On December 5, 2023, Dothan Police Department Gun Investigative Unit (GIU) and Vice Division executed a search warrant in the 500 block of Mayo Street. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators contacted and detained Ernest Small. A search of the residence revealed numerous assault rifles, handguns, and pistols, to include AR-15 magazines, numerous AK-47 magazines, along with multiple cases of ammunition and firearm accessories.
Approximately 13 ounces of cocaine, to include paraphernalia supporting the sale of cocaine was located and seized along with numerous suspected Adderall pills and THC edibles. A large sum of U.S. currency, derived from illegal drug sales was discovered and seized.
Ernest Small, 35 years old of Dothan has been charged with Drug Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Ernest Timotheus Small – Drug Trafficking, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
On Wednesday morning, June 7, 2023, officers encountered an individual in the 1100 block of Ross Clark Circle, later identified as Ja’Mya Brown. During the encounter, it was discovered Brown was in possession of illegal narcotics. Brown was subsequently arrested for the narcotics. Brown was given ample opportunity to disclose if she was in possession of any additional contraband prior to entering the jail to which she denied. While being processed in the jail, it was discovered Brown was in possession of additional narcotics resulting in the additional charge of Promoting Prison Contraband.
Ja’Mya Mykia Brown, 23 years old of Dothan, was charged with one count of Possession of Marijuana Second Degree and one count of Promoting Prison Contraband. Her bond was set at $6,000.00.
Ja’Mya Mykia Brown Possession of Marijuana Second Degree Promoting Prison Contraband
On Saturday, June 3, 2023, at approximately 12:30 PM, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Whiddon Street for a welfare check on a child. When officers arrived and knocked on the door of the residence, they could smell the odor of marijuana. After making contact with the resident, officers were allowed to enter at which time they observed marijuana and drug paraphernalia which could easily be accessed by two small children that were present in the residence.
As a result, Wanda Faye Powell, 61 years old of Dothan, was charged with two counts of Chemical Endangerment of a Child, one count of Possession of Marijuana Second Degree, and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $45,000.00.
Also charged was Lawanda Mozelle Coston, 43 years old of Dothan. She was charged with one count of Chemical Endangerment of a Child, one count of Possession of Marijuana Second Degree, and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $25,000.00.
Wanda Faye Powell – Chemical Endangerment of a Child X2, Possession of Marijuana Second Degree X1, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia X1
Lawanda Mozelle Coston – Chemical Endangerment of a Child X1, Possession of Marijuana Second Degree X1, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia X1
On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at approximately 5:20 p.m., Dothan Communications received a call for gunshots fired in the area of South Alice Street and West Selma Street. Multiple patrol officers were dispatched to the area where they began to canvass the area. Unfortunately, no suspects were located at that time. The Dothan Police Department’s Gun Investigation Unit (GIU) responded and identified a residence in the 1600 block of South Alice Street where a fight had occurred in the yard involving multiple subjects minutes prior to the gunshots fired call.
On Wednesday, March 15, 2023, the Dothan Police Department’s Gun Investigation Unit executed a search warrant in the 1600 block of South Alice Street, where contact was made with Lashawn Shiver and Tracy Porter. During the search Investigators located four (4) handguns, three (3) high-capacity magazines, and ammunition. Investigators also located and seized synthetic marijuana, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. While on scene, Desmond Griffin arrived and began interfering with investigators. After numerous commands to leave the scene, and failing to do so, Griffin was placed under arrest of Obstructing Governmental Operations.
Lashawn Shiver, 43-years-old of Dothan was arrested for active warrants with Houston County Sheriff’s Office to include Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance. Mr. Shiver has the charge of Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm pending. Tracy Porter, 53-year-old of Dothan was arrested for Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstructing Governmental Operations. Desmond Griffin, 32-years-old of Dothan was charged with Obstructing Governmental Operations. The case is still under investigation and more charges are forthcoming.
The Dothan Police Department fully supports the Second Amendment and the Constitutional Carry Laws of the State of Alabama. However, when a person or people decide to disregard the safety of children across the street, at a school, playground, or any place of recreation we will take every action and use every resource available to us to bring those responsible to justice. The City of Dothan and its Police Department will not sit by and let this type of behavior go unchecked.
In January 2023, the Dothan Police Department was notified of allegations of sex crimes against a juvenile that had occurred over the past few years. An investigation has been ongoing since that time. As a result of the investigation, on March 13, 2023, warrants were obtained on the suspect for several sex crimes against a juvenile. All of the sex crimes involved the same victim. The suspect has been identified as Marlo Antonio Ming.
On March 14, 2023, officers made contact with Ming and arrested him for the outstanding warrants. At the time of his arrest, Ming was in possession of a firearm that was determined to be stolen. He was also in possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and other material indicative of narcotic sales.
As a result, Marlo Antonio Ming, 26 years-old of Dothan, has been charged with two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Child less than 12 years old, one count of Sexual Abuse Second Degree, one count of Rape First Degree, one count of Receiving Stolen Property Second Degree, and one count of Possession of Marijuana First Degree. His total bond was set at $156,000.00.
