GA Man Arrested for Attempted Murder and Robbery

On September 14, 2021, Dothan Police Officers responded to a gas station in the 1100 block of Ross Clark Circle for reports of a man with a firearm.  Before officers arrived on scene, reports were updated that shots had been fired and a vehicle had been stolen from the scene.  Investigators arrived on scene to begin the investigation.  According to victims and witnesses, the suspect, Steven Smalley (48) of Alto, GA, approached the victim, armed with a handgun, and demanding the victim’s vehicle.  When the victim refused, Smalley fired one round towards the victim but did not strike him.  Smalley was able to obtain the vehicle keys from the victim and drove off with the vehicle.

A BOLO was issued for the vehicle as investigators worked the crime scene.  Shortly after the BOLO was issued, Smalley was located on Ross Clark Circle driving towards the crime scene.  Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and took Smalley into custody.

Steven John Smalley (48) of Alto, GA was charged with one count of Attempted Murder and one count of Robbery 1st degree and is being held without bail.

Body from Huskey Road Identified

On August 11, 2021 at about 10:00 pm, Dothan Police Officers responded to the 2300 block of Huskey Road for a person down call.  The 911 caller told police they had found what appeared to be a human body in a grassy area off the roadway.  Officers responded, confirmed the presence of a body, and secured the crime scene for further investigation.  Investigators from Criminal Investigations Division Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene to start the death investigation.

After investigation, the victim has been identified and family members have been notified of her death.  The victim was identified by fingerprints as Dorothy Diane Sims (66) of Dothan.  The investigation into the events surrounding Ms. Sims’ death is still under investigation.  If anyone has any information about this incident or if anyone saw Ms. Sims on August 10 or 11, we are asking they contact Investigator M. Owens or Sergeant R. Hall at 334-615-3632, or they can remain anonymous by calling Crimestoppers at 334-793-7000.

Our deepest condolences are with Ms. Sims’ family during this time.

Monday Night Shooting of Two Women Leads to Arrest of Dothan Man

On July 12, 2021, the Dothan Police Department Communications Center was notified by a local hospital that two victims entered the emergency room.  Each victim was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and one victim in critical condition.  After interviews, police learned the shooting occurred at a residence in the 1000 block of Fountain Street and responded to the scene.  As the first officer arrived on scene, a man was detained exiting the residence who was in possession of a firearm, and he was taken into custody.  The man was identified as Joshua George.  There were several other individuals on the scene who witnessed the incident.

After interviews with witnesses on scene, investigators learned that the suspect, Joshua George, became involved in an altercation with a male family member at the residence on Fountain Street.  After the altercation escalated from verbal to physical, George left briefly but returned a short time later.  George, armed with a handgun, began firing his weapon in the residence.  The multiple gunshots struck both victims, who were transported to the hospital in a private vehicle.  One victim was treated and released from the hospital the same night.  The other victim received a gunshot wound to the upper torso and is in critical but stable condition.  George was arrested and charged in connection with the crime as the shooter.

Joshua Roshun George (21) of Dothan was charged with two counts of Assault 1st degree, one count of Attempted Assault 1st degree, and one count of Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Dwelling with bonds totaling $105,000.

Officers respond to a high number of fireworks calls

Over the July 4th weekend, Dothan Police officers responded to a high number of calls involving fireworks. Nearly 1 in 12 calls for service involved fireworks.

Many of these reports involved persons launching fireworks with intent to damage property or in a manner meant to injure persons.

Officers investigating fireworks complaints were targets of firework mortars intentionally fired at officers and their vehicles clearly intending to injure officers or damage their vehicles.

Use of fireworks inside of the city limits is both dangerous and illegal.

The video below contains a sample of calls and activity that officers faced over the weekend.

Motorcyclist Injured in Hit and Run Accident

On June 26, 2020, Dothan Police Traffic investigators were dispatched to a hit and run accident involving a motorcycle in the 2600 block of Nottingham Way. The victim was transported trauma alert to the hospital and is currently in stable condition. The suspect fled the scene and remains at large.

Austin Tyler Enfinger (23) of Dothan, Alabama is wanted for questioning in this case. Enfinger was last seen in the area of Old Campbellton Highway in Dale County turning south onto Curry Town Road occupying a gray 2010 Suzuki SX4. Police are asking anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Enfinger is encouraged to call the Dothan Police Department 334-615-3000.

