Category: Press Releases

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Dothan Man Arrested on Sex Charges

On May 8th 2018 Dothan Police Officers responded to a report of a rape in the 1100 block of Crestline Drive. Officers made contact with the mother of the juvenile victim and she was transported to Flowers Hospital for examination.

The suspect of the rape was identified as Emiliano Rodriguez, 40, of Dothan. Rodriguez was taken to the Dothan Police Department for questioning. After interviews were completed Emiliano Rodriguez was charged with 10 counts of Rape 2nd Degree, 20 counts of Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree, and 5 counts of Sodomy 2nd Degree. A bond amount has not been set in this case.

Due to the sensitive nature of the case and the victim being a juvenile no more information is being released on this case. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

 

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Arrest Made in Early Morning Robbery

On May 4th 2018 at approximately 4:00 a.m. Dothan Police responded to a report of an Armed Robbery at the Hobo Pantry located in the 700 block of Ross Clark Circle. The cashier on duty reported that a black male entered the business armed with a handgun. The suspect was wearing a white hair net pulled over his face and black sunglasses.

The suspect demanded money from the business and fled the scene with approximately $100.00 in cash. The cashier was able to see him get into a grey van and flee the scene. A short time later an experienced patrol officer, that was training a new police officer, observed the vehicle and stopped it in the 900 block of East Main Street.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Courtney Delaney Thomas, 30, of N. Alice St. Dothan. Thomas was in possession of the money, handgun, and clothing items that were used in the Robbery. Thomas was arrested and charged with one count of Robbery 1st Degree. A bond amount has not been set in this case. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

 

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Drug Trafficker Arrested

On 04/30/2018 Vice Investigators concluded a five month narcotics investigation into narcotics being sold and distributed through the north side of Dothan.

Investigators have arrested 29 year old Sulen Pena, of Scott Road, with Drug Trafficking (methamphetamine), Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (cocaine), and Possession of Marijuana 2nd degree. Bonds total $78,000.

The investigation is ongoing. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

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Drug Trafficker Jailed Following Pursuit

On 04/30/2018 as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, Vice Investigators attempted to stop a vehicle at the intersection of East Main Street and Sanitary Dairy Road. The vehicle refused to stop and a pursuit ensued through the south side of the county. Officers with the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and ALEA assisted with the pursuit. The pursuit ended at the intersection of Sealy Wells Road and State Line Road. Following the pursuit Vice Investigators executed a search warrant in the 4500 block of County Road 33 Ashford. Houston County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the search warrant.

Investigators were able to recover evidence from the vehicle as well during the pursuit. investigators have arrested and charged 46 year old Michael Patterson, of County Road 33 Ashford, with Drug Trafficking (methamphetamine), Obstructing Justice Using a False Identity, Possession of Marijuana 2nd degree, and Attempting to Elude a Police Officer. Bonds total $55,500.

All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 

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Dothan Police Make Arrest for Rape 1st Degree and Sexual Abuse of a Child Less than 12 Years of Age

On April 30th 2018 Dothan Police Investigators received a report of a possible sex crime against a child under 12 years old. An investigation began immediately and the suspect was identified as Joseph Ramirez, 36, of Radford Circle, Dothan.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for Ramirez’s home in the 100 block of Radford Circle. Before executing the search warrant Ramirez made it known to police that he was armed with a firearm and made threats against himself and officers if they attempted to take him into custody.

The Dothan SRT Team was used to execute the search warrant. When they arrived at the residence Ramirez had barricaded the doors and covered the windows in the home. The SRT Team made entry into the home through a window and encountered Ramirez with a shotgun making threats to the officers. After a brief struggle Ramirez was taken into custody with minor injuries.

Ramirez was taken to the Dothan Police Department for questioning. After interviews were concluded Ramirez was charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years of age and two counts of rape 1st degree. This investigation is ongoing and more charges are pending.

All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

 

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Dothan High Student Arrested for Making Terrorist Threats

On April 30th Dothan Police investigators arrest a fifteen year old Dothan High School student for making a terrorist threat.  It was reported that the suspect told other students on the school bus that he was going to bring a gun to school on Monday and shoot someone.

Over the weekend there were social media posts made by other students at the school warning people of the threats.  A number of police and school officials were at the school to ensure the safety of the students. These threats caused a major disruption of school activities and a large number of students were either absent from school or were checked out due to the fear of a major incident.

