Gunplay at Athens nightclub leads to three arrests

By Joe Johnson

Three men were arrested last weekend for an incident at an Athens nightclub in which cars were damaged by gunfire and a security guard was caught with illegal drugs.

Please said officers responded at 12:13 a.m. Saturday to Rodeo Nightclub on Commerce Road to investigate a report of guns being fired and security guards “drawn down” on someone.

Numerous police units arrived to sort out what Lt, Jody Thompson described as a “very chaotic scene.”

He said that witnesses pointed out the suspects for the officers, and surveillance video footage was reviewed that showed the suspects shooting guns in the direction of people at a gas station next door to the club.

According to Thompson, it was determined that 28-year-old club security guard Tremayne Driskell

had taken a gun from one of the suspects to hide it, but officers managed to find it.

Driskell was also discovered to have a quantity of ecstasy. He was subsequently arrested for tampering with evidence and possession of a controlled substance.

One of the shooters was identified as 22-year-old Duntavious Rashard Parks of Monroe, who was arrested for reckless conduct, criminal damage to property, pointing a pistol at another person, obstruction of law enforcement, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime.

Duntavious Rashard Parks

Tremayne Driskell

Also arrested was 25-year-old Dawonta Antwon Adams of Catalpa Way in Athens, on charges of reckless conduct and obstruction.

However, deputies at the county jail refused to book Adams due to an extreme level of intoxication, and police released him on the misdemeanor charges to staff at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, with warrants to be applied for, police said.