News and Events

On June 5, 2024, Dothan Investigators arrested Willie Edward Franklin (38) of Dothan for Shooting into an Unoccupied Vehicle and Certain Person Forbidden to Possess a Firearm after an investigation into a shooting in the 1000 block of South Bell Street.  The suspect was identified by surveillance footage in the area.  The motivation for the shooting is still under investigation.  No injuries were reported, but a vehicle on the street was struck once by gunfire.  Once Franklin was identified, it was determined Franklin was forbidden to possess a firearm by Alabama law.  Franklin was booked into the Houston County Jail with no bond.

On June 4, 2024, Dothan Police officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 1000 block of South Bell Street.  When they arrived, the suspects were gone from the area.  While investigating the shooting, officers located multiple shell casings in the area and found a vehicle had been struck by gunfire.  Criminal Investigators were assigned to the case.

Investigators were able to interview witnesses and review video cameras in the area.  Franklin was identified as the person who fired the round that struck the vehicle.  A review of Franklin’s criminal history showed a criminal conviction that made it unlawful for him to possess a firearm.  Investigators located and arrested Franklin.  He was charged with one count of Shooting into an Unoccupied Vehicle and one count of Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm.  The investigation is still ongoing.  If anyone has any information about this crime, they are encouraged to call the Dothan Police Department at 334615-3632 or 334-793-0215.

Special Response Team and Narcotics investigators served a search warrant after a weeks-long investigation and arrested three people as well as seizing drugs and guns.  Investigators arrested and charged Jaquez McCraney (32), Desmond Williams (29), and Efosa Willis (25) with several charges relating to the investigation.  Police seized drugs, guns, and cash from the search.

For several weeks, VICE/Narcotics Investigators, working on information, were investigating an illegal drug operation in the area of the 900 block of Sixth Avenue in Dothan.  Investigators found that people involved were selling drugs including mushrooms, cocaine and marijuana.  Since the investigation revealed the suspects were commonly in possession of firearms during the sale of narcotics, the Special Response Team (SRT) was used in the operation.

On May 17, 2024, the Special Response Team, along with the VICE/Narcotics Division investigators, executed a search warrant on the residence.  During the search, investigators seized 1 ½ pounds of marijuana, 5.7 ounces of Psilocybin mushrooms, 3 grams of cocaine, 8 Adderall pills, and 2 MDMA (Ecstasy) pills.  Investigators also found 3 firearms, which included an AK-47 rifle.  A money counter along with $3,400 in US Currency was also found.  The following people were arrested following the search:

Dothan Police Investigators charged Kenneth Ray Craddock (45) of Dothan with Assault 1^st Degree.  Craddock was charged after shooting another person in a residence shared with several other individuals in the 300 block of North Bell Street.  The victim is receiving treatment at a local hospital for what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.  Craddock was taken to the Houston County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

Just after 8:00 am on Wednesday May 8, 2024, Dothan Police officers responded to a residence in the 300 block of North Bell Street for reports of a man with a gunshot wound.  Officers arrived on scene within two minutes of being dispatched.  Officers entered the house and found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the back.  Officers acted quickly and provided basic first aid to the victim until paramedics could arrive.  As officers were securing the scene, the suspect, identified as Kenneth Craddock, was walking back to the residence from the 200 block of North Bell Street.  Craddock immediately admitted he was the shooter and was detained by officers.

According to people on scene, a verbal dispute led to the shooting.  Craddock, after the shooting, left with the firearm and that firearm has not been recovered.  During a search warrant of the residence, investigators located two firearms that were not the weapon used in the incident.  Kenneth Craddock was arrested and charged with Assault 1^st degree with a $30,000 bond.

###

DOTHAN, Ala.- Dothan Police arrested Keith Shedrick Pullin (35) of Dothan for Attempted Domestic Violence 1^st degree and Assault 1^st degree after he used his vehicle to ram the victim’s vehicle to try to make her stop.  Pullin was taken to the Houston County Jail with a $60,000 bond.

Around midnight on May 2, 2024, Dothan Police were dispatched to a vehicle crash in the 1100 block of East Newton Street.  According to multiple people, the incident began at Plum Lounge on Montgomery Highway.  The victim, who had a prior domestic relationship with Pullin, was at Plum Lounge to pick up a friend.  As the victim was trying to pick up her friend, Pullin approached her and began an argument.  The victim rushed her friend into the vehicle to drive away.  Pullin ran to his vehicle and began to chase the victim.

Pullin used his vehicle to ram the victim’s vehicle several times in an attempt to make her stop her vehicle.  After the last collision, Pullin’s vehicle crashed and overturned.  Pullin was transported to a local hospital for treatment.  The victim and her friend were checked at the scene for their injuries.  After conflicting stories from Pullin and the victim, investigators were able to pull surveillance footage at the intersection of North Oates and West Powell Street that show Pullin chasing the victim’s vehicle.

Once discharged from the hospital, Pullin was arrested and charged with Attempted Domestic Violence 1^st degree and Assault 1^st degree with a $60,000 bond.

Everyone deserves relationships free from domestic violence.  If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, they can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or the House of Ruth Dothan at 334-793-2232.

###

DOTHAN, Ala.- Dothan Police arrested and charged Mario Eugene Bianchetti (49) of Dothan with Domestic Violence 1^st degree, Attempted Domestic Violence 2^nd degree, and resisting arrest after altercation at Dothan apartment complex.  Bianchetti was transported to the Houston County Jail on a $78,000 bond.

On May 4, 2024 around 9:45 pm, Dothan Communications Center dispatchers received a call of a burglary in progress at Oates Estates Apartments (3055 Flynn Road) and dispatched the Dothan Police Department.

When officers arrived on scene, two bystanders had the suspect, identified as Mario Bianchetti, detained until police arrived.  Police discovered Bianchetti went to an apartment in order to see one of the victims, who had a prior domestic relationship with Bianchetti.  Bianchetti, according to witnesses, kicked open the front door to the apartment where he was confronted by the two friends of the victim.  Bianchetti became violent and the two friends were able to detain him for police.  During the struggle, Bianchetti bit one of the friends.  Bianchetti was checked at the scene for head and neck pain while the friend also received treatment for the bite.

It was also discovered Bianchetti had been to the apartment earlier in the day.  Bianchetti, during that visit, attempted to kick down the door but was unsuccessful.  Bianchetti was arrested and charged with Attempted Domestic Violence 2^nd degree (for the earlier attempt to kick the door down), Domestic Violence 1^st degree and resisting arrest.

Everyone deserves relationships free from domestic violence.  If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, they can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or the House of Ruth Dothan at 334-793-2232.

###

On April 27, 2024, Dothan Police Investigators charged Keith Jamer Cleveland (61) of Dothan with two counts of Attempted Murder after a fire at the victim’s residence was determined to be set deliberately.  One of the victims and Cleveland had a prior dating relationship.

Shortly after midnight on April 27, 2024, Dothan Police Officers and the Dothan Fire Department were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of Rosewood Drive in Dothan.  Initial reports were that a vehicle and residence were fully engulfed by fire.  The residents were able to leave the residence before the house caught on fire completely.  During the investigation, it was discovered that a victim’s tires were slashed with a sharp instrument before the fire.

The suspect used an accelerant to start the fire of the vehicle before it spread to the residence since it was parked in the garage.  Investigators learned that Cleveland had threatened one of the victims with violence prior to the fire starting.  Cleveland was arrested and charged with two counts of Attempted Murder for the two victims in the residence.  Cleveland’s bonds total $120,000.