Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is joining law enforcement agencies across the country in warning parents about a violent online extremist network known as “764,” which authorities say targets minors through social media, gaming platforms, and private chat features.
Authorities responded to a disturbing animal cruelty situation after neighbors reported excessive barking at a home located at 245 West Spring Creek Road. When Animal Control and police arrived at the property, they discovered what officials described as an abandoned residence with multiple dogs left without food or water for an extended period of time.
March 6, 2026 marks one year since Timothy McSears vanished from his residence on McSears Drive in LaFayette, Georgia, a case that continues to weigh heavily on his family, friends, and investigators. McSears was last seen on March 6, 2025, and was reported missing on March 8, 2025. What began as a routine missing person report quickly grew into a large-scale investigation that remains active today.
Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader is warning residents about a phony traffic citation notice circulating throughout the county that claims recipients failed to pay a toll and must appear in court or pay immediately.
The notice, which appears to be from the “State Court of Fulton County,” includes a QR code demanding payment and threatens arrest warrants, license suspension, and other penalties. Sheriff Schrader says the document is a scam and should not be taken seriously.
In a public statement, Sheriff Schrader said, “If you get one of these, consider yourself among about half the county today!! Everyone must have missed the toll at the same time!!! Don’t scan the QR and send money!”
Authorities are urging residents not to scan the QR code, not to send money, and not to provide personal information. Anyone who receives the notice should discard it and report concerns to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials remind the public that legitimate court notices and traffic citations will not demand immediate payment through random QR codes sent in bulk.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, February 28, 2026:
Residents in Walker County are being warned about a phone scam involving callers who falsely claim someone has missed a court date or failed to report for jury duty.
A stolen firearm was recovered in Summerville after it was brought into a local pawn shop to be sold, according to an incident report.
Police say officers were dispatched to Hunter’s Outdoor Pawn on February 21, 2026, after employees reported a customer had presented a handgun for sale and it was flagged as stolen when checked through their system. Officers then had the firearm verified through GCIC, which confirmed it had been reported stolen out of Los Angeles, California.
The report states the gun was a Glock 21. Police took possession of the firearm at the scene.
The person who brought the firearm into the shop, Aaron Luis Carrillo, told officers he purchased the handgun last year from a coworker and indicated he was unaware it was stolen when he obtained it. The report does not state that he was the person who originally stole the firearm.
Summerville Police responded to a reported break-in and property damage call on Friday, February 20, 2026, at a home on Cleghorn Street, according to an incident report.
The victim told officers the suspect forced open the front door and caused damage inside the residence, including overturning a bed. A witness also reported seeing the suspect leave the scene and “peel out” of the yard.
Police say the suspect, Jeffrey Garner, age 56, was later located at his residence on West Halls Valley Road at around 9:00 p.m. and was taken into custody. He was transported to the Chattooga County Jail.
In the report, the suspect reportedly admitted entering the home and overturning the bed, saying he went to the residence to confront the victim and she was not home.
Garner was charged with Criminal Trespass and booked into the Chattooga County Jail.
Summerville Police are investigating an incident involving property damage at the city’s wastewater treatment plant after a vehicle reportedly struck a commercial chain link fence.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Wednesday, February 25, 2026:
