The Walker County Sheriff’s Office will be participating in the D.E.A. National Take Back Initiative, Saturday April 28, 2012, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. 

The drop off for this year’s “take back” is Lafayette Elk’s Lodge, 3158 North Highway 27, Lafayette, Georgia. 

A Walker County deputy will be present to take possession of prescription medication that consumers wish to have destroyed. 

According to Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, this is a great opportunity for citizens to safely dispose of drugs if they missed the previous “take back” events, or if they have since accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs.

For additional information, go to DEA.gov.

PRESS RELEASE

April 2, 2012

Three Men Arrested in Connection with an Indoor

Marijuana Grow Operation

The Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force served a search warrant at 241 Longview Drive, Rossville, Georgia, around noon on Monday and found an indoor marijuana growing operation, according to Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson.

Sheriff Wilson described the operation as “elaborate and sophisticated” with thousands of dollars worth of fans, timers and lighting.  Approximately one-quarter of a million dollars in marijuana was seized.  The marijuana was found in various stages of growth from seedling to processed marijuana ready for sale.

Arrested were three men of Cuban decent:

1.      Benjamin Valdes   Date of Birth 08/11/1981

2.     Juan Carlos Valladares   Date of Birth 04/25/1981

3.     Felix Valdes Jr.   Date of Birth 01/02/1980

All three men will appear before a Magistrate Judge on Tuesday April 3^rd, at 3:00 PM in Walker County.

On Friday March 23^rd 2012 Billy Shawn Carter completed the 408 hours basic law enforcement course at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Dalton Georgia.  Deputy Carter began his career with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office in April of 2009 in the Detention Division, where he worked and obtained the rank of Corporal. 

Congratulating Deputy Carter on his accomplishment is Sheriff Steve Wilson.

On Thursday March 15^th 2012 Graduation Ceremonies were held at Naomi Elementary School for the Walker County Sheriff’s Office C.H.A.M.P.S. program.

The Choosing Healthy Activities & Promoting Safety (C.H.A.M.P.S.) program is a twenty (20) week program to help our youth resist pressures which may influence them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants, and other drugs. They also learn about ways to avoid bullying, peer pressure, violent behavior, and making good choices. Several safety topics such as hunting, ATV operations, and boating safety are also included in the program. This program was started by the Georgia Sheriff’s Association and is taught to fifth (5^th) grade students by a Deputy Sheriff.

According to Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson, “ We are privileged to teach a life development program like C.H.A.M.P.S. knowing that a Deputy Sheriff is responsible for instilling positive life skills in a 5^th grader is a rewarding experience.”

In Walker County the students are instructed by Sgt. Terry Hambrick, Deputy LeBron Durham, and Deputy Brad Battles.

Several local dignitaries, parents and teachers of the students were on hand to help recognize the students. Several of the students received special recognition for achievements they have made during the course; they include Essay Winners, 1^st place Pierce Ballard, Austin Foster, and Sydney Marshall, 2^nd place winners Rylie Chamlee, Joseph Longwith, and Kaytlin Mitchell. 3^rd place winners in the essay were Kimberly Evans, Hailee Kerns, and Kaylee Tomlin. Poster winners are 1^st place Caleb Breneman, Talley Brown, and Christopher Croft, 2^nd place winners are Summer Knight, Elizabeth Nichols, and Jared White, 3^rd place winners in posters are Rileigh Muncy, Kimberly Richardson, and Bailey Tarvin.  

Congratulations go to Pierce Ballard as he was chosen the 2012 C.H.A.M.P.S. Student of the Year for Naomi Elementary School. 

On Friday March 9^th 2012 the Walker County Sheriff’s Office dedicated the former Linwood City Hall and Fire Department as the Sheriff Ralph H. Jones Training Center.

The building that had one time served as City and Fire Hall first to Linwood, then to Walker Counties Emergency Services, had been re-purposed to the Sheriff’s Office for a much needed training center.

The Idea to Honor Sheriff Jones was one that Sheriff Wilson had some twelve years ago when the jail annex was being built. But was put on hold until recently when the building was vacated with the completion of the Mineral Springs Road Fire Hall.  That’s when Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell, who liked Sheriff Wilson idea made the building available.

Sheriff Wilson told the crowd on hand that inmate labor was used to refurbish the building brining a drab building into a clean functional facility, which has been equipped with up to date technology to train our public safety employees.

Sheriff Gary McConnell (ret) and Det. Sgt. Mike Hinch both told stories of the long time Sheriff. Sheriff Jones served as Walker County Sheriff from 1965 to 1984.

Sgt. Pat Cook, training officer for the department told those in attendance that not only would the Training Center be used to train public safety employees, but also the community in programs like the upcoming Sheriff’s Citizen Academy slated to begin April 2^nd, but also with other programs that are coming that will include instruction in AED/CPR and firearms safety.

Those in attendance in attendance included members of Sheriff Jones Family, Former Deputies of the department, and public officials. 

