Dothan Police Department

December 7, 2022December 7, 2022

Update: Suspect Identified in Miles Lane Murder

Update: Kevone Devontay Smith turned himself in to the Dothan Police Department. He has now officially been charged with one count of Capital Murder and two counts of Intimidating a Witness. He has no bond at this time.

On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, the Dothan Communication Center received a report of an individual shot in the 800 block of Miles Lane. Dothan Fire and Rescue along with Dothan Police Officers arrived on scene and found the victim lying in the middle of the roadway. Paramedics attempted life saving measures but determined the individual was deceased. The victim, 35-year-old, Samuel Jeffrey Gray, of Dothan, had suffered a gunshot wound to the upper torso.

This has been an ongoing investigation since that time. After much time and effort, we have identified a suspect involved in this incident. Kevone Devontay Smith, 21 years old of Dothan, currently has one outstanding warrant for Capital Murder, and two outstanding warrants for Intimidating a Witness. He is being sought by the Dothan Police Department. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Smith is asked to call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help in an anonymous capacity.

WANTED: Kevone Devontay Smith – Capital Murder & Two Counts of Intimidating a Witness

December 2, 2022December 6, 2022

Dothan PD Cracking Down on Gun Violence

During the last two weeks the Dothan Police Department have been successful in recovering numerous firearms and illegal narcotics. This was a team effort from the entire department and was accomplished through sectored patrol techniques and several search warrants.

Thirty-six firearms, over one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine, one pound of synthetic cannabinoid, several hundred ecstasy pills, crack cocaine, cocaine, marijuana, and approximately $30,000 have been seized. All these items are derived from illegal activity.

The Dothan Police Department will strive to protect the citizens of our community while working with our partners to include the Houston County District Attorney’s Office and Federal Law Enforcement agencies.

With the support of our mayor, commission, and city manager we are utilizing the latest technology to reduce violent crime in our city. Many new strategies are in place and being worked on for the future. Dothan will not give in to the criminal element and serve notice that violent criminals will be targeted for the foreseeable future.

Chief William E. Benny
Dothan Police Department

November 21, 2022November 21, 2022

UPDATE: Suspect in Double Murder Now in Custody

Update: Vincent Lamar Oliver Jr. has been taken into custody and has ben charged as a juvenile with two counts of Capital Murder. He will be held in the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center. Due to the restriction of a court order, no further information will be released regarding him.

On Sunday, November 20, 2022, at approximately 8:04 p.m., the Dothan Police Department responded to the 200 block of Fifth Avenue for a report of two people being shot. It was confirmed two female victims were deceased from gunshot wounds.

The victims have been identified as 21-year-old Jasmine Danielle Bean, and 20-year-old Ja’Lexius Lashon Wells, both of Dothan.

During the investigation we have developed a suspect who is a juvenile. Due to Alabama juvenile privacy laws, we are typically not allowed to release juvenile information. However, the courts have issued an order allowing the suspect’s information to be released to the public due to the interest of public safety.

The suspect is identified as Vincent Lamar Oliver Jr., 14 years old of Dothan. Oliver Jr. is wanted for two counts of Capital Murder related to the shooting last night.

Oliver also has active juvenile pickup orders for two counts of Attempted Assault First Degree and one count of Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle which occurred in July 2022. Oliver Jr. has been sought by authorities since that time. Per the court order, no further information related to Oliver can be released.

Anyone who has information related to the whereabouts of Oliver Jr. is asked to please call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of all those who wish to help in an anonymous capacity.

November 21, 2022November 21, 2022

Two Shot Dead Inside A Residence

On Sunday, November 20, 2022, at approximately 8:04 p.m., the Dothan Police Department responded to the 200 block of Fifth Avenue for a report of two people being shot. When officers arrived on scene, they confirmed that information to be true.

Dothan Fire and Rescue arrived on scene and confirmed two female victims were deceased from gunshot wounds. Neither of the females lived there but were visiting. It is believed there was a gathering of several people at this location when this took place. Other than the victims, no one else was present when officers arrived.

The victims have been identified as 21-year-old Jasmine Danielle Bean, and 20-year-old Ja’Lexius Lashon Wells, both of Dothan.

We are in the preliminary stage of the investigation and no further information is available currently. We will release more information as it becomes available.

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022

Fugitive Apprehended and Received Multiple Additional Charges

On Wednesday, November16, 2022, during the early morning hours, officers with the Dothan Police Department located a wanted felon, Chrisdeon Sanquez Byrd, 24 years old of Dothan. Byrd was wanted for several outstanding warrants related to the Burglary of Money Mizer Pawn and Jewelry on August 12, 2022, in which multiple guns were stolen. Byrd was the last of four suspects to be taken into custody for this crime. He has been evading apprehension since the time of the crime. It was determined Byrd had committed multiple crimes throughout the city while being on the run.

In addition to his outstanding warrants, Byrd has now received the following additional charges:

1 Count of Possession of Burglary Tools

2 Counts of Unauthorized Possession of a Controlled Substance

25 Counts of Theft of Property Second Degree

19 Counts of Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle.

Byrd is currently being held in the Houston County Jail with No Bond.

