About The Braselton news. (Jefferson, Ga) 2006-current | View Entire Issue (June 25, 2025)
Wednesday, June 25, 2025 The Braselton News Page 5A Public Safety Braselton Man posing as police officer scams woman for over $2,300 A Braselton woman said a male caller, posing as an Alpharetta police officer, scammed her out of over $2,300, claiming the woman had an arrest warrant. According to a Braselton police report, the man in structed her to pay fines through Zelle in the amounts of $1,212, $812 and $300. The woman said she had sent the payments before visiting the Alpharetta Police Depart ment and learning that the man did not work there. The woman said she also received emails from the man involving her personal life and loans she’d taken out. OTHER INCIDENTS Other recent incidents in vestigated by Braselton po lice included: •death investigation on Mossy Oak Landing where a woman died from a re ported heart attack. •suspicions activity on Spout Springs Rd. where a man was seen pushing a sleeping female child in a shopping cart to another man, who then placed the child into the rear of a truck and closed the door. The other man then drove out of the parking lot. A witness said that the child never woke up, and the other man did not place the child in a car seat or use a seatbelt when putting the child into the vehicle. •fraud on Democracy Dr. where a woman claimed she gave another woman nearly $9,500 in gift cards to help the woman, who contacted her via Facebook, repair her truck. The woman said this person told her she would pay her back more than she gave her. An officer told the woman locating the other woman would be difficult, even if the suspect’s Face- book account was real. •theft on Hopehaven Way where a man said his handgun that he kept in his bedroom closet was miss ing. He noted that multiple contractors have been in his home since he last saw the weapon. Jail log Recent arrests made across Jackson County The following people were recently arrested by various agencies across Jackson County: JACKSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE • Tina Gail Anderson, 8606 Holly Springs Rd., Maysville — exploit/ inflict pain to/deprive essential services to a disabled or elderly per son and hold for Banks County. • Brittany Danielle Buffington, 210 Fairlane Dr., Jefferson — failure to appear. • Jenna Ashley Fran cois, 10 Parkview Homes, Athens — probation vio lation. • Brandon Shane Har kins, 1268 Pocket Rd., Braselton — sexual bat tery. • Joel Anthony Narva, 4394 Drigtwater Rd., Du luth — two counts of pro bation violation. •Haden Sundown Walker, 19, 15 Constitu tion Ave., Pendergrass — probation violation. • Jason Lee Gravitt, 40, 152 Saymore Dr., Athens — hold for Dawson and Lumpkin counties. • Jerome Travis Ayre, 27, 51 Hardin Terrace Cir., Jefferson — driving while license is suspend ed; hold for immigra tions; hold for Monroe; tag lights violation; and bondsman off bond for two charges. • Rufus Whitfield III, 29, 339 Gainesville St., Carnesville — probation violation. • Jacques Zi-Qwan Bak er, 18, 4266 Links Blvd., Jefferson — criminal trespass; possession of drug-related objects; loi tering or prowling; and possession of marijuana less than an ounce. •Marquies Vernard Cox, 32, 2227 Cabin Creek Rd., Nicholson — simple assault-family vi olence. • Joe Thomas Hardy, 35, 674 High Meadow Dr., Jefferson — simple assault-family violence and terroristic threats and acts-family violence. • John Paul Petrisko, 62, 880 Lavender Rd., Jeffer son — failure to appear. • Keon Christopher Rak estraw, 19, 652 Ridgeway Rd., Commerce — crimi nal trespass and loitering or prowling. • George Joseph Bartel Jr., 57, 68 A.J. Irvin Rd., Talmo — hold for Gwin nett County. • Jason Christopher Fields, 40, 48 Rock Forge Ct., Jefferson — proba tion violation. •Lavourgours Bruce Gilbert, 55, 55 MLK Jr. Dr., Jefferson — two counts of probation vio lation. • Zenobia Denise Gor don, 34, 1941 Prather Dr., Augusta — hold for Rich mond County. • Jared Michael Han nifin, 48, 1885 Ebenezer Church Rd., Jefferson — simple assault-family vi olence. • Wesley Hunter Hard wick, 22, 416 Staplers Bridge Rd., Nicholson — battery. • Jordan Allen Johnson, 25, 540 Glen Gee Rd., Pendergrass — fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer-felony; no passing zones violation; and reckless driving. • George Tutuboy Nag- be, 39, 239 Jarrod Oaks Ct., Loganville — hit and run. • Jerry Donald Seabolt, 42, 525 J. S. Williamson Ct., Nicholson — viola tion of a family violence order. • Vickie Dudley Wat son, 60, 2515 Ramsey Cir., Gainesville — ha rassing phone calls. • Kevin Russell Culber son, 32, 