TCSO Makes Cocaine Arrest with Help of New Tag Reader!

Deniro Rashad King, of LaGrange

4/27/12

A Troup County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division Supervisor conducted a traffic stop, on South Davis Road at Corporate Park East Drive, after his tag reader indicated that the vehicle being stopped had a suspended registration and no insurance coverage.

Immediately, upon approach, he noticed abnormally nervous activity portrayed by the passenger of the vehicle. Continuing on, the Patrol Supervisor confirmed that the insurance on the vehicle had been cancelled in January. After issuing the driver a citation, consent was granted for a search of the vehicle. While conducting the search, the Patrol Supervisor located a cigarette box on the passenger side of the center console. The driver confirmed that the box belonged to the passenger. Inside the box was a clear piece of plastic which appeared to contain a small amount of Cocaine. The passenger, Deniro Rashad King (of LaGrange) admitted that the substance found belonged to him. Thus, King has been charged with Possession of Cocaine.

Unofficial Total on Take Back Drugs from TCSO

4/30/12

After only two weeks in collection for the National Take Back Initiative, Troup County has answered by disposing of approximately 60 pounds of prescription medications at TCSO. Nationally, the DEA has collected around 500 tons in collection efforts prior to this month's drive. Anxious to get the overall totals from the initiative... THANK YOU, Troup County!!! Let's do it again soon.

LOOKOUT: Cody Lee Toney

LOOKOUT: Cody Toney a white male, standing around 5' 9", weighing approximately 130 lbs and having brown hair. This subject was also wearing blue shirt & jeans. Last seen at Days Inn (Whitesville Road at I-85) running into the surrounded wooded area while TCSO Deputies were attempting to apprehend. Wanted for Probation (Superior) and FTA (LaGrange Municipal) violations. Please notify 911 if seen. Do NOT try to apprehend/confront him on your own! Thank you.

TCSO invites you to the Family Expo at LaGrange Mall, this weekend

TCSO would like for you to come out and have fun with McGruff, at LaGrange Mall this weekend for the Family Expo! We will have FREE Child ID Kits, Operation ID Inventory Booklets, Troup County Road Guides, stuff for the kids and more..

TCSO Warns of "Nigerian Sweetheart Scam"

Troup County Sheriff’s Office Investigators are presently working on a case of “Nigerian Sweetheart Scam”. This type of elaborate scam is a variation of the many scams that originate in the Country of Nigeria. The U.S. Secret Service and other Law Enforcement Agencies across the Country have issued warnings on these types of scams, also known as "419" or "advance-fee" frauds.

The Nigerian scammers, commonly, post ads to online dating sites in “Sweetheart Scams” and lurk in chat rooms waiting on unsuspecting and lonely victims. Researching various news sources (articles online) reveals that they have been known to use aliases similar to "lonelyman38", “lostatlove” or "dumpedN2011." The scammer may even send flowers or candy, hoping to woo the lonely victim… The method for purchasing these items is via stolen credit cards. Once the victim is hooked, and the “love connection” has been made, the scam is in full swing!

Investigators with the Troup County Sheriff’s Office acquired a tip via email, which the LaGrange Police Department had received, from a business in San Diego, California in regards to credit card fraud. Business representatives in San Diego told TCSO Investigators that they had recently accepted approximately five or six large orders of expensive make up items to be shipped to an address in rural Troup County. After shipping the expensive items, the business had been notified by a credit card company  that the cards which had been used to place the orders were reported as compromised accounts (or “hacked”). Therefore, the business in San Diego had suffered a loss of product and profit.

After inheriting the information from this tip, TCSO Investigators began looking into the complaint. Search Warrant in hand, they drove out to the address in rural Troup County and interviewed the residents on hand. At that point, it was discovered that a female at that address had previously met her “boyfriend” online. He had been urging her to receive packages for him, to ship to other locations inside the Continental United States and abroad.

One of the residents, from the address, was further able to produce a package containing a brand new Toshiba laptop which had been received in the same manner. Investigators from the Troup County Sheriff’s Office found out that the laptop had been purchased using a stolen credit card. According to the female in rural Troup County, she was instructed by her “boyfriend” to ship the laptop to another address in the United States. In all, this victim had also been bilked out of approximately $2,400.00 of her own personal funds.

