Putnam County Sheriff's Office

Robert “Bobby” Keim

Robert “Bobby” Keim

GDC agent arrested for misuse of Flock

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, September 3, 2026
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Georgia Department of Corrections Special Agent in Charge Robert “Bobby” Keim, 45, of Eatonton, on a charge of misuse of a license plate reader system.The GDC asked the GBI to investigate on Aug. 18, according to a GBI notice.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills is defending Flock Safety cameras amid growing controversy over their use, saying the technology has helped solve crimes and locate missing people. CONTRIBUTED

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills is defending Flock Safety cameras amid growing controversy over their use, saying the technology has helped solve crimes and locate missing people. CONTRIBUTED

Putnam sheriff answers questions about use of cameras

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, August 20, 2026
The arrests of several Georgia deputies for the illegal use of Flock Safety cameras have ignited a fiery controversy across the state and nation.
Sammy Lackey

Sammy Lackey

Man menaces friends with gun; charged for terroristic threats

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Several people called 911 when a friend pointed a gun at them and threatened to shoot up their house, according to law enforcement reports.Putnam County Deputy Sheriff Hollie Collins responded to a residence on the 100 block of Friendship Road between 7 and 8:30 a.m., May 27, Sheriff Howard Sills...
Methamphetamine packaged for distribution, scales, marijuana, two fake handguns, one real handgun and some hollow-point ammunition were seized during a recent traffic stop that led to the arrest of an Eatonton man. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

Methamphetamine packaged for distribution, scales, marijuana, two fake handguns, one real handgun and some hollow-point ammunition were seized during a recent traffic stop that led to the arrest of an Eatonton man. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

Suspected meth trafficker arrested

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, May 14, 2026
An Eatonton man was arrested earlier this week by deputies with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division Drug Unit.Deputies stopped and arrested Shawn Daniel Malm on May 10 as he drove into Putnam County after allegedly picking up methamphetamine in Macon, according to...
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills discusses the Dermond case with reporters recently in his office. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills discusses the Dermond case with reporters recently in his office. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Sheriff discusses Dermond case 12 years later

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, April 30, 2026
This week will mark 12 years since the brutal slayings of Russell and Shirley Dermond in the Lake Oconee area.
Carlton Wright

Carlton Wright

Credit card fraud grounds Wright brothers

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Two brothers were arrested for using their employer’s credit cards to buy gasoline totaling $7,750 for themselves and their family and friends, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said.Carlton Ramon Wright, 36, of Mack Lane, Eatonton, and Richard Duane Wright, 38, of Turkey Run, Milledgeville, are...
Othniel T. Smith

Othniel T. Smith

Fentanyl, nudity, beekeeper’s suit, fried chicken...

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, February 26, 2026
An Atlanta man arrived in Putnam County approximately two weeks ago and is now accused of handing a bag of fentanyl to a store clerk, crashing his car through a resident’s driveway gate, running away from K9 deputies, and prowling naked in another resident’s front yard before being arrested clad in...
Kenneth D. Brown

Kenneth D. Brown

Shooting incident turns out to be false; caller jailed

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, February 19, 2026
A flurry of law enforcement activity filled Lakeview Estates Drive and Lane last week in response to a 911 call from a man who said his mother had just been shot in the yard of their house.“Obviously, we responded in a manner one would for such a report,” Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills...
Reyna Lopez

Reyna Lopez

Babysitter pleads guilty to baby’s murder

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, February 12, 2026
A babysitter who killed a 5-month-old boy in her custody will be spending the next 20 years of her life in prison.Reyna Lopez, 43, of East Marion Street, Eatonton, pled guilty to murder in the second degree Monday in Greene County Superior Court.After he explained that Greene County Courthouse was...
Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Lake Oconee News/File Photo

Missing woman found by K9 dies at hospital

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, February 5, 2026
It’s one of those calls no officer wants to receive, and no person wants to make.Around 6:20 a.m. Monday, a call came in to the Putnam County Sheriff’s 911 Center about an elderly woman who was missing from her home on the 700 block of Lower Harmony Road.
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