#PublicSafety | AM 1180 Radio

April 21, 2026

Warmer Weather, Summer Break Bring Renewed Push for ATV Safety in Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama

Local News, Local News Items #AccidentPrevention, #alabamanews, #ATVSafety, #CommunityAlert, #FamilySafety, #georgianews, #HelmetSafety, #NortheastAlabama, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorSafety, #PublicSafety, #SummerSafety, #TrailSafety, #wzqznews 0

With warmer weather settling in and school set to let out in just a few weeks, families across Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama are being reminded that ATV season also brings a higher risk of serious and sometimes deadly crashes.

April 20, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Sex Crime Charges Among Latest Chattooga County Indictments

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaCountyGA, #ChattoogaSheriff, #ChildMolestation, #CourtNews, #CrimeNews, #CriminalCourt, #FelonyCharges, #GrandJury, #GroomingOfAMinor, #Indictments, #JudicialNews, #LocalCrime, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SexCrimeIndictments, #SodomyCharges, #StatutoryRape, #summervillega, #wzqznews 0

Sex crime charges are among the latest indictments returned by a Chattooga County grand jury, with two Summerville men named in the cases.

According to the indictment report, Ayden Matthew Ard, of 271 Scoggins Street in Summerville, was indicted on charges of statutory rape and sodomy. Court records cited in the report state the alleged victim is between 13 and 16 years old and younger than the accused. Also indicted was Michael Lamar Battles, of 702 Scoggins Street in Summerville, on charges of child molestation and grooming of a minor.

The indictments are part of the latest group of felony cases returned in Chattooga County. An indictment is a formal accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

April 19, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Sunday – April 19, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #April19, #April192026, #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaSheriff, #crimereport, #CriminalCharges, #GeorgiaCrime, #georgianews, #JailBookings, #JusticeSystem, #LawEnforcement, #LocalArrests, #northwestgeorgia, #PoliceActivity, #PublicSafety, #SheriffsOffice, #SundayApril19, #SundayArrests, #WeekendArrests, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Sunday, April 19, 2026:

April 19, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Shoplifting Arrest Made Following Incident at Trion Walmart

Local News, Local News Items #AlexisDollar, #arrestreport, #BookingReport, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaSheriff, #CrimeNews, #LawEnforcement, #LocalCrime, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #Shoplifting, #trionga, #WalmartTrion, #wzqznews 0

A woman was arrested earlier this month following a shoplifting incident at the Walmart in Trion.

According to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the store on April 10th after reports of a suspected shoplifter attempting to leave with unpaid merchandise.

Upon arrival, deputies identified the suspect as Alexis Louise Dollar, who had allegedly been seen on camera selecting items and attempting to leave the store without paying. Loss prevention personnel advised that Dollar had passed all points of sale with merchandise valued at more than $180.

Authorities later located the suspect’s vehicle traveling on Highway 27. After an investigation and review of surveillance footage, deputies obtained a warrant through Rome City Court.

Alexis Louise Dollar was later taken into custody and charged with misdemeanor shoplifting. She was transported to the Chattooga County Jail without further incident.

April 18, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Saturday – April 18, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #BreakingNews, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaSheriff, #CommunityAlert, #crimereport, #CrimeUpdate, #CriminalCharges, #georgianews, #JailBookings, #JusticeSystem, #LawEnforcement, #LocalArrests, #northwestgeorgia, #PoliceActivity, #PublicSafety, #SheriffsOffice, #wzqznews 0

There were no arrests to report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office over the past twenty-four hours.

April 18, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Four Georgia State Troopers Fired Following Misconduct Investigation

Local News, Local News Items #Accountability, #Ethics, #GeorgiaDPS, #georgianews, #GeorgiaStatePatrol, #LawEnforcement, #MisconductInvestigation, #PublicSafety, #statenews, #TroopersFired, #wzqznews 0

Four Georgia State Troopers have been terminated following an internal investigation into misconduct involving personal injury claims, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

In a statement released by the agency, officials said the investigation began after information surfaced in January 2026 indicating that several troopers were filing personal injury claims tied to incidents stemming from vehicle pursuits.

The Department’s Office of Professional Standards conducted a review and found that the troopers had submitted numerous crash and incident reports to an attorney. That attorney then sought monetary settlements on their behalf from individuals involved in pursuits that had been initiated by the troopers.

Officials determined that the manner in which the claims were made violated department policy and ethical standards. As a result, all four troopers involved were dismissed.

The Georgia Department of Public Safety emphasized that the actions of those individuals do not reflect the agency as a whole, noting its commitment to professionalism, accountability, and maintaining public trust.

The investigation has concluded, and no additional details about the individuals involved have been released.

April 18, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Student Taken Into Custody After Alleged Online Threat Against Gaylesville School

Local News, Local News Items #BreakingNews, #CherokeeCountyAL, #FederalAuthorities, #GaylesvilleAL, #GaylesvilleSchool, #JuvenileCase, #LawEnforcement, #NorthAlabama, #PublicSafety, #SchoolSafety, #SchoolSecurity, #SchoolThreat, #SheriffJeffShaver, #StudentInCustody, #wzqznews 0

A student is in custody after allegedly making online threats directed at Gaylesville School, prompting a rapid response from local and federal authorities.

April 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Arrest Report – Friday – April 17, 2026

Local News, Local News Items #April2026, #arrestreport, #BookingReport, #CatoosaCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaSheriff, #crimereport, #DadeCountyGA, #floydcountyga, #FridayNews, #JailBookings, #LawEnforcement, #LocalCrime, #LocalNews, #lyerlyga, #MenloGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #RomeGA, #SheriffsOffice, #summervillega, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #wzqznews 0

Here is the latest arrest report from the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office for Friday, April 17, 2026:

April 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Teen Arrested After Alleged Threat Incident In Summerville

Local News, Local News Items #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #crimereport, #georgianews, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SheriffsOffice, #summervillega, #wzqznews 0

A Summerville teenager is facing charges following an incident involving alleged threats and inappropriate behavior reported earlier this week.

April 17, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summerville Man Arrested On Drug, Traffic Charges After Traffic Stop

Local News #arrestreport, #chattoogacounty, #crimereport, #DrugArrest, #LawEnforcement, #LocalNews, #Methamphetamine, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SheriffsOffice, #summervillega, #TrafficStop, #wzqznews 0

A Summerville man is facing multiple charges following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of methamphetamine, according to the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office.