Proudly serving Dothan, Alabama since 1904
On April 19, 2022, the Dothan Police Department charged John Cole Altman, 18 years old of Abbeville, AL, with Rape First Degree. His bond was set at $60,000.00. This charge is a result of an investigation into an incident that took place in Dothan on April 15, 2022. Due to the sensitive nature of this case and the juvenile privacy laws, no further information can be provided.
On April 19, 2022, the Dothan Police Department was made aware of possible inappropriate contact between an adult male and a juvenile under the age of 16. Due to the allegations, an investigation was started which has led to 45 year-old Jason Dean Burdeshaw, of Dothan, being charged with two counts of Enticing a Child to Enter a Vehicle, House, etc., for immoral purposes. He currently has no bond. This is an ongoing investigation and as it continues there could be additional charges.
Due to the sensitive nature of this case and the juvenile privacy laws, no further information will be released.
On Tuesday, 4/19/2022, a structure fire was reported in the 200 block of North Oates Street. This is the second time within a month this building has caught fire. The first fire occurred on 3/28/2022. The property is vacant and currently being remolded. At the time of the fire Tuesday, officers in the area arrived on scene quickly and located a suspicious person on the property covered in soot. Dothan Fire Department personnel arrived and extinguished the blaze. The individual detained was identified as 33 year-old Joe Edward Thomas. Thomas has had two previous encounters with police at this property and had been given a trespass warning on 01/26/2022, and then arrested for trespassing on 04/08/2022. Thomas provided his address as homeless.
The investigation into Tuesday’s fire revealed Thomas was in possession of copper that had been removed from an air-conditioning unit in the room where the fire was located and observed leaving the room at the time the fire started by a witness to the events. Thomas was arrested and charged with Arson Second Degree for Tuesday’s fire. His bond was set at $30,000.00. A specific motive for setting the fire is currently unknown.
On Sunday, April 17, 2022, the Dothan Police Department became aware of a threat against Dothan Preparatory Academy (DPA) by posts being made on social media. An immediate investigation was launched and the source of the threat was identified as coming from a social media account belonging to a juvenile student from DPA. Because of the disruption this has caused at DPA, the juvenile has been charged with terrorist threats. Due to the age of the suspect, no further information is available.
We take these types of threats serious, irregardless of the validity. We will investigate threats to the fullest to ensure the individual responsible is held accountable for their actions.
On Wednesday, April 13, 2022, just before noon, a 6-week-old child was taken from his temporary residence in the 400 block of South Appletree Street in Dothan, AL by his mother, Alexis Richards, and her male companion, Mauquez Banks. The child had been placed at this temporary address as part of a safety plan put into place several days earlier by the Department of Human Resources (DHR).
Alexis Richards was only allowed supervised visitation. Alexis Richards and Mauquez Banks went to the residence where the child had been placed unannounced, and unplanned, and took the child without the knowledge of the child’s current custodian. When the Dothan Police Department was notified of this incident, information was gathered and broadcast as soon as possible to include an Amber Alert. Shortly after the Amber Alert was broadcast, the child was located with Alexis Richards and another family member in Midland City, AL. The child was safe and had not been harmed in any way.
The Dothan Police Department would like to thank all the agencies who assisted in this investigation which includes: The FBI, Dale County Sheriff’s Department, Ozark Police Department, Troy Police Department, Midland City Police Department, ALEA, and the Alabama Fusion Center. All these entities working together resulted in the safe return of this child.
So far, Alexis Richards, 22 years-old of Dothan, has been charged with one count of Interference with Custody. The investigation is on going and charges could be possible for Mauquez Banks in the future.
On April 11, 2022, officers responded to a firearm assault in the 1300 block of Montgomery Highway. Officers made contact with the victim who had received a gunshot wound to his hand. The victim stated he was at this location waiting to get a haircut when he was approached by the suspect. They exchanged words about an ongoing issue between them before the suspect produced a handgun. As the victim was running away, a shot was fired at him striking him in the hand. The victim was treated on the scene by Dothan Fire and Rescue before he drove himself to the hospital for further treatment.