122 Welch Place, Athens — driving while license is suspended or revoked. • John Mark Flem ing, 56, 77 Boyd Rd., Hoschton — simple as sault-family violence. • Luis Fernando Mun guia-Castillo, 26, 217 Blue Iris Ct., Winder — driving without a valid license. •Brooklyn Dawn Woodard, 24, 809 Mar low Rd., Maysville — driving without a license; driving under the influ ence (DUI)-per se; and stopping, standing or parking in roadway. • Brandon Shane Har kins, 40, 1268 Pocket Rd., Braselton — proba tion violation. • Hunter Brandon Har kins, 18, 275 Whitney Rd., Jefferson — DUI-al- cohol-less safe; duty to report an accident; failure to maintain lane; open container; and too fast for conditions. • Joshua Clyde Harris, 42, 181 Forest St., Jeffer son — two counts of pro bation violation. • Hunter Wesley Lamar Jackson, 19, 2528 Old State Rd., Pendergrass — probation violation. •Melissa Avery Hirschlein, 44, 393 W. Smith Rd., Jeferson — probation violation. • Todd Marlon Beale Jr., 24, 5158 Amberland Sq., Atlanta — hold for Doug las County and probation violation. • Scottland Tyrone Burns, 39, 68 Sunny Ln., Commerce — incarcera tion order and probation violation. • Cheyenne Marie Campbell, 25, 1990 Wil low Trail Pkwy., Norcross — probation violation. • Alyssa Blair Griffin, 25, 160 Glenn Fuller Cir., Commerce — bat tery-family violence; criminal trespass; and cruelty to children-third degree. •Niqua Ahmir Hes ter, 26, homeless — two counts of reckless con duct and simple as sault-family violence. •Melissa Avery Hirschlein, 44, 396 W. Smith Rd., Jefferson — crossing state/county guard lines with weapons, intoxicants or drugs with out consent; giving false name, address or birth- date to a law enforcement officer; possession of methamphetamine; pro bation violation; and tam pering with evidence-fel ony. •Eric Crow Nolan, 37, homeless — probation vi olation. • Robert Andrew Reid, 27, 1548 Joe Bolton Rd., Commerce — probation violation. •Michael Antho ny Rush, 42, 2591 Doc Hughes Rd., Buford — probation violation. • Josue Julian Rivas, 22, 1730 Inlet Lake Place, Snellville — probation violation. BRASELTON PD •Matthew James Rup- pel, 57, 4725 Strickland Rd., Flowery Branch — hit and run. •Alia Chanel Dicker- son, 31, 6618 Reafield Dr., Charlotte, N.C. — Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. •Kohl Zahir Ray, 28, 6618 Reafield Dr., Char lotte, N.C. — Violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. COMMERCE PD • Ryan Lee McColl, 38, 111 Creekside Dr., Commerce — driving on roadways laned for traf fic; DUI-alcohol; and two counts of endangering a child by DUI. • Floyd Rodney McK inzie, 51, 1823 Hog Mountain Rd., Jefferson — DUI-alcohol. • William Kenneth Nor ris, 54, 665 Ridgeway Church Rd., Commerce — driving on divided highways; DUI-alcohol; and obedience to a traf fic-control device. • Timothy Ray Oden II, 34, 419 Wilbanks Cir., Commerce — DUI-al cohol; speeding (53/35); and open container. • Avilio Portillo, 25, 618 Anderson St., Charlotte, N.C. — driving without a valid license and posses sion of cocaine. •Michael L’Wayne Sol- oman, 41, 455 Lewis Cir., Commerce — DUI and open container. • Avilio Portillo, 25, 618 Anderson St., Charlotte, N.C. — driving without a valid license; hold for Immigrations and Cus toms Enforcement; and possession of cocaine. HOSCHTON PD • Peir Carlos Altami rano Gomez, 33, 991 Buckley Place, Norcross — driving without a valid license and following too closely. • Shivraj Ramesh Patel, 36, 350 Hillcrest View Dr., Suwanee — DUI-al cohol; failure to maintain lane; open container; and reckless driving. JEFFERSON PD •De’Martre Terrell Robinson, 22, 575 Con cord Rd., Pendergrass — criminal trespass-family violence. •Josue Serda, 26, 26 Maria Cir., Jefferson — receipt, possession or transport of a firearm by a convicted felon or felony first offender. • Samantha Kathleen Ford, 36, 201 Lynn Dr., Homer — disorderly con duct. • Alex Jovanny Cabal lero-Chacon, 30, 1116 El len Ave., Rock Hill, S.C. — driving without a val id license and speeding (90/70). • Bogar Robles, 27, 2570 Athens Hwy., Jef ferson — driving without a valid license and tail- lights violation. PENDERGRASS PD • Deandrua Latrice Fer guson, 33, 540 Glenn Gee Rd., Pendergrass — DUI-alcohol. GEORGIA STATE PATROL •Keaton Dimetric Ar nold, 38, 188 Third St., Athens — DUI-alcohol and speeding (63/45). West Jackson incidents Man looking for dog claims another man shot at his drone The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) re cently responded to a dis pute on East Castle View Dr. where a man searching for a lost dog with a drone claimed another man shot at the device. According