Category: Arrests

(DOTHAN, Ala.)  On February 18, 2026, an investigator following leads on shooting incidents in Dothan spotted a suspect he knew was wanted for those shootings in the 600 block of North Lena Street.  The investigator recognized the suspect, Romello Tajeh Cox (20) of Dothan, as a suspect from previous shooting.  The investigator called for backup, and the residence was surrounded.  After commands for those in the apartment to come out, Cox and another individual exited the residence.  There was information obtained that there were more people inside the apartment with access to firearms.

The Special Response Team was activated while a search warrant was obtained for the apartment.  During execution of the search warrant, SRT operators verified there were no other occupants in the apartment.  Two firearms were located during the search.  One firearm was confirmed stolen.

Cox was previously wanted for a shooting into an occupied dwelling that occurred on February 12^th in the 1000 block of Lake Street near Martin Homes.  Shots were fired at a victim that struck that apartment and another apartment in the complex.  The other apartment that was struck was occupied by a female and a small child at the time of the shooting.  Cox was charged with two counts of Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling and one count of Attempted Assault 1^st degree relating to that shooting.

Information was also developed that Cox was responsible for a separate shooting involving the same victim on February 16^th in the 800 block of East Selma Street.  Cox, having seen the victim in a vehicle, fired shots at the vehicle striking that vehicle as well as two other vehicles.  Gunfire also struck two unoccupied houses.  Cox was also charged with three counts of Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle and two counts of Shooting into an Unoccupied Dwelling in relation to that shooting.

The other occupant of the apartment was charged with a crime in relation to the stolen firearm.  The suspect, Kahlesha Mesha Cooper-Smith (21) of Dothan, was charged with one count of Receiving Stolen Property 2^nd degree.

Dangerous acts involving firearms are unacceptable in the City of Dothan.  If you use a gun in commission of a violent crime you can expect to be prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed by law.  The Dothan Police Department will advocate for vigorous prosecution of these individuals in cooperation with the Houston County District Attorney’s Office.  More charges are possible as investigations continue.

-Chief William E. Benny

(DOTHAN, Ala.) On January 30, 2026, just before 10:00 am, the Dothan Communications Center received several reports of a vehicle crash into a retention pond in the 2700 block of Ross Clark Circle.  When first responders arrived, they immediately attempted to check on the person in the vehicle that was now submerged in the pond.  It was apparent soon after contact the victim was deceased.  A closer inspection of the victim revealed a fatal gunshot wound.  While stabilizing the scene, several witnesses reported a black male running away from the scene.  As investigators worked to determine the details, the Dothan Police Department was actively searching the area for someone matching the suspect’s description.  The victim, identified as Wesley Blake Bowen (33) of Dothan, was pronounced dead at the scene.

As officers were canvassing the area, officers came into contact with a black male on Stonewood Drive behind Farrah Circle that matched the description obtained from witnesses and surveillance in the area.  The suspect was identified as Michael Tywuan Taylor (24) of Ozark, AL.  Officers and investigators located a jacket and a handgun near where the suspect was located.

According to the preliminary investigation, Bowen and the suspect were en route to an unknown location with Bowen driving his vehicle.  At some point, the suspect pulled out a firearm in a suspected robbery and shot Bowen.  With Bowen incapacitated, the vehicle lost control and drove into a retention pond in the 2700 block of Ross Clark Circle.  The suspect has been charged with one count of Capital Murder-Robbery and is being held without bond.  We want to thank the many members of the community who gave information that assisted in the capture of this individual.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Bowen’s family and friends as they grieve. If anyone has any information about this case, they are encouraged to call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3632, Central Alabama Crimestoppers at 334-215-STOP, or give a tip anonymously online at P3TIPS.com.

-Chief William E. Benny

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(DOTHAN, Ala.) On December 10, 2025, the Dothan Police Department, in connection with a two-month investigation, charged Adam Scott Moore (42), Jeremy Leonard Blackmon (39), and Jimmie Lee Covington Jr. (38) with two counts of Human Trafficking 2^nd degree as well as other charges.  In November, investigators involved in the investigation of drug use and sale were alerted to activity by the three suspects involving setting up sexual encounters with clients through a social media platform.

According to investigators, Blackmon, Covington, and Moore were involved in the scheduling, payment, and protection of adult females over the age of 18 while they engaged in unlawful sexual activity for payment at local hotels.  During different operations, other crimes were uncovered that implicated the three suspects.  Moore was charged with two counts of Human Trafficking 2^nd degree and Chemical Endangerment of a Child.  Blackmon was charged with two counts of Human Trafficking 2^nd degree, Rape 1^st degree, and five failure to appear warrants with Dothan City Court.  Covington was charged with two counts of Human Trafficking 2^nd degree.  All suspects are being held without bond at the Houston County Jail.  More arrests and charges are possible as the investigation continues.

Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, no further information can be released.  Human Trafficking is a crime for which vulnerable individuals are exploited to benefit criminals by subjecting victims to terrible situations and conditions.  No person should be subjected to human trafficking.  The Dothan Police Department will aggressively follow leads on human trafficking in our area and advocate for aggressive prosecution of those involved.  We’ll help.  We’ll listen.  If you or someone you know is being or has been subjected to human trafficking, we encourage you to contact the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000, submit tips to Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP, or anonymously online at P3TIPS.com.

-Chief William E. Benny

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(DOTHAN, Ala.) On November 4, 2025, Dothan Police Narcotics Investigators seized 700 grams of fentanyl pills, 759 THC vape pens, and approximately 465 pounds of marijuana in search warrant conducted at a residence in the 2000 block of Woodland Drive.  This seizure was the result of a long-term, ongoing investigation into drugs being dealt in the City of Dothan.  The suspect, Vasquez Ramon Bryant (37) of Dothan, was arrested and charged with Trafficking-Fentanyl and Trafficking- Marijuana with more charges pending after further investigation.

On November 4^th, a patrol officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Bryant in the 3000 block of Ross Clark Circle.  A search of the vehicle yielded 62 grams in blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl.  A subsequent search warrant at the residence on Woodland Drive revealed a large quantity of various narcotics and paraphernalia.  Investigators found 700 grams of fentanyl in pill form with an approximate street value of $105,000.00, 759 individual THC vape devices with a street value of $11,925.00, approximately 465 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $232,500.00, various drug paraphernalia items, and two firearms, which included one AR style rifle.  The investigation is still ongoing.

I am very proud of the work of officers and investigators who put in countless hours working to make the City of Dothan a safer place.  The amount of fentanyl found was enough to kill the entire population of our city and then some.  We want the people supplying this poison on our streets to consider themselves on notice. We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will advocate for the harshest prosecution allowed by law.

-Chief William E. Benny

(DOTHAN, Ala.)  On November 2, 2025, Dothan Police Officers responded to reports of gunshots fired in the area of an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Kinsey Road.  Shortly after the call of shots fired, an officer was waved down in the area and told that a 12-year-old juvenile was suffering from a gunshot wound to the arm that was non-life threatening.  As officers were attempting to locate a crime scene, they were notified there was another report of a 19-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound to the lower leg that was also non-life threatening.  Officers were able to determine the victims and shootings were all related to a single incident.  Criminal investigators were called to the scene to begin the investigation.  The two people who were shot were treated at a local hospital and released.

A suspect was identified early in the investigation, and officers began searching.  The suspect, identified as Kharon Martin (18) was located at a convenience store near South Oates Street and Ross Clark Circle.  Martin was brought to the police department for an interview.  A second suspect, a 16-year-old juvenile, was also identified as a suspect and was located at his residence.  Martin confessed to being part of the shooting during questioning although he did not actually fire a weapon.  The 16-year-old juvenile also confessed to the shooting during an interview and admitted to being one person firing a weapon.

Martin has been charged with two counts of Assault 1^st degree for his role in the crime.  Martin is being held without bond at the Houston County Jail.  The 16-year-old juvenile was charged as an adult with two counts of Assault 1^st degree and Illegal possession of a firearm by a juvenile.  The juvenile is also being held without bond at the Houston Count Jail.  Due to juvenile privacy laws, no further information can be released about the juvenile.  Investigators continue to investigate this crime and more arrests are possible.

Actions have consequences.  Firing a gun at someone is a serious crime that will have serious consequences in the City of Dothan.  This type of violence has no place in our community, and we will vigorously pursue prosecution to get the people committing this violence off our streets. We are thankful for the tips that came from the community and solid police work by officers that allowed us to make these arrests quickly.

-Chief William E. Benny

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(DOTHAN, Ala.)  On October 26, 2025, the Dothan Police Department was notified of a burglary at a non-profit organization in the 900 block of Sixth Avenue.  An employee noticed gaming consoles were missing and knew about previous break-ins.  The business contacted the police department to begin an investigation.  A criminal investigation was launched to determine the individual(s) responsible.

Several leads were developed by criminal investigators and a suspect developed.  It was discovered during the investigation that a 14-year-old juvenile entered the business through a window to steal the gaming consoles.  The juvenile was brought to the Dothan Police Department and admitted to entering the business to steal the gaming consoles.  Investigators recovered the stolen property at a residence within two blocks of the non-profit organization.  The juvenile has been charged with Burglary 3^rd degree and turned over to Juvenile Court Services.  Due to juvenile privacy laws, no further information can be released.

Any time someone’s property is entered illegally it is a violation of personal privacy.  It is disheartening that this individual would victimize a non-profit business that serves the very community they lived in.  While we are positive this non-profit organization would have helped this individual with any needs they had, it does not give anyone the right to take property that does not belong to them.  We will continue to hold these individuals accountable for unlawful behavior.  We are grateful to return the property to its rightful owner.

-Chief William E. Benny

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(DOTHAN, Ala.)  On October 9, 2025, the Dothan Police Department was made aware of threats made on social media targeting a Dothan City School.  An individual made threats to commit a targeted act of violence against Dothan High School the following Monday (October 13^th).  Criminal investigators immediately began working on the case.  The person who made the threat was identified as a student at the school.

Once the student was identified, contact was made with the student as well as forensic analysis of their social media accounts.  As a result of the investigation, the juvenile was arrested for Making Terrorist Threats 2^nd degree and placed in the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center.  Due to the juvenile’s age, no further information can be released.  Dothan City Schools will follow up with discipline according to their student code of conduct.

The Dothan Police Department takes all threats serious, especially those made towards a school.  We will not allow anyone to terrorize our students, faculty, staff, or parents by making ill-advised statements indicating threats of violence.  We are thankful to the individuals that shared this information with us so we could act.  The strongest deterrent to violence and crime is a community willing to take a strong stand against it in partnership with the police.

-Chief William E. Benny

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(DOTHAN, Ala.)  On October 7, 2025 at about 9:30 am, Dothan Police Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Fifth Avenue for a suspicious person call.  The caller told dispatchers a man come to the door and claimed to be a Dothan Police Officer.  The citizen asked for identification to verify the man was with Dothan Police.  The man never showed identification and eventually left the property.  The citizen, concerned about the interaction, called the Dothan Police Department to inquire if an officer really was at her residence.

As officers arrived in the area, the suspect, identified as Michael Darvous Pickett (23) of Dothan, was found in the area and positively identified as the person posing as a Dothan Police Officer.  After questioning, Pickett admitted to saying he was a Dothan Police Officer more than once.  It is unlawful for anyone to impersonate any law enforcement officer and perform an act in that capacity.  Pickett was arrested and charged with one felony count of Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer. Pickett was placed in the Houston County Jail.

People who impersonate law enforcement is especially concerning for citizens in our community.  We encourage citizens to ask for identification and verify the identity of plain clothes officers.  Officers will confirm their identity through showing a badge or credentials.  If you are still suspicious, you can call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000 to verify employment.  We are grateful for the citizen who showed great situational awareness during this incident.

-Chief William E. Benny