CNAW’s Top 10 Crime Stories of 2022
From the double homicides, to an argument between law enforcement agencies, to a local tow truck driver being struck and killed, to two kids walking to school being struck by a vehicle – here are the top 10 stories of 2022 by CNAW crime reporter Colin Scroggins:
10. COLUMBUS POLICE VERSUS MUSCOGEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
It all began during a 3-day operation battling crime in the city. Sheriff Greg Countryman told agencies to stop operations due to the overcrowding. The operation, continued without Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, but did involve Georgia State Patrol and Columbus Police Department at the request of the city’s police department. Friday night, Columbus saw at least 3 chases in the city. Saturday night, as arrests continued to be made things got heated at the Muscogee County Jail.
We are being told that the sheriff’s office allegedly called for backup after a deputy and a police officer had a conversation which led to the things getting heated. The conversation, which was caught on Body-Worn Camera footage which we obtained through the Georgia Open Records Act, started when a deputy asked the police officer to move his car so the deputy could go to “a call.” The officer’s supervisor advised the officer to not move the vehicle due to them waiting for their inmate to be booked. The deputy then told nearly dozens of officers, “I hope I see you getting your ass handed too and I just drive by.”
Sheriff’s Office told Police Officials that any other agency took precedence over the police department. The jail did not accept most misdemeanors that were arrested by CPD officers into the Muscogee County Jail nor would they process any mug shots or fingerprints for suspects arrested on misdemeanor or city ordinance violations. 19 suspects were issued principal summons during the operation.
The operation was shut down by Columbus Police due to the incident involving the two agencies. On Sunday afternoon, the operation was started back up and this time Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, even though they weren’t invited, was seen at traffic stops with Georgia State Patrol.
The incident which took place on body camera footage is not under investigation, sources told us which led to the quick releasing of the body camera footage. If there was an investigation, the investigation would need to be closed for the footage to be released.
Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman said to his deputies in a leaked memo, “Please know, that if you see something that is factually incorrect, you have every right to correct it. We are all professionals. You share an expertise that many lack. They do not share your knowledge, courage, commitment, the testicular fortitude, or the audacity to walk in your shoes.”
“It’s easy for others to come in and try to tell you how to do your job, when they lack the empathy and understanding of what it actually takes. I know this is frustrating for you. But please know that for every one of these individuals that attempts to bring you down, there is also someone standing with you. With that said, we will not do heart surgery over heart burn. We must rise above those who stir the pot as keyboard bullies. The LORD is with us. That will not change,” the statement added.
Even though Sheriff Countryman continues to ask agencies to stop operations, himself and his deputies continue to make arrests on high profile offenders, including 5 validated gang members.
This isn’t the first time the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and Columbus Police Department have had issues. Back in March of 2022, Columbus Police sent out a memo, which was leaked, that stated, “At NO POINT will any investigator or supervisor of any department (namely MCSO) be allowed to enter, interfere, or interact with anyone involved in any investigation that CPD is conducting. This includes witnesses. Please make sure that all of our personnel are made aware of this. This applies to traffic stops as well. They will need to be asked to exit the scene and to NOT interfere. If this happens in any manner please notify me via text immediately. Chief Blackmon will deal with the matter after that.”
The Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman then sent out a memo, which was also leaked. The memo from Countryman stated, “I am aware of a communication circulating around CPD Command Staff that indicates that they do not want Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office personnel involved in the agency’s inner workings.” The statement added, “I have spoken with Chief Blackmon regarding said communication. As Sheriff, I am instructing all sworn deputies to continue working as stated in our motto – “Working together, accomplishing great things.” – just as we have always done. We will continue to assist, answer requests for assistance, and work with any and all law enforcement agencies (namely CPD), to include local and neighboring counties. We will also render assistance to all Sheriff’s Offices throughout the state of Georgia, as we have always done. Officer safety is paramount during these uncertain times, and we will continue to provide excellent service to all of those we encounter.” CNAW2NEWS.com also was notified that most times Columbus police officers nearly have to wait for 1-2 hours to process any suspects.
9. MAFFIA’S IN HISTORIC OPELIKA BURNS DOWN
Opelika police units and fire crews responded to a 911 call from a citizen around 1:05 A.M. on July 21st, 2022. The caller stated heavy smoke was in the area of South Railroad Avenue. “Upon arrival, Opelika firefighters determined the source of the smoke was a structure fire inside Maffia’s Italian Restaurant, located at 811 S. Railroad Avenue,” the press release said. At approximately 7:30 a.m., crews began the process of overhauling the site to search for hidden hot spots. The buildings connected to the restaurant suffered damage, and Maffia’s was torn down.
8. HOSTAGE SITUATION AT COLUMBUS APARTMENT
The events began shortly around 11:00PM on March 23rd when patrol officers responded to a domestic involved incident happening inside of an apartment at Park Place Apartments involving one male and one female.
