Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, October 27, 2026:
Chattooga County residents can expect several more days of dry, pleasant fall weather before rain chances return just in time for Halloween weekend.
The Summerville Police Department is investigating a reported forgery involving two canceled business checks totaling nearly $5,000 that were allegedly altered and deposited without authorization.
According to a report filed with the Summerville Police Department, Officer Vitality Labs responded to 170 Vitality Lane in Summerville, where Melissa Hamilton, an officer and representative of the company, reported discovering two checks bearing the business’s name that had been manufactured.
Hamilton provided police with copies of two canceled checks, numbered 5927 and 5928, totaling $2,459.75.
The checks appeared to contain Hamilton’s signature, but she told police the signature had not been authorized and had been falsely applied to the checks.
Hamilton also presented the original blank checks that had been recovered from the company’s checkbook, indicating the fraudulent checks had been created using the company’s banking information.
Hamilton advised police that the company’s bank had reimbursed the fraudulent withdrawals but required a police report documenting the incident.
The case remains under investigation by the Summerville Police Department.
A Trion man arrested earlier this year following an alleged DUI incident and police pursuit on Old Highway 27 has been indicted by the Chattooga County Grand Jury.
Brandon Zane Tibbs, 2541 Old Highway 27, Trion, was indicted this month on charges of DUI, second-degree criminal damage to property, felony fleeing police, reckless driving and five other traffic offenses.
Tibbs was arrested on February 28, 2026, following an incident that led to multiple traffic-related charges.
The original arrest included allegations of driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, attempting to flee or elude law enforcement, and several additional traffic violations.
The October indictment moves the case forward in the court system, where Tibbs will have an opportunity to answer the charges.
An indictment is a formal accusation and does not constitute a finding of guilt. Tibbs is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The Town of Trion is making plans to purchase a new fire truck after one of its trucks was destroyed in a fire at the Mount Vernon Mills firehouse earlier this year.
Trion Mayor Mickey McGraw said the town recently received a $329,000 insurance payment for the destroyed truck. However, that money is expected to cover only about half the cost of purchasing a replacement.
“That will cover about half the cost of a new one,” McGraw said.
The fire occurred this summer inside the firehouse located at Mount Vernon Mills. A passerby noticed smoke coming from the building and alerted authorities.
Officials believe faulty wiring may have caused the blaze. Although the fire started inside the building, the mill itself was not damaged.
The destroyed fire truck was a Rosenbauer purchased from Southern Emergency Products Inc. in 2012 for approximately $330,000. According to McGraw, the cost of fire trucks has doubled since that purchase.
The town plans to purchase a replacement truck and sell one of its older trucks, which remains operational.
In the meantime, neighboring fire departments are providing fire protection coverage for Trion.
Georgia motorists are seeing some relief at the gas pump as prices continue to decline, with the statewide average falling eight cents over the past week. Drivers in Chattooga County are paying slightly less than the state average, according to the latest figures from AAA – The Auto Club Group.
Halloween is just days away, and families across Chattooga County are preparing for a weekend filled with costumes, candy, trick-or-treating, hayrides and community celebrations. With activities planned in Summerville, Trion, Menlo, Lyerly and at James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park, residents are encouraged to keep safety in mind, especially as the forecast now includes the possibility of rain on Halloween night.
The Trion High School Lady Bulldogs are preparing for their second consecutive appearance in the Georgia High School Association Class A Softball Elite Eight, with their opening game scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, against Irwin County.
The extended stretch of dry weather across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia is expected to continue through the end of the workweek, with forecasters keeping an eye on conditions that could increase the danger of outdoor fires.
Georgia homeowners looking to make their homes more energy-efficient may qualify for financial assistance following the reopening of part of the state’s Home Energy Rebates program on Monday, October 26.