
Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Monday, July 13, 2026:

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.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, July 12, 2026:

A Crawford County man is facing state and federal charges after a multi-agency investigation into alleged illegal dog fighting led to the rescue of 23 dogs and the seizure of firearms and suspected illegal drugs.

The Georgia Department of Corrections and communities across Northwest Georgia are mourning the unexpected death of Hays State Prison Warden Joshua Jones, who passed away on July 4, 2026, at the age of 39.

Two of the three suspects accused of stealing several iPads from the Walmart in Trion are now in custody, while law enforcement continues searching for a third suspect.
According to Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader, store employees attempted to stop the three men as they left the store Friday after they were suspected of shoplifting multiple iPads. The suspects fled before deputies arrived.
One suspect was initially apprehended Friday. Sheriff Schrader later announced that a second suspect has now been taken into custody, leaving one suspect still at large.
Authorities said the remaining suspect was last seen wearing green and black shorts with a black shirt. Sheriff Schrader has released a surveillance image of the suspect and is asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators believe the suspects may also be connected to other shoplifting incidents in Michigan and Dalton, Georgia.
The investigation remains active, and additional charges or arrests may be forthcoming.
Anyone with information on the remaining suspect is encouraged to contact the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Saturday, July 11, 2026:

One man is in custody and two others remain at large following an alleged shoplifting incident Friday at Walmart in Trion.
According to Chattooga County Sheriff Mark Schrader, three men were stopped while leaving the store after they were believed to have stolen several iPads.
Authorities say the suspects fled the scene before Chattooga County Sheriff’s deputies arrived. Law enforcement was able to apprehend one of the three men, while the other two remained at large as of Friday night.
Sheriff Schrader said investigators believe the three men may also be connected to other shoplifting incidents in Michigan and in Dalton, Georgia.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information has not yet been released.
WZQZ will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.