Category: Arrests

(DOTHAN, Ala.)  Just before 4:00 pm on February 18, 2025, Dothan Police Officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 700 block of Tuskegee Avenue.  After getting a description of the suspect from several witnesses to the event, Patrol Officers saw a male matching the description running from the area.  Officers gave chase and apprehended and identified the suspect as Tyshawn Ford.  Officers confirmed with several witnesses as well as a video that circulated on social media that Ford was the suspect in the shooting.  During the shooting, an occupied apartment was struck by gunfire.

Ford was on bond for Capital Murder from a previous incident which was investigated by the Houston County Sheriff’s Department.  Ford was charged for Tuesday’s event with Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Building, Attempted Assault 1^st degree, Domestic Violence 3^rd Degree, and Fleeing and Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer.  Ford is being held without bond in the Houston County Jail and a revocation on his bond for the Murder charge is expected.  More arrests are anticipated as the investigation into the shooting incident on Tuskegee Ave. continues.

The Dothan Police Department will strongly advocate for swift accountability for these actions according to the law.  Bonds and bond amounts are a matter of law left to the courts to decide, not the arresting agencies.  Our Judges work within a framework that is consistent with the Constitution of Alabama to set bonds for those accused and remove bonds for those who pose an immediate threat to the community.  Thank you to our social media investigative team and our members of the community who reject this type of behavior and aided in this investigation.

Chief William E. Benny

(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

(DOTHAN, Ala.) On December 9, 2024, Dothan Police Crash Investigators arrested Steven Phillip Valentine for leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries after an incident was reported to police.  According to investigators, Valentine was driving a Dothan City Schools bus and dropping kids off in the 300 block of Summerrain Terrace.  As students were getting off the bus, Valentine closed the doors to the bus, which caught on a student’s backpack.  The student’s backpack and arm were caught in the door when Valentine drove off.  After about 150 feet, Valentine realized the child was caught in the door.  Valentine stopped, opened the door, and the child then left towards his residence.  Investigators determined Valentine had not met his legal obligations to render aid and notify authorities after an accident.  In the State of Alabama, a passenger falling from or injured by a vehicle in motion on a public road is considered an accident.  Valentine was charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries, a felony, and placed in the Houston County Jail with a $15,000 bond.

Shortly after 4:00 pm on December 9, 2024, Dothan Police officers were notified by a responsible party of a child about an incident involving a Dothan City School bus.  The child, who was under the age of 12, was getting off the bus in the 300 block of Summerrain Terrace when the bus driver closed the doors to the bus, which trapped the child by his backpack and arm.  After driving about 150 feet, the driver, identified as Steven Valentine, realized the child was stuck in the door.  The child remained on his feet during the incident but damaged his shoes.  After the child was released, Valentine asked the student if he was okay but did not render aid.

Valentine then left the scene and continued his route to drop off students without contacting police or Dothan City School authorities.  Police eventually made contact with Valentine at the Dothan City Schools Bus Barn after he completed his route.  The child complained of arm and back pain from the incident and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.  The child has since been released and is expected to recover.  Video from the school bus camera confirmed the series of events as the victim told it to police.

School bus drivers have a legal and professional responsibility to their passengers.  Anytime they are involved in an accident, drivers are legally bound to render aid and contact the proper authorities about the accident.  When a child is injured or involved in an incident such as this, responsible parties are expected to take care of the children on their bus and notify the proper authorities in a timely manner.  Valentine was charged with one felony count of leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries.  No further charges are expected.

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(DOTHAN, Ala.)  On December 9, 2024, Dothan Police Narcotics investigators arrested Kendrale Lafayette Magwood (37) of Dothan with Financial Exploitation of the Elderly 1^st degree and Impersonation of a police officer.  Investigators say Magwood, posing as a law enforcement officer, used a ruse to convince the victim to buy narcotics from various sources over the course of two months.  After receiving information about Magwood, Investigators used their own ruse to apprehend Magwood without incident.

On December 5, 2024, the victim reported to police that he had been used by a law enforcement officers as an informant to buy suspected narcotics for nearly two months.  The victim said he had been made to purchase the “narcotics” with his own money even though the substances turned out to be imitation controlled substances.  The victim had been made to believe he would receive leniency on a previous criminal charge.

After receiving information from the victim, Dothan Investigators waited for Magwood to set up another “operation” and took him into custody.  Evidence confirming Magwood posed as a law enforcement officer was found in his possession.  Magwood was charged with one count of Financial Exploitation of the Elderly 1^st degree and Impersonating a Peace Officer.  Magwood was placed in the Houston County Jail with no bond.

