GBI names shooter in incident outside Union Primary
Featured Stories, News August 14, 2022
UNION COUNTY, Ga. – New information has been released regarding a shooting incident at Union County Primary School this week.
The suspect who was arrested after law enforcement responded and searched has been named as Dwight Anthony Brown, 64, of Blairsville, GA, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
According to a statement from the GBI, the incident wasn’t a standard school shooting inside the building as Brown allegedly targeted a vehicle in the parking lot. According to the GBI, the vehicle was also unoccupied at the time when the shooting occurred. No statements have placed any of the incident inside the building at this time. Brown is still facing three charges of aggravated assault as both the GBI and Union County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed this.
A maintenance employee for the Union County School System, Brown allegedly fired into the vehicle. Reports indicate he has not been terminated from the school system yet due to it needing to be a Board of Education decision that would require a standard or called meeting.
Union County Schools were closed on Friday, August 12, 2022. Union County Schools stated that they have requested the GBI “conduct the Union County Primary School shooting incident investigation.” They have also assured parents and students that no threat remains to the community. However, reports state that the school system is still in question on whether they will return t o class on Monday, August 14, 2022.
Brown is currently still in the Union County Jail and has been denied bond. The GBI has stated that the investigation is active and ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, it will be given to the Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney for prosecution.
As previously reported, the incident occurred during school hours while teachers were in pre-planning. However, class was not in session and students were not on campus. Union Schools stated, “The incident occurred outside of the school, and no one was injured.”
Ralston calls for GBI investigation into Fulton County elections
News July 16, 2021
ATLANTA, Ga – Elected officials are taking aim and Fulton County and its elections director Richard Barron, following new details regarding the 2020 election.
Today, Speaker of the House David Ralston (R – Blue Ridge) released the letter he sent to Fulton Elections Director Richard Barron. In the letter, Ralston requests Barron ask the GBI to investigate November 2020 election. He cited the mounting allegations against Fulton County as his reasoning behind the need for an investigation.
Georgia Speaker of the House of Representatives David Ralston
“Recently, media reports have surfaced which call into question the way in which Fulton County conducted, counted and audited the November 2020 Presidential Election. These reports have been accompanied by video and other evidence which is part of on-going litigation and requires thorough examination and explanation. Given the seriousness of this situation and the possible repercussions for our state and nation, it is time we have an independent investigation – once and for all – of the way in which Fulton County conducted, counted and audited the November 2020 Presidential Election,” Ralston wrote.
Raffensperger calls for Barron’s firing
Throughout the week, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R-Ga) has issued several tweets, and last month, he held a press conference in front of headlines concerning Fulton’s lengthy history of election problems.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger
Most recently, a report of the double-counting of 200 absentee ballots came to light after the new voting law made it public.
“Fulton County’s continued failures have gone on long enough with no accountability. Rick Barron and Ralph Jones, Fulton’s registration chief, must be fired and removed from Fulton’s elections leadership immediately. Fulton’s voters and the people of Georgia deserve better,” one of Raffensperger’s tweets read.
Earlier this year, the Fulton County Elections Board voted to fire Barron, but the commissioners rejected the termination.
Another tweet stated, “Long before November, I had been working to get Fulton to clean up their decades of election mismanagement. Restoring confidence in our elections should be a bipartisan concern. Fulton County’s poor elections management is making that impossible.”
Raffensperger’s also gone on record urging Republicans to take “the lead on election regulation reform” and that the SOS assigned monitor found “significant management issues.”
Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts (D – Fulton) described Raffensperger’s call to fire Barron and Jones as a “sell out to conspiracy theorists.”
“His ultimate goal is based on the provisions of Senate Bill 202, he would like to take over the elections in Fulton County, that is not going to happen, period,” Pitts told Fox 5 Atlanta.
Under the Election Integrity Act (SB 202), the Secretary of State’s Office does have the authority to take over a county’s elections process if numerous instances of problems are documented. The Department of Justice is currently suing Georgia over the bill on the grounds that it violates voter’s civil rights.
Read the entirety of Ralston’s call for an election investigation below:
Fatal shooting in Union County, GBI investigating
News September 7, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County Sheriff Office (UCSO) contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to assist with a now fatal shooting investigation in Blairsville, Ga.
It’s been concluded that the incident occurred between Panfile Giammarco, 48, and Marion Joseph West, 63, near Mahaffey Place. No arrests have been made at this time.
Giammarco suffered a gunshot wound and received treatment at a local hospital. He later died. The GBI medical examiner is expected to conduct an autopsy.