The suspect has been identified as 35-year-old Damien Antwan Jackson of Dothan. He is currently wanted for attempted murder as a result of this incident. Anyone with information about this incident, or the whereabouts of Jackson is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000 or the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000.
On April 10, 2022, Dothan Police Officers were dispatched to the 400 Block of Westgate Parkway to an animal cruelty complaint. Upon arrival, officers discovered a trash can filled with water and inside was another container which had three kittens inside it.
The investigation into this matter revealed the three kittens were only one day old at the time they were intentionally put into the water. The owner’s intentional actions were his own way of euthanizing the kittens because he did not want them. As a result, 67 year-old Jack Richard Chafin, of Dothan, was charged with three counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. His bond was set at $15,000.00.
We would encourage anyone who decides they no longer want their pet or may be struggling to provide adequate care for their pet and decide they can no longer do so, to seek assistance. Residence in Dothan can contact Dothan Animal Services at 334-615-4620, or after hours at 334-615-3000. The Dothan Animal Services works diligently to rehome pets and they have an extremely high success rate of doing so. There are also national organizations that work with individuals to rehome pets as well.
On March 20, 2022, several gunshots were fired in the 1000 block of Lake Street in Dothan. When officers arrived, all parties involved had left the scene. It was determined more than one participant was involved in an exchange of gunfire. Both, buildings and vehicles were struck during the gunfire but luckily no one was struck or injured during the incident. As the investigation progressed over the course of several days, it led to the participants of the gunfire exchange being identified.
Arrested: Tydarrius Deshun Terrell Franklin, 21 years-old of Dothan, has been arrested and charged with three counts of shooting into an unoccupied building. He is being held with no bond.
Wanted: Jahunter Imorriss Johnson, 19 years-old of Dothan, is currently being sought for three counts of shooting into an unoccupied building.
Wanted: James Arthur Beasley Jr., 30 years-old of Dothan, is currently being sought for one count of shooting into an unoccupied building and two counts of shooting into an unoccupied vehicle.
Wanted: Sirmarion Jermond Beasley, 29 years-old of Dothan, is currently being sought for one count of shooting into an unoccupied building and two counts of shooting into an unoccupied vehicle.
It was Easter Sunday, April 7, 1996, when Ruthie Mae Jackson was found viciously murdered in a bedroom of her East Adams Street home in Dothan, AL. Today marks the 26th Anniversary of her death.
Ruthie Mae Jackson had been cooking food the night before in preparation for Easter lunch with family and friends at her home after church. When she was found, it was determined her death was the result of being stabbed multiple times.
The person or persons responsible for this have had to live with this on their mind for many years now. We ask that anyone with information put themselves in the shoes of the family of Ruthie Mae Jackson and imagine what they have been through all these years after losing their loved one to such a senseless death. Only the person or persons responsible for this know exactly why this happened. Regardless of their reason, it does not justify taking the life of such a sweet individual, especially when she would have given someone anything they could have needed. The family deserves closure and justice for the loss of their loved one.
We believe there is someone out there that may know something about the death of Ruthie Mae Jackson, and we continue to solicit help from the public. No matter how small you think the information may be, we ask that you please share anything you may know. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000 or call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000.
On April 5, 2022, Dothan Police arrested Omarion Jackson, of Dothan, after a lengthy investigation involving child pornography. This investigation was the result of a tip sent from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Investigators with the Dothan Police Department, who are members of the ICAC Task Force, began an investigation that led to this arrest. The investigation revealed Jackson was in possession of multiple files containing child pornography.
Currently, 18 year-old Omarion Jackson, of Dothan, has been charged with 50 counts of possession of Child Pornography. There is additional evidence, in this case, to be examined which could possibly lead to additional charges. His bond is currently set at $750,000.00.
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