Holiday Is Marred By Tragedy
William Brett Graham, Jr., of Newnan died Sunday evening on Jackson Lake.
Mr. Graham arrived at Jackson Lake last Friday to visit friends in Turtle Cove, according to information received from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). According to Mr. Graham’s friends he was alive at around 8:40 p.m. Sunday evening in the water at Runner Beach. Just after 9 p.m. he was found floating face down in the water, at which time a neighbor performed CPR on him. Shortly thereafter 911 personnel from Butts County continued the CPR, but found him unresponsive, and he was later pronounced dead by Jasper County Coroner Billy Norris.
According to the JCSO, the cause of death is pending and will not be official until a toxicology report has been received from the medical examiner, which could take several weeks.
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Some concern has arisen as to the response from Jasper County Emergency Medical Service (JCEMS). According to Emergency Medical Director Ed Westbrook, the call came in at 9:07 p.m. At this time the JCEMS ambulance was in route transferring a patient from Jasper Memorial Hospital to Newton General, and assistance was requested from Butts County.
Because of county budget cuts, from 9 p.m. Sunday until 9 a.m. on Monday, and 9 p.m. Wednesday until 9 a.m. Thursday, there is only one ambulance in service in the county and it is stationed in Monticello in order to be in the center of the county. The station on Jackson Lake Road is unstaffed during those two periods.
However, volunteer firemen/first responders did arrive on the scene prior to the arrival of Butts County. JCEMS responded and arrived on the scene approximately 15 minutes after Butts County, coming directly from Newton General in Covington.
Also, during the holiday weekend and during the period of September 1-8, the JCSO reported the following arrests in the county:
Allan Barnell Rutherford, 32, Monticello—probation violation.
Desmond Rashan Willingham, 20, Monticello—probation violation.
Antonio Lernard Buggs, 47, Decatur—obtaining or attempting to obtain dangerous drugs by fraud.
Johnny Rutherford, 56, Monticello—Jasper County Superior Court Bench warrant.
Kerry Britt Treadwell, 41, Monticello—public drunkenness and probation violation.
Stacey Elaine Thrash, 31, Mansfield—false statement of officer.
Melissa Leigh Loggins, 29, Porterdale—theft by taking.
Mark David Ray, 23, Monticello—probation violation, driving while license suspended or revoked, suspended registration and violation of driving on a limited driving permit.
Thomas Russell Hobgood, 18, Loganville—probation violation.
Terry Jackson, 42, Macon—probation violation.
Michael Anthony Clemons, 41, Jackson—probation violation.
Rocky Eugene Delee, 18, Monticello—furnishing to, purchase, or possession by persons under 21 years of age.
Bryant Leon Blackstock, 18, Mansfield—reckless conduct causing harm to or endanger the safety, criminal trespass, possession of marijuana less than 1 oz. and obstruction or hindering law enforcement officers.
James Frederick Grother, 30, Monticello—disorderly conduct.
Landon Hughey, 40, Covington—Jasper County Probate Court bench warrant.
Anthony Lee Wynn, 49, Covington—driving while license suspended or revoked and no brake lights.
Timothy Dwain Conner, 26, Covington—driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to maintain lane.
During this period deputies with the JCSO also responded to 159 calls for service including 44 stopping suspicious person/vehicle, 20 subject needs officer, 11 suspicious person and/or vehicle, seven burglary, six accidents, five alarm, four each juvenile complaint, livestock in road and music/noise complaint, three each fight and intoxicated driver, two each dog disturbance, domestic, trouble unknown and threatening/harassing calls, one each hit and run, theft by taking, missing person, argument, VGCSA, fraud/theft by deceiving and 911 hang up.
According to Monticello Police Chief Bud Smith the Big Chic Restaurant on West Greene Street was broken into at approximately 2 a.m. Tuesday. The perpetrators broke in the back door and made off with a floor safe weighing approximately 60-70 pounds with an undetermined amount of cash. Officers with the Monticello Police Department were patrolling in the vicinity at the time but saw no activity relating to the incident. Chief Smith said the department was working on several good leads.
During this same period the Monticello Police Department reported the following arrests:
Pete Thurman, 55, Monticello—pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Eugenia Aguilar, 37, Jonesboro—riding in bed of pickup and drivers license violation.
Travis Andrews, 27, Monticello—public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.
Also, during this period officer with the MPD responded to 119 calls for service including 47 stopping suspicious person/vehicle, 25 escort or convoy, nine subject needs officer, three alarm, two each fight, domestic, accident, intoxicated pedestrian, theft by taking foot patrol, juvenile complaint and music/noise complaint, one each dog disturbance, burglary, crowd disbursement, missing person, trouble unknown, vandalism of property, argument, forgery and 911 hang up.
In addition, according to Officer Billy Bryant of the Department of Natural Resources, traffic on Jackson Lake was normal with only several minor violations reported. However, they did report the arrest of Mary Caroline Stephens, 57, of Hampton, who was charged with boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and operating a vessel with improper lights.
Furthermore, the Georgia State Patrol reported the arrest of Donnie Eugene Mitchell, Jr., 41, of Monticello, who was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and open container.