Information from GBI:
Blairsville, GA (September 6, 2020) – On Sunday, September 6, 2020, at approximately 10:45 AM, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Regional Office in Cleveland was requested to assist the Union County Sheriff’s Office with a shooting investigation in the area of Mahaffey Place, Blairsville, Georgia.
During the investigation, it was determined that the shooting was as a result of an incident between Panfilo Giammarco, 48, and Marion Joseph West Jr., 63 of Blairsville, Georgia. Giammarco was shot and transported to the local hospital where he later died. A GBI Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy on Giammarco on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
No arrests have been made. Upon completion of the investigation it will be provided to the Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney for review.
Fetch Your News will update this story as soon as more information becomes available.
GBI Seeks Public’s Assistance in 2011 Toccoa Murder Investigation
Featured Stories March 9, 2020
Toccoa, GA (March 5, 2020) – This month marks the nine year anniversary of the murder of
Robert Lee Simmons, Jr. The GBI is seeking the public’s assistance with any information about
Simmons’ last days and his murder. Simmons, 46, was found dead at his home at the Glendale
Apartments on Norman Drive on March 1, 2011 by a family member. The Toccoa Police
Department responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call. Simmons’ death was determined to
be a homicide.
This case has remained active for the past nine years and both the GBI and Toccoa Police
Department continue to work to solve this case. Recently, investigators have received new
promising leads in this investigation and are asking for help from those who knew Simmons.
Even the smallest detail may help police with this investigation.
Both law enforcement and Robert Simmons’ family and friends implore anyone with information
to contact the GBI or Toccoa Police Department. GBI Special Agent Shilo Crane is the case
agent and may be reached at 706-348-4866. Tips can also be made on the GBI Tipline at 800-
597-8477 or online submissions may be made on the GBI website: www.gbi.georgia.gov. The
Toccoa Police Department may be contacted at 706-282-3244.
Two arrested on sexual exploitation of children charges
News, Police & Government, Press Release February 14, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, agents with the GBI Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, executed search warrants at two residences in Union County, Georgia. The search warrants were related to two separate investigations related to the sexual exploitation of children. As a result of the investigations, the following individuals were arrested and charged with the following crimes:
- Steven Hildebrant, age 41, of Blairsville, GA charged with one count of Possession of Child Pornography.
- Shaun Kanady, age 20, of Blairsville, GA charged with four counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
Neither individual has a set bond as of Feb. 14.
These investigations are active and ongoing and therefore, no further information will be released at this time.
Please remember that all are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Fetch Your News will update this story as more information becomes available.
GBI charged Kanady with alleged possession of child pornography.
GBI charged Hildebrant with alleged possession of child pornography.
Kentucky Detectives Track Cold Rape Case to Union County
Featured, News, Police & Government November 16, 2019
BLAIRSVILLE, GA – Boone County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Detectives Timothy Adams and Coy Cox reopened the Oct. 1, 1978 cold rape case and tracked down their suspect, Michael Dean Tate, 77, to Union County, Ga.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) assisted in the arrest of Tate, who admitted to raping a woman in KY but couldn’t remember the exact date. He told investigators that “it could have been 1978.” He also went on to admit two more sexual assaults in two more states. Detectives are now working on those cases as well.
The initial crime occurred around 4 a.m. on Oct. 1, 1978, when a young woman in her 20s was attacked from behind, the kidnapped and raped. She immediately reported the incident to the Park Hills Police Department. She told them that a man grabbed her from behind by the throat as she was exiting her car at 2 a.m. She said the man threatened to kill her if she continued to struggle or make any noise.
During his interview with BCSO Detectives, Tate confirmed that he grabbed the woman from behind while she exited her car in the garage.
He then closed her car door and forced her into his car. Once inside the car, he drove to St. Joseph’s Lane in Park Hills where he proceeded to rape her and force her to perform other sex acts for the next two hours. During her witness report, she also relayed that her assailant bragged about killing other victims. The woman begged for her life and eventually was released alive.
BCSO Detectives were able to identify Michael Dean Tate as the assailant through the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). They discovered that he lived in Georgia, but further investigation found activity in Cincinnati during the 70s. Adams and Cox began looking into the cold rape case due to the similarities with an unsolved homicide on Boone County.
Adams and Cox spoke with the victim of the crime who confirmed that she didn’t know Michael Dean Tate, and she normally parked her car in the garage and hadn’t had it serviced recently. The only person that she knew had touched her car door was the assailant.
On Nov. 13, 2019, the detectives traveled to Union County to conduct their interview with Tate who did admit to the crime as well as others. They obtained an arrest warrant for Tate on Nov. 14. 2019 and charged him with 1st Degree Rape, 1st Degree Sodomy, and Kidnapping. He is currently being held in Union County Jail on $500,000 bond.