to the report, the other man denied firing at the drone but said he shot toward a sandbag to scare the dog from his property and stop the drone from fry ing over his residence. OTHER INCIDENTS Other recent incidents re ported in West Jackson by the JCSO included: •suspicious activity on Hwy. 124 where a customer was reusing coins multiple times at a coin machine. •damage to a vehicle on Hwy. 124 where a driver reportedly left a dent in a man’s vehicle at the Publix shopping center and left the scene. •juvenile issue on Hwy. 124 where a fast-food restaurant employee said four teens rode through the store’s drive-through on bikes and dirt bikes after be ing told to leave the location because the business was closed. •information on Boulder Hall County HCSO confirms identification of man found dead in roadway Investigators with the Hall County Sheriff’s Of fice (HCSO) have con firmed the identity of a man whose body was dis covered in the roadway on McConnell Dr. near Moun taincrest Drive in Hall County earlier this month. Andres Mateo Hernan dez, 31, of Gainesville, was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been notified of his death. At this time, the cause of death for Hernandez is unknown. Investigators continue to await autopsy results. His body was discov ered in the roadway of a Gainesville neighborhood on June 1. HCSO deputies Crest where a man said he feared for his and his fam ily’s lives because he sus pected a man who was re leased from prison pulled into his driveway. He said the man had been serving a sentence for beating his daughter five years ago. Prison records, however, showed that the man was still incarcerated. •suspicions activity on Antrim Glen Dr. where a woman said a man, whom she did not know, was tak ing photos or videos of her home. •reckless conduct and simple assault on Hwy. 53 where a woman reported that her juvenile daughter and the juvenile’s father ar gued over who would drive and wrecked while traveling in a vehicle. She said the father grabbed the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to swerve into a ditch. The daughter said her father was “trying to kill her.” The fa ther reportedly left the scene and began walking towards Hall County. He will report edly face charges. • agency assist on Hwy. 53 where a man reported that his tractor-trailer caught fire. responded to the intersec tion of McConnell Drive and Mount Crest Dr. just before 3:30 a.m. after a 911 caller reported hear ing a crash and then find ing Hernandez unrespon sive victim in the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was transported for autopsy to determine the cause of death. At this point in the in vestigation, it is unclear if a vehicle struck Hernan dez and then left the scene or if he collapsed and died in the roadway. All possi bilities remain under in vestigation. Anyone who has information in the case may call Investigator Bray at 770-533-7813. State DDS urges drivers to choose state-certified driving schools Whether for driver train ing or improvement, the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) re minds residents to select a state-certified driving school. Certification ensures instructors are qualified and the curriculum is both ef fective and compliant with state law. “It is important that cus tomers select schools that are certified by DDS to en sure students receive con sistent, comprehensive and up-to-date instruction on traffic laws, road safety and risk reduction,” said DDS Commissioner Angelique B. McClendon. DDS warns that some schools operate without proper certification. Stu dents who attend uncerti fied programs risk receiving poor-quality instruction and may face delays in driver li cense issuance or reinstate ment. DDS only accepts certificates of completion from certified schools. Certified instructors must complete state-required training and are vetted to ensure they can teach safe, lawful and effective driving techniques. How to identify a certified school: • Visit the DDS website: A full list of certified driv ing schools — including those offering online and third-party testing — is available at dds.georgia. gov/regulated-programs. • Ask questions: Cus tomers should ask, “Is your company certified by the Georgia Department of Driver Services?” and “Are all of your instructors DDS-certified?” If the an swer is no, visit the DDS website to find a certified provider. DDS also recommends downloading the Georgia Digital Driver’s License and ID to your phone’s wallet and creating an online ac count to monitor any chang es to your license status. For more information, visit dds.georgia.gov.