The student that made the threat was brought in and suspended by Dothan City Schools. He was also taken to the Dothan Police Department for questioning. After questioning he was arrested and charged with Making Terrorist Threats and taken to the Diversion Center.

The investigation is ongoing and due to the fact that this case involves a juvenile no further information can be released. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

 

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Arrest Made for Capital Murder in Infant Death

On January 2nd 2018 patrol officers and emergency medical personnel responded to 134 Coral Ln. in Dothan, AL to a report of an infant child not breathing. Once on scene they found the parents of the three month old child performing CPR. The child was taken to Flowers Hospital emergency room by ambulance.

After all life saving measures were taken the child was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Medical personnel were unable to determine a cause of death and the child was sent to Alabama Department of Forensic Science to have an autopsy performed.

On April 24th investigators received the results of the autopsy. Medical examiners determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and torso. The autopsy results showed various internal injuries that were not visible upon external examination.

On April 25th investigators re-interviewed the parents of the child. As a result it was determined that the father of the child, Rolando Castillo Jr., (30) of South Ball St. Slocomb, AL, was the person that caused the injuries resulting in the infant’s death. Due to the age of the child Rolando Castillo Jr. was charged with Capital Murder (less than fourteen years of age) and is being held with no bond.

The investigation into the murder is ongoing and all persons are innocent until proven guilty.

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Aggravated Child Abuse Arrest

On April 14th Dothan Police responded to a report of Child Abuse at Flowers Hospital. Investigators learned that a two year child had suffered burns on his foot and hand. The child also had bruising on the facial area, abdomen, and buttocks.

The child was transferred to the Children’s of Alabama burn unit in Birmingham where it was determined that the child suffered 2nd Degree burns. Investigators were informed that the injuries suffered by the child were consistent with child abuse.

During the course of the investigation multiple persons were interviewed and Investigators charged Kewan Deshawn-Obrien Walker, 22, of Trillium Circle in Dothan with one count of Aggravated Child Abuse. His bond has been set at $100,000.00.

All Persons are innocent until proven guilty.

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Police Officer Arrested on Multiple Charges

The Dothan Police Department has arrested one of our own. Earlier today some of our officers were engaged in a training class when one of the supervisors began acting strangely. Two supervisors identified his behavior as erratic and highly unusual. After conferring with other members of the training class they exercised their authority under the City of Dothan’s drug testing policy and escorted the supervisor to the Health Clinic for mandatory drug testing. As policy dictates, the employee was placed on Administrative Leave. During the relief of duty process two bottles of a controlled substance were discovered in his police car. Vice officers were called and conducted a criminal investigation. Jonathan Whaley has been charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a controlled Substance and two counts of Theft of Property 2nd Degree.

All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Study shows benefits of body cameras

The United States Department of Justice recently funded a study of the effects of body-worn cameras on officer activity, officer use-of-force and citizen complaints. The study found that officers equipped with body-worn cameras made more arrests, wrote more citations, were involved in fewer use-of-force situations and received fewer citizen complaints that those officers without cameras.

Many community stakeholders and criminal justice leaders have suggested placing body-worn cameras on police officers improves the civility of police-citizen encounters and enhances citizen perceptions of police transparency and legitimacy.

In response, many police departments, including the Dothan Police Department, have adopted this technology to improve the quality of policing in their communities. The existing evaluation evidence on the intended and unintended consequences of outfitting police officers with body-worn cameras is still developing.

This study reports the findings of a randomized controlled trial involving more than 400 police officers in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD).

The study shows that officers who wore cameras generated significantly fewer complaints and use of force reports relative to control officers without cameras. Officers who wore cameras also made more arrests and issued more citations than their non-camera-wearing counterparts.

In addition, a cost-benefit analysis revealed that savings from reduced complaints against officers, and the reduced time required to resolve such complaints, resulted in substantial cost savings for the police department. In 66% of complaint investigations, the body-worn camera evidence alone was enough to dispel or confirm the complaint against the officer.

Considering that LVMPD had already introduced reforms regarding use of force through a Collaborative Reform Initiative prior to implementing body-worn cameras, these findings suggest that body worn cameras can have compelling effects without increasing costs.

To read the complete report, click here.

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