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(DOTHAN, Ala.) On November 23, 2024, Dothan Police investigators arrested Allen Terell Jackson (41) of Dothan at his residence after it was reported he struck a juvenile, under the age of 16, in the head with a pistol after finding her in her bedroom with another juvenile.  It was reported Jackson was upset to find both juveniles in the bedroom together.  Jackson struck the female juvenile, who is a family member, with his fists before retrieving two firearms, one of which was a pistol.  Jackson struck the female juvenile with the pistol in the head several times.  After the assault with the pistol, Jackson then forced both juvenile to exit the residence when police arrived.  Jackson has been charged with one count of Willful Abuse of a Child.  Jackson was placed in the Houston County Jail on $15,000 bond.

Shortly after 2:30 am on November 23, 2024, Dothan patrol officers were called to a residence in the 600 block of Westgate Parkway for an assault.  When officers arrived, they came into contact with two juveniles.  According to witnesses on scene, Jackson discovered a female juvenile and a male juvenile in the female juvenile’s bedroom.  Jackson then attacked the female juvenile with closed fists.  Jackson went and retrieved a pistol and a shotgun.  Jackson struck the female juvenile in the head with the pistol that caused lacerations to her head.  Both juveniles were ordered out of the residence by Jackson until police arrived.

While on scene with police, Jackson again attacked the female juvenile and pushed her in front of officers.  Jackson was taken into custody.  The female juvenile was checked by Dothan Fire Department medics and Pilchers Ambulance.  After being interviewed by investigators, Jackson admitted to assaulting the female juvenile.  Jackson has been charged with one count of Willful Abuse of a Child with a $15,000 bond.  More charges are pending further investigation.

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(DOTHAN, Ala.) On November 6, 2024, Dothan Police Investigators arrested William Allen Navarre (43) of Dothan and Bobby Gene Chandler (50) of Atlanta, GA for the theft and burglary of the new animal shelter under construction.  The theft was discovered on November 4^th when workers returned from the weekend to find items missing from the construction site.  After an investigation, Navarre and Chandler were identified as suspects in the crime.  Navarre was charged with one count of Theft of Property 1^st degree and one count of Burglary 3^rd degree with bonds totaling $10,000.  Chandler was charged with Theft of Property 1^st degree and Burglary 3^rd degree with bonds totaling $20,000.

On November 4, 2024, Dothan Police Officers responded to the new animal shelter construction site on Hartford Highway when workers arrived at the site to continue construction and noticed items missing.  Investigators used a variety of investigative techniques, including surveillance cameras, and identified suspects in the theft.  Investigators were able to identify William Navarre and Bobby Chandler as suspects.

After the investigation, enough evidence was discovered to charge both suspects with the crime.  All stolen property was recovered and returned to the owner.

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(DOTHAN, Ala.) On October 31, 2024, Dothan Police Investigators arrested Walter Cummings Jr. (36) of Dothan for one count of Assault 1^st degree and one count of Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle.  Cummings’ arrest comes as a result of an investigation into the shooting of a young juvenile, under the age of 12, at Rip Hewes Stadium on October 18, 2024.  Cummings was placed in the Houston County Jail, and his bond has been set at $60,000.

On October 18, 2024, Dothan Police Officers working security for a high school football game at Rip Hewes Stadium were flagged down by a citizen who said a child had suffered a gunshot wound in a vehicle.  The vehicle was in the parking lot and officers responded to render emergency aid.  The juvenile had minor swelling on the head from being struck by the bullet.  Police learned that shots were fired after an altercation occurred in the 400 block of Kornegay Street moments before the juvenile was struck with the bullet.  Officers responded to the area and located shell casings in the roadway.  During a search warrant of the residence on Kornegay Street, Officers found a firearm that was the same caliber ammunition found at the stadium.

Due to the angle of the bullet entering the vehicle from the roof and the extent of the injuries to the victim believed to be from a low velocity bullet, investigators believe it was likely fired in the air from Kornegay Street and landed where the victim was sitting.  The rifle found on Kornegay Street and the projectile found at Rip Hewes Stadium were sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for ballistics testing.  Today, Investigators were informed the bullet was a match and came from the rifle recovered on Kornegay Street.  After an interview with Cummings, he admitted he was the person who fired the shots on Kornegay Street.

Firing a bullet into the air is a careless and dangerous act that is against the law.  Offenders caught committing such an act will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

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