of Cleveland, suffered non-life threatening injuries Saturday when he was struck by a vehicle while traveling north in the south-bound lane on Ga. Hwy. 11.
According to the report filed by Lt. Wesley Addis of the Cleveland Police Department, Speagle swerved the bicycle right then back to the left and collided with a Jeep vehicle as it exited the driveway of South State Bank.
Speagle was taken by White County ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
The driver of the Jeep, who was not identified, does not face any charges.