Congratulating Morris is Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson (left) and Morris.

RAIDS Online maps and analyzes crime data, alerts Walker County citizens about crimes in their area, and allows the Walker County Sheriff’s Department to quickly alert the public about crimes as they occur. Citizens can easily move between the map, data grid and analytics to learn about the crime that concerns them the most.

BAIR offers RAIDS Online as a free service to any law enforcement agency who wishes to participate. At present, most agencies spend thousands of dollars annually to provide even the most basic crime map to their community. The Walker County Sheriff’s Department is providing this service to the public at absolutely no cost to the department. “We wanted to do something to help law enforcement in these tough economic times. We consider this a basic service that we are more than happy to provide to the public and our law enforcement friends,” says company founder, Sean Bair, a former police officer and crime analyst.

“Our first goal for RAIDS Online is to offer an economical way for law enforcement agencies to share information with the public they serve,” says Bair. “Our second goal is to provide citizens a way to get information about crime in their community so that they can be better informed. Having an awareness of the true nature and volume of crime in one’s community is the first step to its prevention and suppression. Both goals foster Community Policing, which is something we strongly believe in.”

How it works

RAIDS Online syncs with Walker County Sheriff’s Department’s records system to automatically upload crime information and keep it updated on the map, a big plus for community members.

Mapping features

RAIDS Online uses Google Maps to display the location and basic information for crimes in any area of interest to the user. RAIDS Online’s vibrant colored maps, icons and symbols work together to deliver easy-to-read crime information at all zoom levels, from a national level down to the citizen’s neighborhood.

Analytic features

Walker County citizens can use RAIDS Online to find patterns and trends of crimes in their community – or even across the nation. Graphs automatically update based on the data that is displayed on the map, giving the user full control over what data is analyzed. Citizens who use RAIDS Online to become aware of crime trends can make more informed decisions regarding where they live, shop, play, send their kids to school and other important choices regarding their personal safety.

Email Reports of Recent Crime Activity

Walker County citizens can sign up for neighborhood crime alerts to receive daily, weekly or monthly emails with a breakdown of crimes in their area.

Anyone can visit Walker County’s crime map at

http://www.raidsonline.com/?address= Walker County%2CGA  

A white male attempted to rob the Mapco at Hwy 27 and Hwy 95 on 11/02/2011   At 1 A.M.

The suspect asked for the cash from the register. There was no weapon produced.

 The white male is described as 5’10”   170 LBS.  He has brown hair, a prominent nose, and appears to be late twenties to early thirties. He is described as having a “Country “ speech pattern. He was wearing glasses, a black hoodie type shirt, a black doo rag or skull cap, slightly baggie blue jeans, running shoes, and fingerless gloves.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Walker County Sheriff’s Office at 706-638-1909.

 You may submit an anonymous tip at www.walkerso.com.

Public’s Help Needed With Solving a Flintstone Business Burglary

A white male driving a white minivan forced his way into the Flintstone Food Market around 3:30 AM Sunday morning, October 30^th, by throwing a large rock through the business front window, according to Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson.

Once the suspect was inside the store, he loaded a 55 gallon trash can with 74 cartons of cigarettes, valued at $3,053.

A motorist passing by spotted the activity at the store and called 911.

The suspect and white minivan left the store traveling north on Chattanooga Valley Road.

 The white male is described as tall and slender.  The white van is believed to be an older model.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Walker County Sheriff’s Office at 706-638-1909.

 You may submit an anonymous tip at www.walkerso.com.

PRESS RELEASE

Monday October 17^th 2011 

Lafayette-  A twenty (20) year old Fort Oglethorpe man and nineteen (19) year old Ringgold woman remain in the Walker County Detention Center on numerous charges including Theft by Taking a Motor Vehicle.  The incident began at around 6:00P.M. On Saturday October 15^th when a Rossville woman reported that her 2009 Nissan Sentra had been taken from her home.

Shortly after 1:00 A.M. on Sunday Morning October 16^th 2011 Georgia State Trooper Charles Thomas attempted to stop the Nissan on Highway 27 in the Rossville area. A short pursuit ensued with the pair jumping from the car near the Lytle Bridge in an attempt to evade arrest. Trooper Thomas called for Walker County K-9 units. Deputy Donald Brown, his K-9 partner Thea and Deputy Corey Griffin were able to track the suspect and locate them in a field off Lytle road, where they were taken into custody.

Arrested were:

 
20 year old Kenneth Martin Anderson III of Oglethorpe Ridge Lane Fort Oglethorpe, He has been charged with Felony Theft by Taking,  Fleeing attempting to elude officer, Driving on the wrong side of the road, driving on divided highways, Obstruction of officers, Speeding 80 in a 55 MPH zone, Driving without insurance, and noise violations. 

 
19 year old Julie Abigail Manis of Amy Lane Ringgold, She has been charged with Felony Theft by Taking and Obstruction of Officers.