On Saturday, January 13, 2024, officers responded to the 600 block of Westmead Street in reference to gunshots being fired in the area. Before officers arrived, it was reported one person had been shot in the abdomen and lower arm and was being transported to the hospital by a personal vehicle. The victim was taken to surgery for his abdomen injury and is expected to make a full recovery. The investigation revealed Matavis Rashad Poke was the person who fired multiple shots at the victim, striking him at least once. It is unknown what the motive was that led to shots being fired.
Matavis Rashad Poke, 30 years old of Dothan, was charged with one count of Attempted Murder and is being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond.
On Thursday morning, January 4, 2024, members of the Dothan Police Department, Houston County Sheriff’s Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agancy, and the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force conducted an operation which resulted in the apprehension of a fugitive wanted for murder in Ohio. Officers apprehended 38-year-old Clarence Abdul Ellis at a residence on Honeysuckle Road in Dothan. Ellis had an outstanding arrest warrant for murder in Columbus, Ohio. He is being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond until he is extradited to Ohio.
On Tuesday, December 26, 2023, investigators with the Dothan Police Department began investigating a report of a child less than 12 being involved in sexual activity with an adult. It was discovered that 31-year-old Raynia Eugenia Cooper of Dothan had directed a child to participate in sexual activity which resulted in Cooper being charged with one count of Directing a Child to Engage in Sodomy.
This has been an ongoing investigation which has continued to produce evidence of additional child sex crimes. As a result, on December 29, 2023, investigators charged 30-year-old Edwin Angel Medina, of Dothan, with one count of Sodomy First Degree.
As additional evidence continued to come to light, on January 3, 2024, investigators added the following charges for Cooper: Two additional counts of Directing a Child to Engage in Sodomy, four counts of Directing a Child to Engage in Sexual Contact, one count of Human Trafficking First Degree, and one count of Enticing a Child for Immoral Purposes. She currently has no bond.
Also on January 3, 2024, investigators added the following charges for Medina: Four counts of Sodomy First Degree, four counts of Sexual Abuse of a Child less than 12 years old, one count of Human Trafficking First Degree, and one count of Enticing a Child for Immoral Purposes. He currently has no bond.
Due to the sensitive nature of this case, no further information will be released. This continues to be an ongoing investigation in which investigators are still processing evidence to determine if additional charges are possible.
The Dothan Police Department has been investigating a report of inappropriate sexual contact between an adult female and a child less than 12 years old. As a result of the investigation, on January 2, 2024, investigators charged 19-year-old Destiny Alexiss Huntington, of Dothan, with one count of Sexual Abuse of a Child less than 12 years old. Her bond was set at $30,000.00.
Due to the sensitive nature of this case, no further details will be released.
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