A man, identified as Jeffery Watkins, held the female hostage inside. The son, identified himself as Brandon but didn’t announce his last name, told News 2, “It clicked to me when officers were working that I have access to security cameras inside the apartment that he recently put in.” Officers were able to gain access to the video feed and see what exactly is going on inside. “All I saw was a man pointing a gun at my momma,” he said. The suspect, who is reportedly named Jeff, then realized that the cameras were moving and disconnected the cameras, according to Brandon. That is when – Police Chief Freddie Blackmon and Assistant Police Chief Debra Kennedy – arrived on scene, along with the Crisis Negotiators, SWAT team, Special Ops, and more units arrived. About 12 hours later, which was 11:30AM, the female hostage was rescued and was uninjured. At about 5:45 PM, action picked up and law enforcement officials took the suspect into police-custody. Watkins was charged with receipt, possession, or transfer of a firearm during the commission of a crime and false imprisonment.
7. TOW TRUCK DRIVER STRUCK AND KILLED
A Columbus area tow truck driver was struck and killed by a passing vehicle while loading up a broken-down Georgia State Patrol cruiser on Friday, December 2, 2022 on the off ramp at JR Allen Parkway and Moon Road. The tow truck driver, identified as 41-year-old Jonathan Begley, was pronounced deceased on scene at 10:49 P.M by Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Dustin Harrelson. Begley was a tow truck driver for Griffin and Griffin Towing and was honored several days ago in a procession full of first responders, law enforcement, and fellow tow truck drivers.
6. CHILD PASSES AWAY IN HEAT-RELATED DEATH
The investigation is underway after a Columbus toddler was found unresponsive inside a motor vehicle on June 26, 202. Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan tells CNAW the grandmother, the toddler and the siblings of the toddler all went out on a few errands including going to church, ordering Little Caesar’s, and visiting the children’s mom at work. The grandmother took the children, including the toddler, home at or about 5:30P.M. The children playing in the house when the grandmother noticed she couldn’t find the toddler. Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan tells us the grandmother’s son used the vehicle to go to Wendy’s around 8:15P.M to get ice cream and went inside the residence. Inside that vehicle was 3-year-old Kendrick Engram Jr.
The grandmother reported called her son asking if he had Kendrick around 8:32P.M.. He replied no and she asked him check the car. He called her back minutes later, and unfortunately confirmed the child was inside the car and unresponsive and called authorities at 8:41P.M.
Authorities, with EMS and Columbus police, were dispatched to the scene where they found Kendrick unresponsive. Kendrick Engram Jr. was pronounced deceased by Muscogee County Deputy Coroner Elizabeth Allison at 9:12pm in the parking lot of Wendy’s, located at 1707 Wynnton Rd.
It is believed the child was inside the vehicle for at least 2 hours and 45 minutes. Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan confirmed Kendrick’s cause of death is accidental and it is a heat related death. The mother was notified.
5. FATHER DROWNS IN LAKE HARDING
Authorities were dispatched to Lee Road 914 at the Crepe Myrtle Condos for reports of a man who went under water and wasn’t seen since on May 6, 2022. The man, who was identified as 30-year-old Jacob Davidson, of Valley, Alabama, had allegedly jumped in after his 6-year-old child to save the child when both became distressed. A bystander operated their boat to the location of the two subjects when the father gave the kid to the bystander. The bystander allegedly put the child down and when the bystander turned around, the father was gone. Lee County Deputy Coroner Daniel Sexton confirmed the name and age of the man. On May 8, 2022, Davidson was recovered from the lake.
4. TWO KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL STRUCK BY VEHICLE
Two kids walking to school in October of this year were struck by a vehicle. Authorities responded to Steam Mill Road where they found two children seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle around 8 A.M., on Thursday, October 6, 2022. A 13-year-old girl was pronounced deceased on the scene, while the 11-year-old boy was transported to Piedmont Columbus Regional and later flown to an Atlanta hospital in serious condition. The two were walking to nearby Rothschild Middle School where they attended. The driver of the vehicle involved, described as a light in color, possibly silver or gold, Toyota Tacoma, fled the scene after the crash. Within hours after the Be-On-The-Lookout for the vehicle was sent out by police, investigators detained 29-year-old Deantre Wolfe after he called the police to turn himself in at 4:33 P.M., on Friday, October 7, 2022. Wolfe was charged with Homicide by Vehicle 1st Degree (Felony), Serious Injury by Vehicle (Felony), Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Felony), No Proof of Insurance (Misdemeanor), Suspended Registration (Misdemeanor), Duty to Report an Accident (Misdemeanor), and No State Tag (Misdemeanor).
3. MISSING WOMAN BURIED IN BACKYARD BY HUSBAND
Julie Catron went missing in November of 2021 and investigators did not give up on finding her. The investigation took a turn when homicide investigators, crime scene investigators, and patrol officers – all in hazmat suits – began searching the Catron house on June 30, 2022. Cadaver dogs were called in and alerted in the area of a freshly built enclosure. Investigators began searching and digging in the area of the enclosure when they discovered a box in a shallow grave. The box had human remains of Julie Catron inside. 57-year-old Clarence Catron was charged in connection with the death. The charge: concealing th
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