On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at approximately 10:30 AM, officers responded to Chickasaw Street in the area of McRae Homes for a report of gunshots being fired. It was determined occupants of two vehicles traveling on the roadway were exchanging gunfire with each other.
Only one of those vehicles was located. It was determined two occupants of that vehicle were involved in the exchange of gunfire during which time at least one bullet struck an occupied apartment building and an unoccupied vehicle in the parking lot of the apartment complex. The other vehicle was not located. No injuries occurred during this incident.
Quintez Xavier Baxter, 19 years old of Dothan; and Willie Charles Baxter, 18 years old of Dothan, were each charged with two counts of Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied or Unoccupied Building or Vehicle.
On November 6, 2023, the Dothan Fire Department responded to the 100 block of Johnson Circle, Kinsey Cove Apartment Complex, for a structure fire of an occupied apartment building. When they arrived, they discovered household furniture against the outside of the building fully engulfed in flames which had began to burn the apartment building. According to witnesses, the fire was intentionally set by a disgruntled occupant who had been evicted from one of the apartments by the apartment resident. After the Fire Department fully extinguished the fire, a fire investigator along with a Dothan Police criminal investigator worked together investigating the crime and determining the person responsible.
As a result, Shay’Vonna La’Shon Battle, 26 years old of Dothan, has been charged with one count of Arson First degree. She is currently being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond.
On October 23, 2023, the Dothan Police Department was notified of possible sex crimes being committed against females by one individual. Investigators spoke to multiple people who were able to provide information that substantiates the allegations. On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, Investigators charged 48-year-old Jerald Reginald Clark of Dothan with one count of Rape First degree and one count of Sodomy First degree. He is currently being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond.
This is an active and ongoing investigation, and more charges are expected.
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, at approximately 6:45 AM, the Dothan Police Department responded to a person down in the front yard of a residence in the 1100 block of Persimmon Street. Upon arrival of officers and Dothan Fire and Rescue, it was determined the victim, Bernard Mandrell McClendon, 44 years old of Dothan, had succumbed to his injury as a result of a gunshot wound to the upper torso. It was believed an incident took place near this location and McClendon walked to this yard which is where he succumbed to his injury.
The Dothan Police Department asked our community for help by providing any information they may have related to this incident. Members of our community responded by providing tips we were able to follow up on. As a result, we have conducted numerous interviews and searches which have yielded investigators with probable cause to make an arrest in this case. Investigators have arrested Sirrico Santonio Bennett, 48 years old of Dothan and charged him with one count of Murder, one count of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, and one count of Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm. He is currently being held at the Houston County Jail with no bond.
We are extremely appreciative of our community providing the information they have thus far. Even though an arrest has been made, this continues to be an ongoing investigation. We continue to ask if anyone has any information related to this case to please call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000.
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, at approximately 6:45 AM, the City of Dothan-Houston County Emergency Operations Center was notified of an individual lying in the front yard of a residence in the 1100 block of Persimmon Street. Officers and Dothan Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and began to assess the patient and determined he had succumbed to a gunshot wound to the torso.
The victim was identified as Bernard Mandrell McClendon, 44 years old of Dothan. It is believed an incident took place near this location and McClendon walked to this yard and where he succumbed to the injury.
The Dothan Police Department asks if anyone has any information related to this incident to place contact us at 334-615-3000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identity of anyone who would like to help in an anonymous capacity.
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, at approximately 3:12 AM, the Dothan Police Department responded to a firearm assault in the 100 block of West Main Street. It was determined the victim, 20-year-old Jaquez Octavious Hill of Midland City, AL, had succumbed to his injuries resulting from multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators have worked diligently around the clock to determine the person or persons responsible. During this time, the Dothan Police Department asked our local and surrounding communities for their assistance in providing any information possible.
Thanks to the citizens of our local and surrounding communities, they began providing us leads. As a result of these leads, we have now arrested 20-year-old Jacob Warren Crisostomo of Slocomb, AL, and charged him with one count of Murder for his involvement in the death of Hill. His bond has been set at $1.5M.
Currently, two additional suspects are wanted for the Murder of Hill as well. Zackary Dale Easton, 25 years old, is wanted for one count of Murder and one count of Discharging a Firearm into an Unoccupied Vehicle. Chase Lee Saleen Easton, 22 years old, is currently wanted for one count of Murder. We ask if anyone knows the whereabouts of either of these individuals to contact the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identity of anyone who would like to help in an anonymous capacity.
We would like to thank our local and surrounding communities for their help in providing information which led us to this point. We would also like to thank the Headland Police Department for their assistance in this investigation. This continues to be an ongoing investigation as we continue to follow-up on leads.
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, at approximately 3:12 AM, the City of Dothan-Houston County Emergency Operations Center was notified of a victim with a gunshot wound located in the parking lot of a business in the 100 block of West Main Street. Patrol officers located the victim who was later determined to be deceased from multiple gunshot wounds. Criminal Investigators and Crime Scene Technicians processed the scene and collected evidence related to the incident.
The victim has been identified as 20-year-old Jaquez Octavious Hill of Midland City, AL. Hill had been a patron of a nearby nighttime establishment just prior to being shot in the parking lot while walking to his vehicle. At this time, no suspect has been identified.
The Dothan Police Department ask that anyone with information related to this incident to please contact us at 615-3000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identity of anyone who would like to help in an anonymous capacity.
On October 2, 2023, Dothan Police Traffic investigators were dispatched to a traffic accident at the intersection of West Saunders Road and Blackman Road. A motorcycle and a sport utility vehicle were involved in the accident. Upon arrival of officers, it was determined that the driver of the motorcycle, Scott Baxter of Dothan, had sustained critical injuries. Mr. Baxter passed away at the scene from his injuries. The occupant of the other vehicle only sustained minor injuries from the accident. The accident is currently under investigation by the Dothan Police Traffic Division.
The Dothan Police Department would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Baxter and to those involved in the accident.
During the past several days, the Dothan Police Department has been working a rash of storage unit burglaries that have occurred at various locations throughout the city. In recent days, patrol officers were able to develop leads that have led to the identification of persons responsible.
Jenny Wambles Hallford, 43 years old of Ashford, and David Allen Meyer II, 33 years old of Dothan, have each been charged with 17 counts of Burglary Third Degree as a result of this ongoing investigation. Hallford and Meyer are currently being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond.
Investigators are attempting to locate an additional suspect who was involved. Blake Anthony Poole, 30 years old of Dothan, is currently wanted for Burglary Third Degree. If anyone knows the whereabouts of Poole, you are asked to contact the Dothan Police Department at 615-3000.
Investigators executed a search warrant to recover property taken from these storage units. Unfortunately, only a small portion of the stolen property has been recovered at this time. If you have bought or acquired any property from these individuals, you are encouraged to contact the Dothan Police Department.
On Wednesday September 20, 2023, the Dothan Police Department was notified of an adult male who was attempting to solicit a minor for sexual purposes in exchange for money by means of electronic communication. Criminal Investigators quickly began an investigation and discovered these facts to be true. While the individual was on his way to meet who he believed to be a minor, he was taken into custody without incident. The individual was identified as Jim Lee Smith of Dothan. Smith has been charged with one count of Human Trafficking First Degree, one count of Traveling to meet a Child for an Unlawful Sex Act, and one count of Transmitting Obscene Material to a Child by Computer. He is currently being held in the Houston County Jail with no bond.
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