During the course of their “Sweetheart Scam” investigation, the Troup County Sheriff’s Office has worked with six different agencies who have had identical scenarios occurring with hapless lovelorn victims in their jurisdictions. Investigators state that, on each shipment made from victims scammed by thieves using stolen credit cards, “high dollar items” such as iPads, stereos and other electronic equipment have eventually been transferred to addresses ultimately ending in Africa. In light of this fact, Federal Agents have now joined the inquisition to pursue the international scammers.

Sheriff Donny Turner asks that if you feel that you have fallen victim to this type of “Sweetheart Scam”, recently, please notify the Troup County Sheriff’s Office at (706)883-1616. He also offers advice to those who may become the prey of internet scammers:

•          DO NOT click on links in an email from an unknown, or unfamiliar, source.

•          DO NOT reply to unsolicited emails sent from companies that you are not familiar with.

•          DO NOT accept instructions to hold/ship packages for someone you met online.

•          DO NOT cash checks, or wire funds, for someone whom you have just met online.

•          NEVER provide your personal banking account, or identification information, to anyone   as a  

            result of an internet notification.

For more information on how you can protect yourself from internet crime and test your own online practices, please visit the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov. You may also visit www.TroupCountySheriff.org for more great Safety information!

What is a "Skittles Party"?

Many Parents may not realize that "Skittles" could refer to something other than candy!

Teens and tweens are using a clever play on the brand names of candy to disguise a dangerous activity that has recently grown in popularity among their peers! All the more reason to safely dispose of your unused/expired prescription drugs from the family medicine cabinet! Our "Take Back" box is set up in the main lobby of the Troup County Jail through Friday, April 27th. Drop off your drugs for disposal between 8a & 5pm, Monday through Friday until then. To find out what a "Skittles Party" really is, read this blog from Practical Parenting:  http://www.practical-parent.com/home/2010/3/2/whats-a-skittles-party.html?lastPage=true&postSubmitted=true

TCSO Takes Back, Day 3

After day 2 of our participation in the National Take Back initiative, we have already filled up one box of expired and unused medications. GREAT news! 

The scary part is that there are more prescribed drugs in Troup County's family medicine cabinets that are not being used, or disposed of, properly... 

Please bring your unused/expired medicines for proper disposal, now-through-Friday (April 27th). 

Thank you to our media partners at the local newspapers, radio stations and television stations for helping to get the word out on TCSO's participation in the National Take Back Initiative!  After day 2 we already have one large box filled with meds... Plenty of time left to properly dispose of your unused/expired prescription drugs.


Drop them off between 8a and 5pm, Monday - Friday (before 4/28). Our wrap up for collection will be on Saturday (4/28) in West Point!

CRIME STOPPERS ALERT: Tin Bridge Road Hunting Club Theft

Troup County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of Theft at a hunting property on Tin Bridge Road. Upon arrival, the property owner told Deputies that an unknown person(s) had cut the cable to the property and removed several metal items, including a portable deer stand with an attached homemade bow holder.


If you have any information that could help the Troup County Sheriff’s Office Investigators resolve this crime, please notify the Troup County Crime Stoppers Hotline at (706)812-1000. Remember, you can remain anonymous!

TCSO Participates in National Take Back Initiative!

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012! The Troup County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration of the US Department of Justice), to help Troup County citizens to safely dispose of unused, or unwanted, prescription medications. If you have prescription meds that you need/want to dispose of, you can drop them off at the Troup County Sheriff’s Office at 130 Sam Walker Drive, beginning on Monday morning. We will accept your unused/expired medications for disposal, MONDAY through FRIDAY, from 8AM to 5PM – Now, through Friday, April 27th. We will cap off the Take-Back program on Saturday, April 28th, in West Point (at Givorn’s Foods).

According to the DEA, most abused prescription drugs come from family and friends’ medicine cabinets… “YOU could be a drug dealer, and not even know it!” Unused, or expired, prescription drugs could lead to an accidental poisoning, an overdose or abuse. When taken WITHOUT a prescription, or doctor’s supervision, pharmaceutical drugs are just as dangerous as any of the illegal street drugs! The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second, only to marijuana, as the most common form of drug abuse in America.

