Category: Press Releases

(DOTHAN, Ala.) On March 17, 2010, Dothan Police Officers responded to Dedert’s Furniture Store at 966 South Park Avenue for reports of a person suffering a medical event.  When officers arrived, they realized the victim, who was identified as Grace Bell Bridges, was suffering from a single gunshot wound.  Tragically, Grace Bridges was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The investigation led investigators in 2010 to believe the motive was an attempted robbery that led to the death of Bridges.  Unfortunately, the case went unsolved for more than 15 years despite some promising leads.

No murder case that is unsolved is ever closed.  Cold cases are regularly reviewed as technology evolves and new investigators are assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division.  Investigators, armed with a fresh perspective, went over the evidence and reinterviewed witnesses as a part of the review for this case.  After the review, investigators felt they had enough evidence to seek an indictment of the person they believed was responsible for the crime.  In consultation with the District Attorney’s Office and District Attorney Russ Goodman, investigators presented their evidence to a Houston County Grand Jury.  On April 9, 2025, the Houston County Grand Jury returned an indictment on the suspect, a 32 year old male who was 17 at the time of the crime, for the murder of Grace Bridges.  The subject was taken into custody on the outstanding murder indictment on April 9, 2025 and placed in the Houston County Jail.  Since the offender was under 18 at the time of the crime, Alabama Juvenile Privacy laws prohibit releasing any other information.

While the case had gone unsolved, investigators never gave up in trying to identify Grace Bridges’ killer and bring them to justice.  It is our hope that Grace Bridges’ family can finally feel some semblance of peace knowing her killer has been identified and charged even though we know nothing can bring Grace back.  The unwavering determination of investigators in 2010 as well as the investigators who obtained the indictment is a testament to their relentless pursuit of justice to identify those responsible for the death of Grace Bridges and bring them to justice for her family.  Our thoughts are with Grace Bridges’ family as they move to the next chapter in their search for justice for Grace’s death.

The Dothan Police Department extends our deepest gratitude to the numerous witnesses who came forward from 2010 to 2025 and to Grace Bridges’ family for their steadfast commitment to justice and support of the Dothan Police Department.

-Chief Will Benny

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(DOTHAN, Ala.)  On April 2, 2025, just before 11:00 pm, Dothan Police Officers responded to reports of a subject with a firearm at the intersection of North Range Street and Alabama Avenue.  When officers arrived on scene, the subject matching the description given by the citizen who reported the incident started running from the scene.  As officers gave chase, the subject was joined by two other individuals.  One of the individuals pointed a firearm at the officer and fired a single round.  Fortunately, the officer was not struck and was unharmed.  All three suspects were able to escape that night despite K-9 officers attempting to track the subjects.

The Dothan Police Department Gun Unit was working on an unrelated case and responded to start the investigation.  During the course of the investigation, investigators were able to identify the person who pulled the trigger as a 15-year-old juvenile.  Investigators were able to develop enough probable cause the juvenile was responsible for the shooting and have charged the juvenile with one count of Attempted Assault 1^st of a Peace Officer.  The juvenile was placed in the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center as the request of a Juvenile Probation Officer.

Due to Alabama’s juvenile privacy law, no further information can be released at this time.  The Dothan Police Department would like to thank the citizens who initially reported the incident as well as those who helped aid in the investigation.  Actions like these will not be tolerated in our community.  Whether someone is committing gun violence in the community or on a sworn law enforcement officer, the Dothan Police Department will find those who violate the law, who put citizens and officers in danger, and will fully hold them accountable according to the law.

Chief William E. Benny

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(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