Tate awaits extradition to Kentucky, which could take days or months depending on if Tate contests the extradition. Each charge is a Class-B felony with possible sentences of 10 to 20 years in prison.
As always, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mugshot courtesy of Union County Sheriff’s Office.
Teacher Arrested for Child Molestation in Union County
Business August 14, 2017
Blairsville, GA
Blairsville, GA – The Union County Sheriff’s Office recently received information that a Union County teacher was sexually involved with a student in 2013. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was requested to assist the Union County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation.
During the course of the investigation, the GBI was able to determine that former middle school physical education teacher Shawnetta D. Reece, now 40 of Blairsville, was sexually involved with a 15 year old student in 2013. The student was moving from the 8th grade into the 9th grade during this time. As a result of the investigation, Reece has been arrested for child molestation and sexual assault by persons with supervisory or disciplinary authority.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be provided to the Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney for prosecution.
GBI Seeks Help with Identifying Body Found in Banks County.
News June 23, 2017
GBI Seeks Help with Identifying Body
Commerce, Georgia – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is seeking the public’s help in identifying human remains found near Interstate 85 in Banks County.
On Sunday, February 5, 2017, a skeleton was discovered in a wooded area near New Salem Methodist Church, at 2170 Highway 59, in Commerce. The body’s location was one mile south of I-85, Exit 154 for Toccoa/SR 63/Martin Bridge Road. The Banks County Sheriff’s Office requested GBI’s assistance with the investigation.
A forensic anthropological examination estimates the remains to be of an African American/Hispanic female, approximately 30-44 years of age, and approximately 4’9’ to 5’6” in height. The date of death is estimated to be up to 4 years prior to the time of discovery.
Found among the remains, was a metal ring and a butterfly necklace charm (see attached photographs). Blue, purple, and gray in color fabrics were also collected from the scene. Dental is available for comparison.
Anyone with information concerning the case is asked to call the GBI Athens office at 706-552-2309 or the Banks County Sheriff’s Office at 706-677-2248. Information may also be submitted on-line here.
East Ellijay Police Officer Arrested. Theft by Taking
Featured, Featured Stories February 15, 2018
The GBI arrested East Ellijay Police Office Michael McClure at approximately noon today February 14th 2018. A copy of Booking report and warrant below. FYN has requested a statement from the GBI and East Ellijay Police Chief Larry Callahan.
Below is a Press Release Statement from East Ellijay Chief of Police, Larry Callahan.
Body Found – Suspect Arrested in Lumpkin County Murder
News December 5, 2016
LUMPKIN CO., Ga. – The body of a missing Murrayville woman was found early Sunday in the woods off Hwy. 60 just north of Dahlonega. The man she had been linked to romantically has been charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Deputies with the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation located the body of 41-year-old Wanda Kay McDougald about one mile south of the Union County line shortly after midnight.
Hall County deputies located 52-year-old John Harol Whitfield at a home in Clermont Sunday afternoon. He has been charged with murder and aggravated assault and booked into the Lumpkin County jail.
GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said McDougald and Whitfield had lived together for more than a year.
An autopsy is pending. Fetch Your News will have more details as they become available.
The GBI Crime Lab Receives Synthetic Opioid Carfentanil
Featured, Featured Stories, News September 1, 2016
Decatur, GA – Within the past week, the GBI Crime Lab’s drug identification unit received three cases from separate seizures of the synthetic opioid carfentanil. Carfentanil is a fentanyl analog used as a tranquilizer on large animals such as elephants.
It is purported to be 100 times stronger than fentanyl and suspected of playing a role in hundreds of overdoses in the Midwest part of the country this past month. It can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin and very toxic in small quantities. The cases that came in the lab were from the metro Atlanta area and were all suspected to be heroin. As a result of this drug coming into the GBI Crime Lab, lab scientists have enhanced their safety protocols to protect them from the potential dangers.
Some of the changes include wearing a face mask as well as testing any case suspected to contain heroin under a ventilated hood. Officer safety is of grave concern and all officers are strongly encouraged to take extreme caution when handling any suspected opioid.
Carfentanil is not intended for human use and the opioid overdose reversal drug Narcan may be effective but only after multiple doses. The public is urged to be aware of the extreme dangers of handling and consuming carfentanil.
GBI Investigating Inmate Death
Featured September 1, 2016
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Department of Corrections are currently investigating the death of Christopher Verner, 23, an inmate at Appling Integrated Treatment Facility in Baxley, Georgia. On Friday, August 26, Verner collapsed at the Appling ITF and was ultimately transferred to Savannah Memorial where he died August 27, 2016. The GBI Medical Examiner’s Office conducted the autopsy and the results are pending.
