All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
Mugshots of the Day 02/04/2025 through 02/05/2025
All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
Mugshots of the Day 02/03/2025
All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
Mugshots of the Day 01/31/2025 through 02/02/2025
All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
Mugshots of the Day 01/30/2025
All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
Mugshots of the Day 01/28/2025 through 01/29/2025
All persons are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
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
Man Arrested After He Abducts Female; Hotel Employees Intervene
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On January 26, 2025, Dothan Police Investigators arrested Stephen Spencer Ayers (46) with Kidnapping 1st degree and Sexual Abuse 1st degree after an incident at a local motel in the 2100 block of Ross Clark Circle. Investigators say Ayers, who was a resident at the hotel, inappropriately touched the victim, who is under the age of 18, before forcefully taking her into his hotel room. Fortunately, hotel housekeepers saw the incident, acted quickly, and removed the victim from the room before calling police. Ayers is being held without bond at the Houston County Jail.
Just after 1:00 pm on Sunday, Dothan Police were requested to respond to a possible kidnapping at a hotel in the 2100 block of Ross Clark Circle. When officers arrived, employees told officers about the incident where a white male forced a female into a hotel room. They intervened and removed the female, who was a juvenile under the age of 18. Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, but he fled on foot on the second floor of the hotel. Officers were able to quickly surround him and take him into custody. They identified the suspect as Stephen Ayers.
It was discovered, after speaking with the victim, that Ayers had made sexual advances toward the victim, which she refused. Ayers then touched the victim inappropriately, and the victim tried to leave the area. Ayers then grabbed the victim from behind and forced her into a hotel room.
Stephen Ayers was arrested and charged with Kidnapping 1st degree and Sexual Abuse 1st degree. Ayers was transported to the Houston County Jail with no bond.
Crimes like these will not be tolerated. The Dothan Police Department will hold those who commit these crimes accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
– Chief William E. Benny

Victim in Mance Newton Road Murder Identified; Suspect in Custody After Hours Long Stand-off
(DOTHAN, Ala.) On January 24, 2025, Dothan Police investigators arrested Dustin Joe Rigsbee (31) of Dothan with one count of Murder in the death of Harleigh Michelle Dills (31). Rigsbee was taken into custody after an hours long stand-off in Jack, AL. Rigsbee was booked into the Dale County Jail and held without bond.
Just after 9:30 am on January 24, 2025, the Dothan Communications Center was notified of a possible firearm assault in the 4000 block of Mance Newton Road in Dothan. The reporting party said Rigsbee, who is a family member of the reporting party, said he had shot Dills at their Mance Newton home. Officers were immediately dispatched to the residence. Officers, while clearing the residence, located Dills in the residence with a single gunshot wound to the upper body. Officers secured the scene and criminal investigators began their investigation.
After a search warrant was obtained for the residence on Mance Newton Road, crime scene investigators began to collect forensic evidence. It was discovered Dills had been shot with a high caliber firearm.
As officers were responding to the scene, they requested the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office make contact with the reporting party and Rigsbee at the residence in Jack, AL. When Coffee County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene, Rigsbee fled out of the rear of the residence. Crisis Negotiators were able to make contact with Rigsbee by cell phone to begin negotiations.
After an hours long negotiation, Rigsbee surrendered to Coffee County Sheriff’s Deputies and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency SWAT team. Rigsbee was transported to the Dothan Police Department to be interviewed. Rigsbee has been charged with murder and being held with no bond.
The Dothan Police Department wants to thank the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for their assistance in this case.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dills’ family and friends during this difficult and tragic time.

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Dothan Police Seize Drugs, Guns, and Cash During 3-Day Operation
(DOTHAN, Ala.) This week, the Dothan Police Department VICE and Narcotics Division served 10 search warrants on various addresses as the culmination of several investigations into illegal activity in the City of Dothan. During the search warrant execution on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Investigators were able to recover 15 firearms, three vehicles, 4.5 pounds of marijuana, 15 grams of methamphetamine, 20 grams of crack cocaine, 3 grams of powder cocaine, 12 hydrocodone pills, three morphine pills, and $14,300 in illegal proceeds. Several individuals were taken into custody during this operation, and the investigation is still ongoing with more arrests possible.
On Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Investigators served a search warrant at a residence in Dothan. During this search, investigators located eleven (11) firearms as well as 22 grams of marijuana.
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, Investigators served three search warrants at various addressed in Dothan. During those three searches, investigators seized three (3) firearms, 14 grams of methamphetamine, two pounds of marijuana, and $13,000 cash.
On Friday, January 17, 2025, investigators served six search warrants at various addresses in Dothan. During those searches, investigators seized 20 grams of crack cocaine, over four pounds of marijuana, 3 grams of powder cocaine, 12 hydrocodone pills, 3 morphine pills, 1 gram of methamphetamine, a shotgun, and $1,300 cash.
Through diligent and thorough investigations, investigators have assured these drugs will be off the streets, 15 guns are not being used to commit crimes, and $14,300 cash cannot be used to buy more guns and drugs. The Dothan Police Department is committed to making the City of Dothan as safe as possible through the enforcement of the laws of the State of Alabama. Due to the sensitive nature of the investigations, no further information can be released.
-Chief William E. Benny
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