Author: Dave Schwab

Posted on

Person carrying replica destructive device arrested

On April 29, 2025, officers with the Dothan Police Department responded to the area of the 200 block of East Main Street after multiple citizens reported a person carrying a rocket propelled grenade launcher in the area.

Officers contacted the individual and identified him as Keyun Marquez Hill, 26, of Cowarts, Alabama. Hill was found in possession of a replica device made to resemble a rocket propelled grenade launcher. Hill was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of Possession of a Hoax Destructive Device and booked into the Dothan City Jail. The hoax device was seized and placed into evidence.

Hill described himself as a social media prankster and was in the process of filming content. Entertainment takes many forms, however behavior such as this that alarms numerous people and can cause panic in a public space cannot be tolerated. We urge social media content creators to use common sense when practicing their craft.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

Posted on

Missing person results in murder charge

On Monday night, February 24, 2025, Stephen Miller Sr. reported that his wife, Gloria Miller, suddenly disappeared from their home on Halls Mill Road during the afternoon hours of Saturday, February 22, 2025. The Dothan Police Department began investigating this report as a missing persons case.

During the early stages of the investigation several indicators of foul play were discovered. On Monday, before the report was made by Stephen, some of Gloria’s personal property was found in the parking lot of a local shopping center in Dothan. The investigation revealed Stephen was the person who placed the property at that location just hours before it was found and turned into one of the local businesses.

Investigators worked to determine the whereabouts of Gloria and the circumstances of her disappearance. During the investigation, Stephen admitted that on Saturday he and Gloria had a physical altercation during which time he admitted to manually strangling her until she was lifeless.

Investigators located Gloria’s body approximately one mile inside Geneva County on Geneva County Road 68 in a dry creek bed underneath a bridge. Her body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery, AL for an autopsy.

Stephen Craig Miller Sr., 64 years old of Dothan, has been charged with one count of Murder. His bond has been set at $1.5 Million.

The Dothan Police Department would like to thank the Houston County Sheriff’s Department, the Geneva County Sheriff’s Department and the Geneva County Coroner’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.

Our condolences and prayers go out to the family of Gloria Miller.

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please reach out to your local law enforcement office or domestic violence resource center. In Dothan call 334-615-3000 for police, 334792-5314 for the House of Ruth or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or you can text “START” to 88788.

Chief William E. Benny
Dothan PD

Posted on

CALEA Accreditation Public Comment Portal

If you have comments regarding the Dothan Police Department’s CALEA Accreditation and would like to provide information to CALEA, there is an Accreditation Public Comment Portal located at http://cimrs2.calea.org/857.

The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency’s compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.

IMPORTANT: CALEA is not an investigatory body and subsequently the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes. Additionally, there will be no response other than acknowledgement to submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA® Accreditation.

I appreciate your support for our agency in maintaining the gold standard of professionalism in public safety.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

Posted on

CALEA Accreditation Public Comment Portal

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Accreditation Public Comment Portal

If you have comments regarding the Dothan Police Department’s CALEA accreditation and would like to provide information to CALEA, there is an Accreditation Public Comment Portal located at https://cimrs2.calea.org/857.

The purpose of the public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency’s compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, deliver of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.

IMPORTANT: CALEA is not an investigatory body and subsequently the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purpose. Additionally, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenents of CALEA Accreditation.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

Posted on

Dothan woman charged with child porn and sex crimes

On August 3, 2023, the Dothan Police Department conducted a search warrant at the home of Allenia Crittenden, 35 years old of Dothan. She was subsequently charged with one count of possession of Child Pornography, three counts of Bestiality, and one count of Filing a False Police Report. The investigation was the result of a tip sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Investigators with the Dothan Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit obtained digital evidence that revealed Crittenden was in possession of a video file containing child sexual assault material. Videos depicting Crittenden having sexual conduct with a canine was also recovered. Additional electronic and recording devices were seized from the residence to be analyzed. The canine was recovered in the home.

Dothan Animal Services responded and took possession of the canine. The canine appeared in good health and will remain in protection of the Dothan Animal Services until legal proceedings can be filed.

Crittenden was booked in the Dothan City Jail with a bond totaling $39,000. The investigation is still ongoing.