Due to the sensitive nature of this case and the Alabama Juvenile Privacy Laws, no further information will be released.
Marlo Antonio Ming – Two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Child less than 12, One count of Sexual Abuse Second Degree, One Count of Rape First Degree, One count of Receiving Stolen Property Second Degree, and One Count of Possession of Marijuana First Degree
On Sunday, March 12, 2023, officers went to a residence in the 1300 block of Stadium Street to attempt to make contact with an adult male who had an outstanding felony warrant. It was determined the male and three juveniles were inside the residence and initially the male refused to open the door. Officers detected a strong odor of illegal narcotics coming from inside the residence. After several minutes, the male allowed officers to enter the residence. A search warrant was executed on the residence and as a result, marijuana was found in various locations throughout the residence, as well as various items of drug paraphernalia.
The male, James Arshan III, 41 years-old of Dothan, was arrested on the original outstanding warrant for Receiving Stolen Property Second Degree. For the current incident, Arshan was charged with Possession of Marijuana First Degree, and three counts of Chemical Endangerment of a Child. His bond for these charges was set at $60,000.00.
James Arshan III – Possession of Marijuana First Degree and Chemical Endangerment X3
The Dothan Police Department began investigating a burglary in March of 2022 in which very specific and identifiable items were stolen. Items matching the specific and identifiable stolen items recently appeared on social media as being for sale by an individual.
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, Dothan Police Department criminal investigators executed a search warrant at the residence of the seller in the 300 block of Chapelwood Drive. Investigators located two specific stolen items from the original burglary. During the search, investigators also located illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Present at the time of the execution of the search warrant were two adults and one person under the age of 18 who had been provided illegal narcotics by one of the adults.
As a result of the investigation, 21 year-old Jalen Fransis McDonald of Chapelwood Drive was charged with one count of Furnishing a Controlled Substance to a Minor, one count of Receiving Stolen Property First Degree, one count of Possession of Marijuana Second Degree, and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $47,000.00.
Also charged was 19 year-old Cameron Michael Bishop of Chapelwood Drive. Bishop was charged with one count of Receiving Stolen Property Second Degree, one count of Possession of Marijuana Second Degree, and one count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $12,000.00.
Jalen Fransis McDonald – Furnishing a Controlled Substance to a Minor, Receiving Stolen Property First Degree, Possession of Marijuana Second Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Cameron Michael Bishop – Receiving Stolen Property Second Degree, Possession of Marijuana Second Degree, and Possession of Drugh Paraphernalia
On 7/20/2022, an alert motorist traveling in the 2100 block of Webb Road saw a toddler crawling on the edge of the roadway. The motorist called 911 and held the child until authorities arrived. The residence the toddler belonged to was located and the front door was standing open. The toddler’s father, Raymond Smith, was found asleep in a back bedroom. Located in the bedroom with Smith were various controlled narcotics that he did not have a prescription for.
Raymond Oliver Smith, 19 years old of Dothan, was arrested and charged with one count of Reckless Endangerment, one count of Chemical Endangerment, and three counts of Unauthorized Possession of a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $51,000.00.
Raymond Oliver Smith – Reckless Endangerment, Chemical Endangerment, and Unauthorized Possession of a Controlled Substance X 3
On May 14, 2022, officers responded to a call in the 2000 block of Shadybrook Lane in Dothan. While there, it was learned the adult female at that location was in charge of five children, all under the age of 17. In a common area of the residence, she had what was believed to be liquid Xanax-soaked gummy candy. All five children had access to the candy, and it was believed she possibly allowed one of the children to intentionally ingest some of the candy.
Brandy Leshee Waters, 41 years old of Dothan, was charged with 5 counts of Chemical Endangerment of a child. Her bond was set at $75,000.00.
The Dothan Police Department was notified by the Dothan Fire Department after a routine inventory that there was a missing amount of narcotics from a narcotics storage facility operated by the Fire Department. An investigation was started and the DEA was notified since the missing narcotic was identified as forty-two (42) one dose vials of Fentanyl, a Schedule II/IIN Controlled Substance. Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine.
Today that investigation has ended with the arrest of Jesse R. Taylor of Rehobeth. Taylor was a Dothan Fire Medic at the time of the theft and is responsible for the theft of the medication. Taylor has been on administrative leave since Wednesday, March 16, 2022. He is charged with Trafficking in Fentanyl and Theft of Property 2nd degree. Taylor has been booked into the Dothan City jail with bonds totaling $30,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and US Attorney’s Office have been notified and additional charges are possible.
Taylor has been served a notice of termination and the City will follow Dothan Personnel Rules and Regulations concerning his due process.
It is disturbing to all when a member of the public safety community violates the trust placed on them by the citizens they serve. The Dothan Fire Department and Chief Larry Williams have been transparent and assisted in the investigation in every way possible. By the nature of Taylor’s position in the Fire Department, he was able to access the storage location and remove the medication without suspicion until the inventory revealed the discrepancy. There are no other suspects in this case.
Since this case can be adopted into the Federal system, no other information can be released at this time. Any further questions should be directed to the DEA or the US Attorney’s Office in Montgomery.
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