News and Events

(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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