Community members wanting to assist anonymously can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line 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.

 

Former Masseuse Charged with Aggravated Criminal Surveillance

On June 14, 2021, the Dothan Police Department was made aware by a contractor doing renovations to a business in the 100 block of Hidden Glen Way that a camera was located hidden on the property.  Investigators were immediately put on the case and identified the source of the camera.  The investigation revealed that Paul Meadows, the owner of a massage business, was secretly recording massage sessions with female clients.  Only one video was found stored on the camera after forensic analysis.  On June 21, 2021, Investigators obtained a felony warrant for Meadows’ arrest and he was arrested the same day.  Due to the privacy and sensitive nature of the case, no other details will be released.

Paul J. Meadows (50) was charged with Aggravated Criminal Surveillance with a bond of $15,000.

Suspect in custody following pursuit on Circle

On June 16, 2021 just before 8 AM, patrol officers were dispatched to an incident on Ross Clark Circle. Following a brief altercation involving gunfire, the suspect fled in a police vehicle leading to a pursuit that terminated in the 2300 block of Denton Road. The suspect was taken into custody at that time.

Dothan Police will be releasing additional information about this incident to the media during a press briefing scheduled for 3PM on June 16, 2021 at the Dothan Police Department headquarters.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly reported the location of the end of the pursuit at 3200 block of Denton Road. This item has been revised to show the correct location. (17 Jun 2021)

Arrest Made on Shooting on South Oates Street

On June 8, 2021, the Dothan patrol officers responded to reports of a shooting at a residence in the 1900 block of South Oates Street.  Officers found a victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound after a verbal altercation with the suspect.  The victim was transported to a local hospital where he remains in critical but stable condition.  Investigators from the Criminal Investigations Division began the investigation and quickly developed a suspect.  On June 9, 2021, the suspect was taken into custody.  Investigators charged Demarques Ward with attempted murder in relation to the shooting.

Demarques Antonio Ward (19) has been charged with Attempted Murder with a bond of $60,000.

Dothan Police Make Drug Arrest

 

On May 25, 2021, Dothan investigators were preparing to execute a search warrant at a hotel in the 2100 block of Ross Clark Circle. Before the search warrant could be executed, the suspect exited the hotel room and entered a vehicle in the parking lot. Investigators were able to block the vehicle into a parking space. Officers ordered the suspect, 38 year old Dedrick Farold Smith of Columbus, Georgia, to put his vehicle in park and get out of the vehicle. He then accelerated, rammed one of the police vehicles and fled the parking lot.

Officers pursued Smith round Ross Clark Circle to the intersection of Third Avenue where he collided with another police vehicle and again fled the scene traveling North on Third Avenue. Smith travelled to the intersection of Third Avenue and Cottonwood Road where he collided into the rear of an innocent bystander causing severe damage to both vehicles.

Both Smith and the victim from the vehicle crash were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Dedrick Farold Smith has been taken into custody and charged with Two (2) counts of Attempted Assault 1st Degree, One (1) count of Assault 1st Degree, Drug Trafficking (Methamphetamine), Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm, Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree, Receiving Stolen Property 2nd Degree,  and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Marijuana). Smith also had three active warrants in Houston County Al. One Failure to Appear for Trafficking Methamphetamines’, one Failure to Appear for Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree, and a warrant for Escape 2nd Degree. No Bond had been set in this case. Additional charges are pending.

Update on Murder from Alabama Avenue

On April 29, 2021, Criminal Investigators from the Violent Crimes Unit and Forensic Services Unit began the investigation into the murder of Johnnie Settle in the 700 block of Alabama Avenue.  In the evening hours of May 4, 2021, the suspect in the murder was taken into custody.  Investigators were able to make contact with multiple witnesses who were able to identify the shooter.  The suspect was identified as a 14 year old juvenile.  The juvenile was charged with murder in juvenile court and placed in the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center.  Due to the age of the suspect, no other information about the juvenile will be released.

The Dothan Police Department would like to thank the many members of the community who came forward to assist us in bringing this case to a close.  The relationship with the community is a valued relationship to the Dothan Police Department.

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