A routine traffic stop in Summerville resulted in the arrest of a Chattooga County man on methamphetamine charges after deputies reportedly discovered suspected drugs and drug paraphernalia inside his vehicle.
A Chattooga County man was arrested July 8 after a sheriff’s deputy recognized him during a traffic stop and determined he was driving with a suspended license.
According to an incident report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, Chase David Slater, 20, was charged with Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Misdemeanor).
The report states Deputy Justin Claxton was patrolling the area of Highway 48 near the Menlo Ballfields at approximately 4:18 p.m. on July 8 when he observed a white Dodge Durango with a cracked windshield. The deputy reported recognizing the driver from previous encounters and knew Slater’s Georgia driver’s license had been suspended.
After initiating a traffic stop, the deputy made contact with Slater, who reportedly acknowledged that he knew his license was suspended.
Based on that admission and the deputy’s prior knowledge, Slater was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Chattooga County Jail, and the vehicle was released to its registered owner, according to the report.
Nearly 30 drunken driving cases in coastal Georgia have been dismissed after four former Georgia State Patrol troopers failed to appear in court following their termination in an investigation into what has become known as the “PIT for Pay” scandal.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Tuesday, July 14, 2026:
A Summerville man reported that his vehicle was intentionally damaged while it was parked outside his apartment, according to a report from the Summerville Police Department.
Police responded to 50 Saratoga Way, Apartment A20, at approximately 8:19 p.m. on June 29 after Garry Lovingood, 63, requested to file a report about his vehicle being keyed.
According to the incident report, Lovingood told Officer J. Pledger he discovered the damage after returning from out of town and believes it occurred while his 2011 white Nissan Murano was parked in the apartment complex parking lot. He said he did not know who may have been responsible and declined to identify any possible suspects because he was uncertain.
Officer Pledger documented the damage, photographed the vehicle, and noted in the report that the scratch appeared to be fresh. Police also advised Lovingood that officers would conduct extra patrols in the area.
The incident was documented as non-criminal damage to a vehicle, and no suspects have been identified.
Chattooga County Sole Commissioner Andy Allen says he is considering a temporary moratorium on certain tiny home, container home and other non-traditional development projects while the county reviews how those projects should be regulated in the future.
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, July 13, 2026:
The Chattooga County Coroner’s Office is warning residents about a scam targeting grieving families following the death of a loved one.
In a public alert, Coroner Jeremy A. McElhaney said scammers are posing as funeral home employees after monitoring online obituaries. The scammers then contact family members and demand immediate payment, falsely claiming to represent the funeral home handling funeral arrangements.
McElhaney urged anyone receiving such a call not to provide any personal or financial information. Instead, he advises families to hang up and contact their funeral home directly using a trusted phone number to verify whether the call is legitimate.
“I personally know the owner/operators of all three Chattooga County funeral homes and can assure you that is not the way they conduct business,” McElhaney said.
Residents are encouraged to share the warning to help prevent others from becoming victims of the scam.
A Summerville man is expected to face an animal cruelty charge following an investigation into reports that a dog was being kept without adequate food, water or shelter during hot weather, according to the Summerville Police Department.
Police were dispatched at approximately 7:54 p.m. on July 1 after receiving a complaint about a dog allegedly being neglected. According to the incident report, the complainant identified the dog’s owner as Dakota Marks and reported seeing the dog tied to a tree with a ratchet strap.
When officers arrived, they found a large dog secured by a ratchet strap with one end attached to the animal and the other fastened to a tree. The report states the immediate area contained no shelter from the heat, no accessible food, and the only water container had a crack in the bottom, preventing it from serving as a reliable water source. Officers also noted the area was heavily littered with trash and that the restraint was not long enough for the dog to reach a nearby camper.
The responding officer photographed the scene and requested assistance from Animal Control. Attempts to locate Marks at the location were unsuccessful.
According to the report, a warrant was issued for Dakota Marks on a charge of Cruelty to Animals.
A Summerville man has reported a handgun missing after discovering it was no longer inside his vehicle, according to the Summerville Police Department.
Police say James Parker contacted dispatch on June 28, 2026, to report that his Taurus G3 9mm handgun was missing. Parker told officers he believes someone stole the firearm while his vehicle was parked on Hawkins Drive.
According to the incident report, Parker last saw the handgun at approximately 8:30 p.m. on June 27 and discovered it missing around 1:30 a.m. on June 28. The firearm was identified by its serial number in the report.
The incident remains under investigation by the Summerville Police Department, and no suspects have been identified.