Murder of Perry Griffin Solved After 13 Years

During the early morning hours of June 26, 2007, Perry Griffin, an employee of Panhandle Converters and Scrap, was going to go out of town to purchase items for the business.  Perry was preparing to leave the business with a large amount of cash, as he had done before numerous times.  As Perry was preparing to leave the parking lot of the business, two suspects armed with weapons confronted him. Continue reading “Murder of Perry Griffin Solved After 13 Years”

Shots fired during Armed Robbery Lands Two in Jail

On July 7, 2020, Dothan Police Officers responded to an armed robbery in progress at a local check cashing business in the 1100 block of North Alice Street.  According to reports by the business employees, a suspect entered the business armed with a handgun and demanded money.  The suspect fired shots towards three employees at the back of the business.  As the suspect was fleeing out of the front door, the suspect fired more shots towards an employee behind the counter.  No employees were injured during the incident.  Investigators were able to identify the suspect through employees who recognized the suspect, identified as Deshone Donald, since Donald was in the business minutes earlier cashing a check.

On 7/10/2020, the U.S. Marshal’s Service Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force apprehended Donald and the alleged getaway driver, Fredrick Ricks, in Quincy, FL.  Dothan Police Department would like to thank the Task Force for their assistance in this case.

Deshone Elesquial Donald (31) of Quincy, FL was charged with four counts of Attempted Murder and one count of Robbery 1st Degree and is being held without bond.

Fredrick Carl Ricks (28) of Quincy, FL was charged with one count of Robbery 1st Degree with a bond of $10,000.

 

Notice about fireworks inside the city limits

As the July 4th holiday approaches, we remind our citizens fireworks are illegal in the City Limits of Dothan. The Police Department will be patrolling and may issue citations for illegal use of fireworks. For those readers who may legally use fireworks at their home (again, this is no one in the City Limits of Dothan!!) we would like to encourage safety first! We encourage those within the City Limits to visit a professionally produced fireworks show such as the “Fireworks on the Fairgrounds” beginning at 9:00 PM at the Peanut Festival Fairgrounds.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety lists nine safety tips that encourage firework users to celebrate our nation’s heritage on the Fourth of July safely.

If discharging fireworks where it is legal to do so:

  • Use fireworks outdoors only.
  • Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
  • Always have water handy (a hose or bucket).
  • Only use fireworks as intended. Don’t try to alter them or combine them.
  • Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
  • Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should
  • wear safety glasses.
  • Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated shooter.”
  • Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.
  • Do not ever use homemade fireworks of illegal explosives!
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