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To Report Trash and/or Request Pick Up
Call Gary Sutherland at 678-848-0768 to report trash on a roadway and/or request trash pick up.
Recent Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
At about 2:40pm today (August 23) a deputy sheriff was on I-75 South Bound at the Exit 317 entrance ramp when a Mercedes automobile passed his patrol car, nearly striking it. The deputy followed the car, which was driving erratically, making rapid lane changes, to Exit 312 (Fairmount Highway). When the deputy attempted to stop the Mercedes, the driver aggressively sped away at a high rate of speed, initiating a pursuit. The deputy, soon joined by other deputies, pursued the Mercedes east on Fairmount Highway to the intersection with the State Route 53 Bypass near Blackwood. The violator turned onto the Bypass and continued fleeing back toward Calhoun, with deputies giving chase. The violator drove at speeds well in excess of 100 miles per hour, recklessly outpacing the deputies, until he reached the intersection of the Bypass and State Route 53/Rome Road
At this intersection the violator recklessly, irresponsibly, and in total disregard for the safety of any other person, made the decision to cross the roadway and drive the wrong way into oncoming (westbound) traffic. The deputies did not pursue the violator into the oncoming traffic. Within a few seconds, the violator struck a Honda CRV head on. One occupant was killed and two others severely injured. The deputies immediately began attempting to remove the injured from the cars, both of which were burning, and administering first aid.
Fire/Rescue and Emergency Medical Service personnel arrived swiftly to extricate and treat the injured. Three persons were airlifted away by heliborne ambulance. The violator, himself severely hurt, has not been positively identified.
The Georgia State Patrol is conducting the investigation of the crash, in conjunction with the County Coroner.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Monday, August 18, 2025-
Sheriff’s Jailers Save Choking Inmate With ‘Heimlich Maneuver’
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
On Sunday evening, August 10, Jailers on duty in the jail booking office observed an inmate in a holding cell choking on a piece of food and unable to breathe. The two jailers, Deputy O.L. Towe and Jailer A.R. Kinsey, immediately rushed to the inmate’s aid and administered the life saving “Heimlich Maneuver”, successfully dislodging the food fragment, and restoring his ability to breathe.
Sheriff Ralston said, “I am extremely proud of these two employees for their calmness in an emergency situation , their attention to their duties, and their swift action which saved a man from serious bodily harm or death.”
"All employees of the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office undergo annual certification in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver."
“Yesterday was a very difficult day for Georgia law enforcement. Four officers were shot in three incidents across the state. The thoughts and prayers of myself and my staff are with the loved ones of the three wounded officers, and most especially with the loved ones of Dekalb County Officer David Rose who gave the last, full measure for those he served, laying down his life at Emory University yesterday. Please remember those who put on badges, guns, and body armor every day and night to keep our communities safe. God Bless and Keep Them.”
Sheriff Mitch Ralston
The Sheriff’s Office was on hand all across Gordon County’s schools for the first day back in session today. We’re very glad to partner with the Board of Education and every individual school to provide safety and security for the students, staff, and public. Sheriff Ralston expressed his gratitude to all of the kids, staff members and especially the parents for making the return this morning a success. Our SROs and other personnel are happy and excited about the upcoming year, and wish each and every student all the best!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Fugitives, Meth Trafficking and Weapons Charges
Wednesday, August 6, 2025…
On Tuesday, July 29, deputy sheriffs on patrol stopped a suspicious automobile near the intersection of State Route 53/Outlet Center Drive. 2 of the occupants, Brandon Lee Blackburn, 27, of 225 Woodland Drive and his brother Ryan Michael Blackburn, 33, of the same address, were both wanted on outstanding felony warrants and were taken into custody without incident. A large amount of methamphetamine was found in the vehicle. The driver, Mario Santana, 42, of Rodeway Inn Room 122 in Calhoun, was arrested as well. A subsequent search of Santana’s motel room yielded even more methamphetamine and an illegally held firearm. All 3 men were charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine, and Santana with Firearms violations. They are being held in the county jail.
GCSO K9 Unit Visits Morning Pointe
Wednesday , August 6, 2025
The Sheriff’s K9 Unit was on hand Tuesday morning (August 5) at Morning Pointe where deputies and their canine ‘partners’ “Maggie” and “Ole Jasper” had a great time visiting with the staff and residents. The dogs’ handlers are SFC Lindsey Azar (“Maggie”, a bloodhound) and CPL Dale Pullen (“Ole Jasper”, a German Shorthaired Pointer).
Sheriff Announces Deputy Receives Instructor Training
Monday, July 21, 2025,
On Friday, July 18, Sheriff’s Sergeant Bobby Garcia successfully completed the Driver Instructor Training Program (DITP) course at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC). This training course certified Sergeant Garcia to instruct other peace officers in basic and emergency driving skills. The intensive 2 week course itself is exclusive, and has a limited success rate among candidates. Sergeant Garcia, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2012 and holds a number of other instructor certifications, is the first Gordon County officer to successfully graduate from this training course. He is shown here with his classmates, front row, second from right.
Veteran Deputy Honored With ‘Quilt of Valor’
Friday, July 18, 2025…
Detective Dylan Payne was honored today by “Quilts of Valor”, a veterans support organization that recognizes veterans who’ve served in all branches of the armed forces. Detective Payne, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, was presented with a hand sewn quilt in recognition of his military service. Detective Payne has been employed by GCSO since 2020, and currently specializes in the investigation of crimes against children .
Photo: (left to right, Det. Garrett Saylors, K9 Maggie (seated), Det. Corey Childers, SFC Lindsey Azar, Det. Dylan Payne (honoree), Lieutenant Steven Yancey, Det. Cody Jones, Captain Dayln Pulliam, and Ms. Sonya Ririe of ‘Quilts of Valor’.
SHERIFF WARNS OF TEXT DOCUMENT SCAM:
Monday, July 14, 2025…
GCSO has received a report of an elaborate text scam wherein the victim received a text message purporting to be an official legal document. The document threatens the recipient with arrest for “contempt of court” and “ failure to appear “, referencing COVID19 and the CARES Act. It also contains a mishmash of legalistic language from different levels of courts, fake case numbers, stamps, and a hybrid flag. It even had a GCSO logo (available from the internet) attached.
If anyone else receives such a text document, do not contact the sender.
If the Sheriff’s Office has any type of court document whatsoever, it will ALWAYS be delivered by hand, by a uniformed deputy in a clearly marked patrol car.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Sheriff Warns of Telephone Scammers Posing as Deputies:
GCSO has responded to a number of reports of our local citizens receiving telephone calls from persons purporting to be deputy sheriffs and demanding payment of fictitious “fines” and/or jury duty. The scammers threaten the victims with “bench warrants “ and/or jail.
This is a total fraud, designed to lure the unsuspecting citizen into sending money to a fictitious destination, usually via the internet.
We have reason to believe these calls originate overseas.
The Sheriff’s Office NEVER collects fines. If we have court related business with anyone the matter is always handled in person by a deputy in uniform and in a clearly marked patrol car.
If you receive ANY type of suspicious call, NEVER give out any kind of personal or financial information,
JUST HANG UP.
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