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 Sunday, August 20, 2023, at approximately 5:05 PM, the Dothan Houston County 911 Center received a call advising someone had been shot in the 800 block of S. Appletree Street. Specific details were not obtained until officers arrived on scene. Once they arrived on scene, they discovered a black male victim lying in the front yard who had sustained a single gunshot to the head. Dothan Fire and Rescue arrived, assessed the victim, and determine he was deceased from his injury. Several individuals at the scene were detained for questioning. The victim has been identified as, Keith Atkins, 61 years old of Dothan.
After speaking to several individuals and processing all information and evidence, it was determined the suspect who fired the weapon was Arthur Lee Wilson Jr. It is believed the two were involved in a physical altercation just prior to the shooting. When the physical altercation concluded, Arthur began firing a weapon at Atkins, striking him in the head. Both Atkins and Wilson lived at the location where the incident took place, and it is unknown what led up to the altercation. While executing a search warrant at the residence, multiple firearms were located in Wilson’s bedroom, two which were confirmed stolen. Among the weapons located, one of them is believed to be the weapon used in the altercation.
Arthur Lee Wilson Jr., 53 years old, has been charged with one count of Murder with $1.5 Million bond, and two counts of Receiving Stolen Property Second Degree which have $30,000.00 bond for the two.
During the late-night hours of 8/12/2022, several suspects broke into a business in the 3000 block of South Oates Street in Dothan. Once inside, the suspects stole multiple firearms from the business. Suspects used a vehicle to ram their way inside the business causing several thousands of dollars worth of damage to the structure.
The Dothan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) began an immediate investigation. With the help of the community, we began following leads that have now led to the arrest of three individuals thus far, and one additional suspect is still being sought.
The investigation has led to the recovery of only a small portion of the stolen firearms, and the recovery of the stolen vehicle used in the burglary.
Antonio Vanquise Streeter, 33 years old of Dothan, has been charged with one count of Conspiracy to commit Burglary Third Degree.
Freshawn Dejon Butler, 25 years old of Dothan, has been charged with one count of Burglary Third Degree, one count of Receiving Stolen Property First Degree, one count of Criminal Mischief First Degree, and one count of Possession of Burglary Tools.
Richard Alexander Wilson Jr., 26 years old of Dothan, has been charged with one count of Burglary Third Degree, one count of Receiving Stolen Property First Degree, one count of Criminal Mischief First Degree, and one count of Possession of Burglary Tools.
Still being sought is Chrisdeon Sanquez Byrd, 24 years old of Dothan. If anyone knows the whereabout of Byrd, they are asked to call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000, or Crime Stoppers at 334-793-7000.
This is an ongoing investigation, and more charges are possible.
Antonio Vanquise Streeter – Conspiracy to Commit Burglary 3rd
Richard Alexander Wilson Jr. – Burglary 3rd, Receiving Stolen Property 1st, Criminal Mischief 1st, and Possession of Burglary Tools
During the late night hours of 8/12/2022, several suspects broke into a business in the 3000 block of South Oates Street in Dothan. Once inside, the suspects stole multiple firearms from the business. Suspects used a vehicle to ram their way inside the business causing several thousands of dollars worth of damage to the structure.
The Dothan Police Department is asking the public for their assistance in this incident. If you have any information you think may be related to this incident you are asked to call the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3000. If you wish 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. A reward may be offered for information that leads to the apprehension of the suspects involved in this incident.
On Monday, May 23, 2022, Dothan Police Department responded to an assault call in the Chapelwood neighborhood. The suspect was identified as Rita Davis. Davis was alleged to have struck the victim on the head with a concrete block which instigated a physical altercation between the two. An officer arrived and was speaking to the victim and witnesses when Davis walked up waving a handgun and pointed it at the victim who was standing next to the officer. The officer ordered Davis to drop the weapon but she initially refused to comply. Davis eventually placed the weapon in her boot and the officer was able to take her into custody. The victim received treatment for a minor injury.
Rita Davis, 50 years old of Dothan, was charged with Assault Second Degree, Menacing, and Obstructing Governmental Operations. Her bond was set at $24,000.00.
Rita Davis – Assault Second Degree, Menacing, and Obstructing Governmental Operations
On April 4, 2022, at approximately 10:50 PM, Dothan Police officers responded to an assault call in the 1800 block of Lake Street. Officers found the victim with injuries to his face, neck, arms, and torso. The investigation revealed that during a verbal argument, the suspect, Avonte’ O’Shawn Dozier, used a paintball gun and shot the victim multiple times from a close range. Most of the victim’s injuries were minor except for an orbital socket injury that initially appeared to be moderate to severe. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he underwent treatment for his injuries.
It is believed Dozier used the paintball gun as a dangerous weapon for the purpose of intentionally causing injury to the victim. This, coupled with the fact the victim did receive a serious physical injury, 24 year-old Avonte’ O’Shawn Dozier of Dothan, was arrested and charged with one count of Assault First Degree. His bond was set at $30,000.00.
