Month: January 2025

(DOTHAN, Ala.) On January 26, 2025, Dothan Police Investigators arrested Stephen Spencer Ayers (46) with Kidnapping 1^st degree and Sexual Abuse 1^st 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 1^st degree and Sexual Abuse 1^st 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

 

 

(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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On January 9, 2025, Dothan Police Investigators identified and arrested George Shelby Rice (57) of Dothan in connection with the death of Dr. Gaddis.  Rice, identified through video surveillance and witness statements, was driving his vehicle northbound on Honeysuckle Road.  Dr. Gaddis, who was in the roadway retrieving property that had fallen from his vehicle, was struck by Rice’s vehicle which was seen on surveillance camera just before and after Dr. Gaddis was struck.  Officers, after identifying Rice as a potential suspect, went to Rice’s residence where his vehicle was found at the residence with damage consistent with striking a pedestrian.  The vehicle is being forensically examined for physical evidence that will be sent for analysis.

Evidence suggests that Rice was aware that he had struck a person in the roadway and had consumed alcohol that evening.  Rice’s reckless conduct is the direct cause of the death of Dr. Gaddis.  Rice has been charged with one count of Murder and one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Injuries or Death.  Rice was placed in the Houston County Jail with no bond.  Rice was on bond for a previous crash in which he left the scene after hitting two pedestrians on Murphy Mill Road in August 2024.  The Houston County District Attorney’s Office has filed a revocation for that bond.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Dr. Gaddis’ friends and family during this time.  Hopefully this arrest will help them begin to heal from this terrible tragedy.

-William E. Benny, Chief of Police