Posted on

Public viewing of active calls for service

The Dothan Police Department has provided public access to our computer aided dispatching information for selected call types of interest to the public. You may view this information and a map showing approximate locations of active calls on our website at the link below.

https://www.dothanpd.org/active-calls

This information allows the public to enjoy greater transparency into the daily operations of the police department as well as other city services.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

A view inside the Communications Center
Posted on

Dothan Man Receives Additional Child Pornography Charges

In December 2022, Dothan Police Department received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip indicated an individual within the city limits of Dothan had disseminated an image using an electronic messaging platform depicting child pornography. As the investigation continued, the account owner of the electronic messaging platform used to disseminate the image was identified.

On March 9, 2023, a search warrant was executed at the residence of the suspect in the 1200 block of Cannon Road. During the execution of the search warrant, several electronic devices were seized as evidence. On that day, 38 year-old Donny Ray Watkins was charged with one count of Dissemination of Obscene Material.

As the investigation continued and investigators gathered additional information, on March 28, 2023, Watkins was arrested and charged with four counts of Possession of Child Pornography. His bond was set at $60,000.

Posted on

Shots fired call leads to three arrests

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at approximately 5:20 p.m., Dothan Communications received a call for gunshots fired in the area of South Alice Street and West Selma Street. Multiple patrol officers were dispatched to the area where they began to canvass the area. Unfortunately, no suspects were located at that time. The Dothan Police Department’s Gun Investigation Unit (GIU) responded and identified a residence in the 1600 block of South Alice Street where a fight had occurred in the yard involving multiple subjects minutes prior to the gunshots fired call.

On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, the Dothan Police Department’s Gun Investigation Unit executed a search warrant in the 1600 block of South Alice Street, where contact was made with Lashawn Shiver and Tracy Porter. During the search Investigators located four (4) handguns, three (3) high-capacity magazines, and ammunition. Investigators also located and seized synthetic marijuana, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. While on scene, Desmond Griffin arrived and began interfering with investigators. After numerous commands to leave the scene, and failing to do so, Griffin was placed under arrest of Obstructing Governmental Operations.

Lashawn Shiver, 43-years-old of Dothan was arrested for active warrants with Houston County Sheriff’s Office to include Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. Mr. Shiver has the charge of Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm pending. Tracy Porter, 53-year-old of Dothan was arrested for Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstructing Governmental Operations. Desmond Griffin, 32-years-old of Dothan was charged with Obstructing Governmental Operations. The case is still under investigation and more charges are forthcoming.

The Dothan Police Department fully supports the Second Amendment and the Constitutional Carry Laws of the State of Alabama. However, when a person or people decide to disregard the safety of children across the street, at a school, playground, or any place of recreation we will take every action and use every resource available to us to bring those responsible to justice. The City of Dothan and its Police Department will not sit by and let this type of behavior go unchecked.

William E. Benny
Chief of Police

Posted on

Weekend shooting wounds three, one is in custody

On March 4, 2023 the Dothan Police Department responded to reports of an Assault in the 3000 block of Ross Clark Circle. Upon arrival officers found three victims had been shot with a firearm. Investigators responded to the scene and were able to identify the shooter, Antinio Zy’Keith Turner of Dothan. At this time, Turner has been arrested for three counts of Assault I. He is currently being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond. Victims were treated at area hospitals, and their injuries are not life threatening.

Posted on

Firearm assault leaves one dead

On Thursday, December 15, 2022, at approximately 6:58 P.M., officers responded to the 1300 block of Alexander Drive to the report of a firearm assault in which one person had been shot. When officers arrived on scene, they confirmed there was in fact one victim that had already been transported to Southeast Health by a personal vehicle. Officers arrived at the hospital and discovered the victim suffered from a single gunshot to the upper torso. The victim was in critical condition and was immediately taken to surgery where he succumbed to his injury. The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Alfonso Morrissette, of Dothan.

On the night prior, Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at approximately 6:15 P.M., two suspects shot at Morrisette at the same location, but he was not hit. Various residences and vehicles were hit during this incident. It has now been determined 20-year-old Zyshawn Codaun Coker and 19-year-old Keith Shukar Helms, both from Dothan, are the two suspects responsible for shooting at Morrissette on Wednesday night.

Zyshawn Coker has been charged with three counts of Shooting into an Occupied Building, one count of Shooting into an Unoccupied Building, one count of Shooting into an Unoccupied Vehicle and one count of Attempted Murder. These charges are in reference to the incident that occurred Wednesday night.

When located, Helms will be charged with the same charges in reference to the incident that occurred Wednesday night.

Thursday night’s incident in which Morrissette died, is still under investigation. The Dothan Police Department asks that anyone who has information related to the death of Morrissette to please call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to provide information in an anonymous capacity, you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help in an anonymous capacity.

Copyright © 2017-25 City of Dothan, Alabama