On October 25, 2021 at about 3:24 pm, Dothan Police Officers responded to a local restaurant in the 1800 block of East Main Street for a suspicious circumstance call. The officers, once on scene, determined the call to be an armed robbery of a business. The suspect was described as a white male wearing a green shirt, blue jeans, and in possession of a black handgun. The suspect left the area in a black passenger car, possibly a Chevrolet Monte Carlo. No money was taken.
A short time later at 4:08 pm, the Dothan Communications Center received a call of an attempted break-in of a motor vehicle in the parking lot of Wal-mart northside. The suspect was described as a white male wearing a green shirt, blue jeans, and occupying a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The suspect was last seen leaving the Wal-mart parking lot. No property was reported missing.
At 4:46 pm, Dothan Police Officers were dispatched to a local liquor store in the 2700 block of Ross Clark Circle for another armed robbery of a business. The suspect was described as a white male wearing a blue hoodie, khaki cargo shorts, and leaving the scene in a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo south on Ross Clark Circle towards Hartford Highway.
About ten minutes after the robbery of the liquor store, an alert patrol officer noticed a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the parking lot of a strip mall in the 3300 block of South Oates Street with a white male in a blue hoodie going from the Monte Carlo to another vehicle. The officer detained the subject for investigation. It was determined that the subject, Aaron Casey Hurtado (25) of Ashford, AL, had been involved in all three crimes. After obtaining a search warrant for both vehicles, Investigators found a green shirt, black handgun, blue jeans, and liquor bottle in the vehicles that tied Hurtado to all three crimes.
Aaron Casey Hurtado has been arrested and charged with two counts of Robbery 1st degree and one count of Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle. Hurtado is being held without bond on these charges with more charges expected. The Dothan Police Department will vigorously pursue and arrest those responsible for violent crimes in the City of Dothan.
Aaron Hurtado- Two counts Robbery 1st degree and one count Unlawful B&E
Over the last several months, the Dothan Police Department had responded to numerous shots fired calls, individuals who were shot, and homicides. The problem with gun violence in certain areas of the City of Dothan was so bad it demanded action.
Between September 17 through September 19, the Dothan Police Department tasked a special group of officers and investigators as well as Federal and State partners with a focused, sectored patrol in order to combat the use of guns to commit acts of violence. For three days, the officers focused their attention on areas that, by the crime data, were high crime areas for gun violence. The US Marshal’s Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force went to apprehend violent offenders who had not been caught for crimes involving gun violence to include one subject arrested for Capital Murder.
In three days of sectored patrol, Officers with the detail arrested 73 individuals for 103 different crimes. These crimes ranged from Possession of Marijuana to Capital Murder. Along with individuals arrested, officers seized 31 guns.
On September 2nd, 2020 Dothan Police Narcotics Investigators attempted a traffic stop in the parking lot of a Motel in the 2800 block of Ross Clark Circle. The driver of the vehicle, Courtney Jamal Byrd (26) of Kinsey, AL, was wanted for warrants in Dothan, Houston County, and Abbeville AL. Byrd fled from officers and drove his vehicle into a fence at the rear of the motel and fled on foot into a nearby apartment complex.
Officers were able to gather in the area and began a search for Byrd. Dothan Police Patrol Officers, Canine Teams, and Investigators were involved in the search, as well as, The Dale County Sheriffs Office Helicopter, and Houston County Deputies. After hours of searching Byrd was located in the wood line behind a residence in the 1200 block of Honeysuckle Road. He was apprehended by a Police Canine Team and received minor injuries from his capture. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment to his injuries. Byrd was admitted into the hospital for dehydration and is currently being monitored.
Byrd has nine charges from the incident on September 2nd. His charges are Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Receiving Stolen Property 2nd Degree, Attempting to Elude, Obstructing Governmental Operations, Resisting Arrest, Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree, Disorderly Conduct, and two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. No bonds have been set at this time and additional charges are pending.
Byrd was also wanted for two warrants from Dothan. Those warrants are Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to Distribute and Attempting to Elude.
He had six Failure to Appear warrants with the Houston County Sheriffs Office. Two Possession/Receiving Controlled Substance, Burglary 1st Degree, Robbery 1st Degree, Attempting to Elude, and Drug Trafficking.
Abbeville Alabama has three warrants on Byrd. One count of Certain Persons forbidden to Possess a Firearm, Felon Registration Card, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
On January 22, 2020 Dothan Police Narcotics Division conducting a search warrant in the 1200 block of Andrew Street. During the search warrant officers located approximately 120 grams of synthetic marijuana inside the home. Also located inside the home was another small plastic bag of Marijuana and two handguns. One of the handguns was reported stolen.
Kenneth Bondrull Morrison (38) of Dothan was arrested and charged with Drug Trafficking. He has a $250,000.00 bond. Additional charges could be forthcoming.
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