Chrisdeon Sanquez Byrd – Possession of Burglary Tools X1, Unauthorized Possession of a Controlled Substance X2, Theft of Property Second Degree X25, and Breaking & Entering a Motor Vehicle X19

November 15, 2022November 15, 2022

Domestic Incident Leaves Two People Shot

On Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at approximately 7:52 AM, the Dothan Communication Center received a report of a firearm assault in the 300 block of Donna Drive. When officers arrived, they determined there were two victims; one still on scene that was transported to the hospital by ambulance, and a second victim that had already been transported to the hospital by a personal vehicle.

The investigation revealed this was a domestic related incident in which a male subject had entered the residence uninvited. Once inside, he engaged in a physical altercation with a female whom he had been in a relationship with. While the two struggled over a firearm, the female’s son entered the room with his own firearm and began firing at the male subject to protect his mother, accidently striking his mother in the arm. The female is expected to make a full recovery. The male subject was shot multiple times and is listed in critical but stable condition. He underwent surgery for his injuries.

This is an ongoing investigation and charges will be forthcoming against the male subject who entered the residence. He is identified as David Leonard Gamble, 38 years old of Dothan.

Considering recent shootings in Dothan, this is an isolated incident in which justifiable deadly force was used inside the victim’s home to protect themselves from harm or death.

November 13, 2022

Arrest Made in Peanut Festival Parade Shooting That Left One Dead

On Saturday, November 12, 2022, while the National Peanut Festival Parade was on going, a group of individuals engaged in a fight near the intersection of West Main Street and Montana Street. During the fight, at least one individual produced a gun and fired into the group hitting two victims. One victim, 22-year-old Garyoun Tyrone Fluellen, of Dothan, received one gunshot to the upper torso. He was transported to Southeast Health where he was pronounced deceased. The second victim received two gunshots to the upper torso and was transported to Southeast Health where he underwent surgery.

As the investigation progressed, we received assistance from our community which helped bring this case to a successful conclusion. The shooter was quickly identified as Mekhi Nasir Lawton, 18 years old of Dothan. Warrants were immediately obtained on Lawton for one count of Murder and one count of Assault First Degree. Lawton turned himself in just before midnight last night. His bond has been set at $1.53 Million.

We would like to thank members of our community who assisted in bringing quick resolution to this case ensuring this individual is behind bars.

Mekhi Nasir Lawton – Murder & Assault First Degree

November 12, 2022

Shooting During Peanut Festival Parade Leaves One Dead

Investigators are in the preliminary stage of the investigation and have identified two persons of interest. We are asking the community for assistance in locating the two following individuals: Mekhi Nasir Lawton, 18 years old of Dothan; and Mark Quinten Small Jr., 18 years old of Dothan.

We ask if you have any information on the whereabouts of either of these individuals that you call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of anyone who would like to help in an anonymous capacity.

Out of an abundance of caution, extra police officers will be on hand for the Peanut Festival tonight at the fairgrounds. We have no reason to believe that this incident is any way connected to the Peanut Festival, rather this lawless behavior by individuals with no regard for anyone else took place where thousands of people gathered to watch a parade. We will not stop until the person(s) responsible for this act are in custody and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

WANTED FOR QUESTIONING: Mekhi Nasir Lawton

WANTED FOR QUESTIONING: Mark Quinten Small Jr.

November 10, 2022

Man Found Dead in the Street

On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at approdximately 5:20PM, the Dothan Communication Center received a report of an individual shot in the 800 block of Miles Lane. Dothan Fire and Rescue along with Dothan Police Officers arrived on scene and found the victim lying in the middle of the roadway. Paramedics attempted life saving measures but determined the individual was deceased. The victim had a gunshot wound to the upper torso. The body has been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences where a forensic examination will be conducted.

The victim has been identified as 36-year-old, Samuel Jeffrey Gray, of Dothan.

We would like to ask anyone who has any information related to this incident to please call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000. The Dothan Police Department will stringently guard and protect the identities of anyone who would like to help in an anonymous capacity.

November 1, 2022

Car Intentionally Driven into Crowd

On Monday, October 31, 2022, at approximately 8:40 PM, the Dothan Police Department responded to the 700 block of Tuskegee Street, Martin Homes, for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Officers arrived and began assessing the injuries to one victim on the ground. While tending to the victim, the surrounding crowd grew larger and became more and more disorderly causing the officers to divert their attention away from the victim. This victim was transported to Southeast Health for treatment of lower leg injuries from being struck by the suspect vehicle.

The scene also involved a suspect’s vehicle that had struck the front porch of an apartment and upon arrival was unoccupied. While the crowd was being disorderly, a female attempted to remove items from the suspect’s vehicle. After being told not to, the female charged at officers and was taken into custody. When this suspect was placed in a patrol car, she vandalized the rear of the patrol car causing damage before being pepper sprayed.

Two other victims had been transported to the hospital by personal vehicle prior to officers’ arrival. It was determined the female driver of the vehicle intentionally drove the vehicle into the crowd striking the three victims. One of the three victims was holding a 1-year-old child at the time she was struck. The 1-year-old child was unharmed in the incident.

While officers were assessing the scene, several shots were fired in the area causing more alarm and the crowd to become more disorderly.

Ariyan Tranice McCoy, 19 years old of Dothan, was arrested and charged with Obstructing a Government Operation, Resisting Arrest, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Criminal Mischief Third Degree.

This is an active investigation in which investigators are working diligently to determine the identity of the driver of the vehicle and the person or persons responsible for the gun shots being fired.

The injuries to all three victims that were struck by the vehicle appear to be minor at this time.