CLASSIC CITY NEWS

By Joe Johnson An Athens-Clarke County grand jury has indicted a man who badly neglected his 8-month-old dog. Sammy Lee Richardson, 63, of Noketchee Drive, was charged with one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty, according to the indictment filed December 2nd in Superior Court. The indictment stems from Richardson’s arrest in June after an investigation by the Police and Animal Services departments of a complaint that he was badly neglecting the puppy named Marnie, wh

By Joe Johnson A Madison County woman has been indicted for a shooting incident downtown last fall that left three teenagers wounded. Tatianna Ambria Wilbon, 24, of Comer, was charged with three counts each of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to the indictment filed in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court. The shooting happened just before 4 a.m. on Septemb

By Joe Johnson Kasaun Janalle Love, 33, of East Clayton Street, was arrested early the morning of December 20th after he fired a gun during a gathering in a home on the eastside of Athens. A man who tends bar downtown had invited Love and several others to an “after party” at his home on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Some of those people reportedly had bought cocaine from Love previously. At some point Love began demanding to know what happened to a plastic grocery bag

The following was released Thursday by the Lawrenceville Police Department On January 1, 2026, at approximately 5:20 a.m., officers with the Lawrenceville Police Department responded to the 600 block of Groveland Parkway in reference to a report of a person down in the roadway. Upon arrival, officers located a deceased male lying in the roadway. Officers determined the victim had suffered at least one gunshot wound. During the investigation, officers obtained Ring doorbell vi

By Joe Johnson A pair of Athens street gang members have been indicted for an armed robbery at the University Oaks apartment complex last summer. Kasten Jammal Thomas, 24, and Jordan Xavier Gresham, 22, were each charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to the indictment filed Tuesday in Superior Court. Gresham was additionally charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Although th

The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office today released the following (Winder, GA) – The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit has concluded an undercover operation targeting illegal drug distribution in Barrow County. The investigation resulted in multiple felony arrests. As a result of the operation, the following individuals were arrested: Roderick LaShawn Billings, 37, of Winder, was charged with multiple felony offenses, including the sale and trafficking of cocaine an

By Joe Johnson Authorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was found Tuesday morning on train tracks off of Old Hull Road. A CSX engineer called 911 just before 11 a.m. to report that his train was traveling northbound when he saw a motionless body on the tracks. Police said that upon responding to the scene they observed a dead man whose body had injuries consistent with having been struck by a train. A resident of a nearby homeless camp gave police a possi

The phrase “threat to our democracy” has been a battle cry for so long that it has become as impactful as a morning greeting. It’s been relegated to a political slogan, a protest sign, a political identity marker. It’s The phrase “threat to our democracy” has been a battle cry for so long that it has become as impactful as a morning greeting. It’s been relegated to a political slogan, a protest sign, a political identity marker.  meaningless. So has the response, “America is

By Joe Johnson A 46-year-.old man has pleaded not guilty to charges he tried to kill his girlfriend last summer by setting her on fire. Anthony Teres Jones entered the pleas during his arraignment last month in Superior Court on charges of criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery. The charges stem from the incident on August 25th when authorities said he set 49-year-old Getrude Willis on fire at their home on Scandia Circle. The victim who

The following was released Wednesday morning by the Gwinnett County Police Department (Peachtree Corners, Ga., Dec. 31, 2025) – On Dec. 30, 2025, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Gwinnett County Police responded to the area of the 5700 block of Peachtree Industrial Blvd. regarding a vehicle that was involved in an incident in another jurisdiction. During the encounter, the suspect rammed a marked patrol vehicle, disabling it, and fled the area. Additional officers located the veh

The following was released today by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office An officer-involved shooting occurred this morning while Barrow County Sheriff’s Office deputies were serving a warrant in the area of 546 Mt. Moriah Road in Auburn. At approximately 10:00 a.m., deputies were on scene to serve a warrant when an officer-involved shooting took place. During the incident, one suspect was injured and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No deputies were injured.

By Joe Johnson More than a dozen Athens residents had already died from fentanyl poisoning as the final   month of 2025 began. That death toll has climbed even higher during December. “I have about 14 confirmed Fentanyl cases so far” this year,”’ Athens-Clarke County Coroner Michael Eberhart said on Monday, “I have other cases still pending (lab) results.” Among those pending cases is that of a 41-year-old woman who died in her home on Vine Street last Friday. She was found

Special Weather Statement issued December 29, 2025 at 4:07 PM EST by NWS Peachtree City GA

By Joe Johnson The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is investigating the death of a 2-year boy who died inside his home eastside home where evidence of drug use was discovered. The 38-year-old mother told police that they went to sleep in her bed Christmas night and when she woke up the next morning her son was in the middle of the bed and not breathing. She reportedly moved the child to a couch in the living room where police found him upon their arrival. Police said

By Joe Johnson Lonneshia Shafaye Appling was high on methamphetamine on the morning of December 16th when she crashed her car into the Alps Road Kroger, injuring several employees and shoppers. That’s according to arrest records filed in court by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. The most seriously injured victim was a Kroger employee whose skull was fractured. Appling is a 40-year-old career criminal whose extensive rap sheet includes felony shoplifting conviction

The following was released today by the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department  At approximately 10:40 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Athens-Clarke County Fire Department crews responded to a reported residential structure fire in the 600 block of North Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy fire conditions in 80% of the one-story structure and immediately began coordinated suppression and rescue operations. Rescue 4 and Engine 21 worked together to establish a water supp

By Joe Johnson Barely 24 horns after a motorists was killed in a fiery Christmas morning crash in east Athens a woman died today in another single-car wreck on the east side of town. According to police, it happened at about 10 a.m. at the intersection of North and Strickland avenues, where 53-year-old Dejon Ellis of Athens failed to negotiate a curve and crashed her car into a utility pole. She reportedly died at the scene. The other deadly crash happened at about 6 a.m.

(Jonathan Burden) By Joe Johnson A 36-year-old Athens man was killed Christmas morning when his car crashed and burst into flames at an eastside intersection. Police are withholding the victim’s name pending positive identification by his next of kin. The incident happened shortly before 6 a.m. at the intersection of Barnett Shoals and Gaines School roads. According to police, the car had sped into the intersection and struck a tree in the parking lot of Synovus Bank, wher

By Joe Johnson The scourge of fentanyl continued to claim lives throughout 2025 in Athens, with a 32-year-old man dying from using the drug in his home on the eastside last week. The deadly drug has been very much in the news locally, with several prisoners dying at the county jail from using fentanyl smuggled in by a woman who had been employed there as a nurse. The most recent victim was found dead by his housemate who went into his bedroom after not having seen him all mor

Released This evening by the Gwinnett County Police Department (Lawrenceville, Ga., Dec. 25, 2025) – The Gwinnett County Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating Otis Wright (82), who was reported missing from his residence in the 1400 block of Silver Charm Lane SW. Mr. Wright was last seen inside the residence at approximately 9:00 a.m. He is described as a black male with gray hair and a clean-shaven face, standing approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall