On April 27, 2026, a Dothan Police officer was patrolling around the 1000 block of Cloverdale when he noticed a man emerging from a wooded area with a passenger seat from a vehicle on his bicycle. The officer approached the man to investigate. During the encounter, Officers asked for consent to search the man’s property. During the search, officers found a debit card that was not in the man’s name. The man, identified as Daniel Shane Pegg (48), did not have a reasonable explanation for having the card.
The officer also had previous knowledge of a report taken for the person whose name was on the card for fraudulent activity after losing the card two days prior. The victim confirmed Pegg was not allowed to have the card. Pegg was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a debit/credit card. Additional charges are possible after an investigation.
Daniel Shane Pegg (48) of Dothan- Illegal Possession of a Credit/Debit Card
(DOTHAN, Al) On Saturday, April 18, 2026, just before 9:00 a.m., 27-year-old Rickie Tyrrell Temmis of Dothan was found murdered in the 300 block of Mauldin Drive.
The person responsible for his murder has been identified and arrested. The suspect is a 14-year-old juvenile. The juvenile has been charged with murder. In Alabama, a 14-year-old can potentially be transferred to adult court through a juvenile judge’s discretionary transfer process for murder. Due to the age of the suspect, and no transfer initiated at this time, no identifying information can be released about the suspect.
On April 13, 2026, Officers responded to a gas station in the 600 block of North Oates Street for an assault. The victim reported a male subject approached him, made derogatory comments, and proceeded to assault him. The male, after the assault, left on foot. The victim had never met or seen the suspect before the attack. Officers found the subject, identified as LaRay Jacquan Faulk, in the 400 block of North Herring Street. Faulk admitted to the earlier assault on the victim, who was over the age of 65. Officers attempted to detain Faulk to transport him to a hospital for evaluation when he actively resisted officers.
Faulk struck one officer in the face and bit another officer on the hand as they tried to detain him. Officers were able to get Faulk under control and place him in handcuffs. Faulk was arrested and charged with one count of Elderly Abuse and Neglect 2nd degree for the earlier assault. Faulk was also arrested for two counts of Assault 2nd degree for the assault on officers. Faulk was booked in the Houston County Jail.
Laray Jacquan Faulk (27) of Dothan- Elder Abuse and Neglect 2nd degree and two counts of Assault 2nd
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On February 26, 2026, the Dothan Police Department responded to a medical call at an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Westgate Parkway. The caller reported a female was unresponsive as life-saving efforts were in progress. Officers arrived on scene and immediately began to give emergency medical aid along with Dothan Fire Department paramedics. The victim, identified as Jakinah Chamique Freeman (25), was transported to a local hospital for treatment but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
While speaking with the person reporting the incident, it was learned by officers a black male was seen running from the residence prior to first responders arriving. Criminal investigators were called to the scene to investigate. Video surveillance in the area and witness statements led investigators to identify the suspect as Danious Da’Kel Sewell (21) of Abbeville.
After the investigation and forensic analysis, it was determined Freeman’s death was caused by fentanyl overdose. Investigators allege Sewell provided the fentanyl that was the cause of Freeman’s death. Sewell was charged with Manslaughter-Fentanyl and booked in the Houston County Jail. Sewell is being held without bond.
-Chief William E. Benny
Danious Da’kel Sewell (21) of Abbeville- Manslaughter-Fentanyl, no bond
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On April 7, 2026, the Dothan Police Department became aware of reports of a man engaging in inappropriate sex acts in front of victims in Dothan. An investigation immediately began in order to identify the person responsible. Witnesses described a small grey passenger car as the suspect vehicle. After reviewing various video surveillance sources and interviewing witnesses, it was determined the suspect was Adam Christopher Ash (37) of Dothan. A records check revealed Ash was a registered sex offender in Dothan.
While trying to locate Ash, investigators discovered Ash had changed jobs, addresses and went out of the city limits for an extended period of time without notifying the Dothan Police Department, as required by law. As a result of the investigation, Ash has been charged with four counts of felony Indecent Exposure and three counts for violating the Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Ash is being held without bond.
-Chief William E. Benny
Adam Christopher Ash (37) of Dothan- Four Counts of Indecent Exposure and Three Counts of SORNA violations, no bond.
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On April 9, 2026, the Dothan Police Department was notified that a package suspected to contain illegal drugs was set to be delivered to a Dothan address. Dothan Police Narcotics investigators were immediately notified. It was discovered that the suspects, identified as Gerald Rattery (40) of West Palm Beach, Florida and Brian Fields (39) of Chico, California, were set to receive the package containing illegal narcotics. Inside the package, investigators found approximately 10 pounds of marijuana.
After the delivery was made, Rattery and Fields left the location on a vehicle. A traffic stop on the vehicle revealed the package was placed in the trunk. Rattery was charged with one count of Conspiracy to Traffic Marijuana and Fields was charged with one count of Trafficking Marijuana. Both are being held on $1.5 million bonds.
-Chief William E. Benny
Gerald Anthony Ratter (40) of West Palm Beach, FL- Conspiracy to Traffic Marijuana, $1.5 million bondBrian Fields (40) of Chico, CA- Trafficking Marijuana, $1.5 million bondApproximately 10 pounds of Marijuana
On April 3, 2026, around 3:00 am, Dothan Police Officers responded to a burglary in progress in the 300 block of Daniel Circle. Officers met with the homeowner who explained he heard his dogs barking around 1:00 am. The homeowner checked the inside and outside of the residence but found nothing. Just before 3:00 am, the homeowner heard a loud crash and went to see what the sound was. The homeowner found the suspect, identified as Jacob Mark Wilson Gates (33) of Dothan, lying in the hallway after falling through the ceiling. The homeowner, in order to protect himself, struck Gates with a dog gate until Gates fled the residence.
Officers were quick to respond and tracked the suspect using a police K-9. The dog tracked the suspect to the 2000 block of Stonebridge where Gates was apprehended. It was clear to officers Gates was impaired by drug use. During a search, officers found a bag with numerous different pills along with a white powder and syringes. Through the investigation, it was discovered Gates entered the attic of the residence by climbing a porch railing and entering a roof vent. Gates was in the attic for about 2 hours before he fell through the ceiling.
Gates was arrested and charged with Burglary 2nd degree. Other charges are pending analysis of the pills and powder found on Gates.
On March 26, 2026, just before 7:00 am, officers responded to reports of a disturbance in the 100 block of Rock Bridge Road. As officers were responding, dispatchers provided a description of the people involved in the disturbance. An officer observed two individuals, one male and one female, matching the description and attempted to approach them. The two individuals took off running as the officers gave chase. The female, identified as Shadavia Marcel (23), was captured a short distance away and identified after providing a false name. Marcel told officers she knew she had warrants so she ran. While searching Marcel’s belongings, officers found methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia.
The male was captured by a different officer. The male, who also gave a false name knowing he had warrants, was identified as Jamal McClendon (37). Once officers de-escalated the scene, it was determined an argument between parties had turned physical. A third individual, Jasmiuna Wheeler (31), was determined to be the primary aggressor of the argument. Wheeler was also arrested on scene.
Shadavia Marcel was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and her outstanding warrants.
Jamal McClendon was charged with Obstructing Justice Using a False Identity and his outstanding warrants.
Jasmiuna Wheeler was charged with Domestic Violence 3rd degree.
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On November 15, 2025, just after 7:00 am, the Dothan Police Department responded to a residence in the 200 block of South Idlewild Path for a person down possibly having a medical episode. Officers and Dothan Fire paramedics found the victim, Jordan Marie Robinson (28) of Dothan, unresponsive. First responders immediately began life-saving treatment, but Robinson was pronounced dead on scene.
While inside the residence, officers were able to observe drug paraphernalia and residue in plain view in the residence. This led investigators to obtain a search warrant for the residence. Investigators seized various types of drugs that included methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, psilocybin, and fentanyl along with different items of drug paraphernalia. Investigators were able to link the drugs to the suspect in this case. The suspect, Jenne Clifton Adams (41) of Ashford, was charged that day with Drug Trafficking, three counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana 2nd degree, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. An autopsy on Robinson was ordered and received by investigators on March 3, 2026.
After a forensic autopsy was completed, the proximate cause of death was listed as fentanyl overdose. Investigators, through digital forensic analysis of phones and computers, were able to establish probable cause that Adams supplied the fentanyl to Robinson that caused her death.
Adams was charged additionally with one count of Manslaughter-Fentanyl and booked into the Houston County Jail. Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that has affected many lives in the Wiregrass region. Anyone possessing, supplying, or using this dangerous substance in our community can expect to be held accountable according to Alabama law. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Jordan Robinson as they grieve during this unimaginable time.
-Chief William E. Benny
Jesse Clifton Adams (41) of Ashford- Manslaughter-Fentanyl
(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 12th 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 1st degree relating to that shooting.
Information was also developed that Cox was responsible for a separate shooting involving the same victim on February 16th 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 2nd 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
Romello Tajeh Cox (20) of Dothan- Two counts Shooting into Occupied Dwelling, Two counts Shooting into Occupied Vehicle, Three counts Shooting into Unoccupied Dwelling, and one count Attempted Assault 1st, No bond.Kahlesha Mesha Cooper-Smith (21) of Dothan- Receiving Stolen Property 2nd
You must be logged in to post a comment.