Sheriff Donny Turner urges “Let’s work together to end the cycle of prescription drug abuse! Proper disposal of your unused, or expired, prescription drugs not only protects the environment… It also saves lives! So, as you finish up your ‘Spring cleaning’, don’t forget about the medicine cabinet.”

TCSO Participates in WOAK's Spring Fling

Join your friends from the Troup County Sheriff's Office at the WOAK Spring Fling in the Oakside Baptist Church parking lot on Saturday (April 14th), from 8 am until 1 pm. There will be a large yard sale, FREE carnival attractions and inflatables for the kids, a rock wall for the brave of heart, concessions... AND, TCSO's McGRUFF "THE CRIME DOG"! We'll also have FREE child ID kits, Operation Identification Inventory booklets & much more! Don't miss out on the fun! Everyone is welcome. For more information, you can call Oakside Baptist Church at 706-882-7728.

TCSO Crime Stoppers ALERT: Cook Road Hunting Club Burglary

Troup County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of Burglary which had already occurred at a hunting club on Cook Road. Upon arrival, the property owner told Deputies that an unknown person(s) had made a forced entry into four buildings at the location.

Several items were reported as missing, including: duffle bags filled with hunting apparel and miscellaneous items, a locking tree stand, a portable saw, ratcheting tie-downs and a number of other valuables.

Investigators, now, need your help in solving this crime. Sheriff Donny Turner urges you to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline with any information that would be helpful in solving this crime - (706)812-1000. You can remain anonymous, and all personal information may be kept strictly confidential. If your tip leads to an arrest in this case, you may receive a cash reward. 

TCSO Hosts Traveling Memorial

We are hosting the traveling memorial in honor of Georgia State Trooper Chad LeCroy, who was shot to death in West Atlanta in December of 2010 during a traffic stop.

Each Law Enforcement Agency across the state of Georgia is keeping the memorial 744 minutes, in honor of LeCroy’s badge number: 744. The memorial will travel 744 days and will complete its journey around Nov. 15, 2013.

Sheriff Turner contributed momentos, and the log book detailing the journey of the memorial has been signed by the Deputies of TCSO. Our thoughts, prayers and well wishes continue to be with the family, colleagues and friends of Trooper First Class Chadwick LeCroy... beyond the 744!

Distracted Driving Awareness - 4/9/12

Enjoy a cup of coffee on the way to work? Or, text your friends to meet you for breakfast before homeroom, while on the way to school? During April, adults and young people who drive are encouraged to make the roadways a bit safer simply by limiting the distractions that could affect their driving... It's Distracted Driving Awareness Month! A recent study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that most drivers knew that the behaviors leading to distraction were dangerous - 77% thought texting increased the odds of being in an accident and 44% believed talking on a nonhands free cell phone also increased the chances of being involved in an accident - YET, continued to engage in them anyway! Although cell phones have gained the most notoriety for being a contributor in a number of traffic accidents, Sheriff Donny Turner and your friends at the Troup County Sheriff's Office urge you to take note of all the things that take your own focus away from the road. Then, place a few good driving habits into practice by limiting those distractions while driving. As always, Buckle Up and drive safely!

Justin Eugene "Jabo" Hill has been arrested!

April is off to a great start! A subject wanted for 3 counts of (Felony) Theft By Taking, Failure to Appear (Felony) and Failure to Appear (Misdemeanor) - Justin Eugene "Jabo" Hill - was arrested in Baldwin County, Alabama on April 1st.

He is, presently, being charged there for: Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance (1st Degree - Felony), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Giving False ID to a Law Enforcement Officer and Fugitive from Justice. Detainers for hold have also been placed with the Baldwin County (AL) Sheriff's Office & Jail, by the Troup County Sheriff's Office.

TCSO Narcotics Unit enforces "Chase's Law"

Within two days of the new legislation being signed into law by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, the Troup County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit hit the streets to see that "Chase's Law" gets the attention it deserves! If you know of any further synthetic marijuana being sold and distributed, please contact the Troup County Crime Stoppers Hotline at (706)812-1000. You can remain anonymous! Sheriff Turner would like to thank you, in advance, for helping to put the safety of the children in our community first!