Category: Press Releases

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.

###

(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.

###

(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.

###

(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.

###