Proudly serving Dothan, Alabama since 1904
On 4/23/2022 and 4/24/2022, two vehicles were broken into in the 1900 block of Melba Drive in Dothan. Around the same time, some power equipment was taken from the yard of a residence in the 1900 block of Melba Drive. Investigators have now charged 21 year old Davion Datron Turner, of Dothan, with two counts of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle and one count of Theft of Property Second Degree. His bond is set at $45,000.00.
On Thursday afternoon, 5/5/2022, at approximately 3:00 PM, the Dothan Police Department received a call about a Dothan City school bus being shot into while traveling in the area of Fortner Street and South Park Avenue. There were children on the bus at the time this occurred, however, there were no injuries of any kind. Multiple officers and investigators quickly saturated the area to begin canvassing for suspects.
While officers were responding to the school bus, two other victims called reporting their vehicles had been shot into as well while traveling in the same area. It was determined the shots were fired by someone in the front yard of a residence in the 900 block of Fortner Street. Officers quickly surrounded the residence and detained all occupants. Three weapons were found inside the residence. One of them is believed to have been used to shoot at the school bus and other vehicles. Upon examination, all three weapons were determined to be compressed-air powered BB guns and all of them were replicas of real guns.
As a result, 20 year old Jacquette Daquin Townsend, of Dothan, was charged with three counts of Throwing or Shooting Deadly or Dangerous Missile into Occupied Vehicle. His bond was set at $45,000.00.
On Saturday, 4/30/2022, the Dothan Police Department responded to Sunset Drive and met the victim of an edge weapon assault that had occurred on Torino Drive. The victim received lacerations to the face, hand, and arm, but they were not serious. The suspect, 19 year-old Tayla Thompson, of Headland, confronted the victim because she was attempting to have a relationship with him, and she discovered they did not share the same vision. While engaged in a conversation, it escalated to the point she produced a knife and as a result, he received the injuries. Thompson was charged with one count of Assault Second Degree. Her bond was set at $15,000.00.
On Saturday, 4/30/2022, the Dothan Police Department was notified of a sexual assault that had just occurred. The incident took place at a local motel here in Dothan. The victim and suspect were acquaintances but not involved in a relationship. After investigating the matter, probable case was established to charge 34 year old Jonathan David Golden of Dothan with Rape 1st, Sodomy 1st, and Sexual Abuse 1st. His bond was set at $85,000.00.
On 4/19/2022, the Dothan Police Department began an investigation after being made aware of inappropriate contact between an adult male and juveniles under the age of 16. The initial investigation led to 45 year old Jason Dean Burdeshaw, of Dothan, being charged with two counts of Enticing a Child for Immoral Purposes. As this investigation has progressed, additional evidence has been discovered that has now led to 31 additional charges for sex crimes against Burdeshaw.
On 4/27/2022, Burdeshaw was charged with 2 counts of Sexual Abuse First Degree, 10 counts of Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree, 2 counts of Rape Second Degree, and 17 counts of Sodomy Second Degree. He has no bond for these charges. This is still an active investigation and as we wait for results of additional evidence, future charges are likely.
Due to the sensitive nature of this case and the juvenile privacy laws, no further information will be released.
On Saturday night, 4/23/2022, officers responded to a breaking and entering a vehicle call in the 100 block of South Foster Street. Alert officers spotted a suspicious person hiding in the wood line. As officers made contact with the person, they also discovered a large pile of miscellaneous property on the ground that had been covered up with a blanket. It was determined the items had come from multiple vehicles in the area. The person was identified as Ronald Devone Balcom. Balcom also had multiple stolen items on his person. Thankfully, all property was recovered and returned to the rightful owners.
As a result of the investigation, 58 year old Ronald Devone Balcom, of Dothan, was arrested and charged with four counts of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle.
We would like to remind everyone to make sure your vehicles are kept locked at all times, either at home, or while visiting a place of business. Also, keep anything of value out of sight or covered up. These reminders are often given during the holiday season, but actually should be practiced year-round. Thieves prey upon easy opportunities. If your valuables are visible or even if your vehicle is left unlocked, it is perceived as an invitation to criminals.
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 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.
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