Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, June 27, 2025:
A routine traffic stop on Highway 27 on June 21, 2025, led to the arrest of Jeffery Wade Greene, 53, on multiple charges including DUI, failure to maintain lane, having an open container of alcohol, and obstruction of officers. His passenger, Koby Chandler Bunner, 24, was also arrested and charged with obstruction of officers.
A Rome coffee shop is out $1,500 after falling victim to a sophisticated phone scam. According to a report from the Rome Police Department, an employee at Lumina Coffee on Braves Boulevard was contacted by a man claiming to be a lieutenant with the Rome Police Department. The caller falsely stated that Lumina Coffee had counterfeit money circulating within its cash stock. He instructed the employee to send the “counterfeit” money to him via a pay service at a nearby drugstore, promising to replace it with legitimate currency. Following the caller’s instructions, the employee made three separate transactions of $500 each, sending a total of $1,500 to the scammer. Unfortunately, all three transactions were non-refundable. The Rome Police Department is investigating the incident and reminds businesses to be wary of unsolicited phone calls requesting money transfers. They urge businesses to verify the identity of callers claiming to be law enforcement or government officials before taking any action. Anyone with information about this scam is encouraged to contact the Rome Police Department.
WRGA contributed to this report
Tomorrow, Summerville Main Street will hold a celebration for National Dairy Month at the Summerville Depot, featuring the 2025 Chill & Churn Homemade Ice Cream Contest and an Ice Cream Eating Contest. The event starts at 10:30 AM, and attendees can enjoy homemade ice cream and watch a steam engine train arrive around 1 PM. Ice cream eating contestants can register in youth or adult divisions starting at 10:30 a.m., with contests beginning at 11:00 a.m. Winners will receive $25 gift cards. Registration for the ice cream contest is open until 11:30 AM., with prizes for the top three competitors. The public can buy wristbands for $5 to taste entries and vote for the People’s Choice Award from 12:45 to 2 PM. The event runs from 10 AM until 3 PM.
Jeremy Dewayne McCrary, of Chickamauga, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole Wednesday for the murder of Danny Claire during a 2022 road rage incident. The sentencing took place at the Walker County Courthouse just weeks after a jury found McCrary guilty of felony murder. He received an additional five years to run consecutively with the life sentence. The fatal shooting occurred on March 22, 2022, in the parking lot of a Dollar General store in Chickamauga. McCrary shot Claire in the chest with a 9mm weapon following an altercation. The incident stemmed from an earlier encounter on Lee Clarkson Road, east of Chickamauga. According to authorities, a group of motorcyclists, including McCrary, attempted to pass an SUV driven by Claire. The driver allegedly swerved in front of the motorcycles, escalating tensions. The vehicles continued to Highway 341, maintaining close proximity until they all stopped at the Dollar General parking lot. The confrontation escalated, leading to a physical altercation between the motorcyclists and Claire. It was during this altercation that McCrary drew his weapon and fatally shot Claire. In addition to felony murder, McCrary was found guilty on June 2nd of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was acquitted of malice murder in connection with the killing.
Get ready for four days of fun, food, and festivities as the Chattooga County Fair returns August 21st through 24th, 2025! This annual tradition promises something for everyone, from thrilling rides and captivating magic shows to engaging demonstrations and live musical performances, along with livestock shows and agricultural demonstrations.
The Summerville Police Department is investigating a theft reported at the Junk in the Trunk resale shop on Highway 48 earlier this week. According to reports, several items were stolen from the back of the store between Saturday and Tuesday. Police were dispatched to the shop on Tuesday after owner Christine Shaw reported the missing items. Shaw told officers that when she arrived at the store, she noticed that several items she had left at the rear of the property were gone. The stolen goods included a piano bench, a mini fridge, and a cast iron sink. Shaw stated she last saw the items on Saturday. She also reported seeing a white truck on the property earlier on the day the theft was discovered, but did not recognize the vehicle or its occupants. The Summerville Police Department is currently investigating the incident and encourages anyone with information regarding the theft or the white truck to contact them immediately.
The Chattooga County Board of Assessors will send out property assessment notices for the 2025 tax year on June 30, 2025. Property owners should note that these notices will look different from previous years due to changes in Georgia law influenced by House Bill 581 and House Bill 92.
A new law set to take effect in Georgia on July 1st, 2025, promises to reshape the understanding of child neglect, giving parents more leeway in fostering their children’s independence. Senate Bill 110, recently passed by the Georgia legislature, amends the definition of child neglect to specifically exclude allowing children to participate in age-appropriate, unsupervised activities.
A dump truck accident early Thursday morning led to a house fire that completely destroyed a residence at the intersection of GA 100 and Holland-Chattoogaville Road. According to the Georgia State Patrol, troopers were dispatched to the scene at 5:15 AM after receiving reports of a single-vehicle crash. The investigation revealed that a dump truck, towing an F-350 Utility Truck, was traveling east on Holland-Chattoogaville Road when the driver failed to stop at a stop sign. The truck then crossed over GA 100, struck a ditch, continued eastward, and careened into the front yard of a nearby home. The vehicle finally came to an uncontrolled stop just feet from the house before becoming engulfed in flames. While the fire spread to the residence, the homeowner managed to escape unharmed before the house was fully consumed by the blaze. The driver of the dump truck was transported to Floyd-Atrium Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the crash. The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol. Further details will be released as they become available.