Putnam County Sheriff's Department

Nilesh Kumar S. Patel

Nilesh Kumar S. Patel

Convenience store raids yield four arrests

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Authorities said the owners and clerks of two convenience stores in Eatonton were arrested last week.Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell said he had received numerous complaints that the stores were paying out cash winnings on their gambling machines.
A half-pound each of marijuana and methamphetamine along with some scales were seized from a house on Sparta Highway, where almost a dozen chained dogs also were found. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

A half-pound each of marijuana and methamphetamine along with some scales were seized from a house on Sparta Highway, where almost a dozen chained dogs also were found. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

Search warrant yields drugs, guns, dead dog

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Local authorities serving a search warrant found more — and less — than they expected.They found the drugs, but not the suspected drug dealer. They also found loaded guns and a lot of dogs, several of which were severely neglected, and one that was dead.Putnam County Sheriff’s Lt.
Reyna Lopez, front center, is escorted by Eatonton Police Department officers Chris Detweiler (left) and investigator Hargrove Jones, who are taking Lopez to jail at Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. CONTRIBUTED/EPD

Reyna Lopez, front center, is escorted by Eatonton Police Department officers Chris Detweiler (left) and investigator Hargrove Jones, who are taking Lopez to jail at Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. CONTRIBUTED/EPD

Babysitter charged in murder of 5-month-old

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, November 21, 2024
A babysitter was arrested on murder charges in the death of a baby she was watching in her home while the baby’s mother was at work, according to Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell.Reyna Lopez, 42, of East Marion Street, Eatonton, was arrested on Nov.
GSP Trooper Alan Rhodes holds the gun recovered from underneath the trailer after PCSO Col. Russell Blenk, EPD Chief Howell Cardwell, PCSO Sgt. Justin Brock and Cpl. Chris Donovan had gone under there and gotten the offenders out. CONTRIBUTED/EPD

GSP Trooper Alan Rhodes holds the gun recovered from underneath the trailer after PCSO Col. Russell Blenk, EPD Chief Howell Cardwell, PCSO Sgt. Justin Brock and Cpl. Chris Donovan had gone under there and gotten the offenders out. CONTRIBUTED/EPD

Chase, manhunt end with two suspects captured in Putnam County

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Two men are in jail after a high-speed chase and search that lasted more than eight hours ended under a residential trailer on May 16, authorities say.“It was one of those good days,” said Putnam County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Col. Russell Blenk.
The mobile command post for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office was on the scene of a murder in the Great Waters 10 years ago. (File Photo)

The mobile command post for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office was on the scene of a murder in the Great Waters 10 years ago. (File Photo)

New evidence provides glimmer of hope in Dermond case

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, May 2, 2024
The widely discussed and reported case of the murders of Russell and Shirley Dermond may still be unsolved on its 10th anniversary, but it is in no way a cold case.
Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Putnam man killed in car crash

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, December 7, 2023
A single-car crash claimed the life of a Putnam County man over the weekend, according to authorities. Joseph Gary Roebuck, 35, had already died when deputies arrived at the crash scene on the 200 block of Little River Trail, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said.
Gary Daiquion Howard

Gary Daiquion Howard

Fourth arrest made in Eatonton Shell station shooting

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Local authorities flew to New York this past weekend to arrest and bring back the fourth person accused in connection with the June 4 shooting at a gas station in Eatonton. Gary Daiquion Howard, 18, of Westbury, N.Y.
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