GEORGIA – August to October marks the height of natural disaster season in the United States, and with it comes a warning from consumer protection groups: be on the lookout for scammers posing as contractors offering too-good-to-be-true repair services. According to recent advisories, fraudulent contractors often descend on communities impacted by hurricanes, floods, and other […]
Read More »GBI Investigates Inmate Death in Towns County
TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. – At the request of the Towns County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating the death of Brian William Whitney, age 44, of Hiawassee, GA, who was an inmate in the Towns County Jail. On August 2, 2025, at about 3:05 a.m., Towns County deputies discovered Whitney unresponsive in his cell. Whitney was pronounced dead at the jail […]
Read More »A Tip Called-in Lead to a Drug Related Arrest
PRESS RELEASE – On Sunday night, July 27, 2025, information came available to the Towns County Sheriff’s Office Drug Investigators that a suspect of a month long investigation had drugs in his possession. A search was conducted at a residence on Furman Gribble Rd. which resulted in the confiscation of an amount of substance that […]
Read More »Death Investigation at Bell Mountain
TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. – At the request of the Towns County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating the death of Phat Tan Bui, age 38, of Norcross, GA. On Saturday, July 19, 2025, at about 9:15 p.m., Towns County deputies discovered a van belonging to Phat Tan Bui in the parking area of Bell Mountain. […]
Read More »Two arrested on drug charges
PRESS RELEASE – On Saturday night, June 22, 2025, the Towns County Sheriff Investigators received reliable information in regards to drug activity at the Texico in the city of Hiawassee. Investigators set up a surveillance and made contact with two suspects. Probable cause was developed and a search conducted. During the search a variety of […]
Read More »Towns County Commissioner Facing Allegations of Taking Inappropriate Photos of Female Volunteers
TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. – The sole commissioner of Towns County, Cliff Bradshaw, is facing allegations of misuse of his taxpayer-issued phone to take inappropriate photos of female volunteers for the county government and disperse them among fellow government employees. One of the alleged victims of the inappropriate photos came forward to “call out” Bradshaw and […]
Read More »Cause of Death Revealed for Lewis Twins Found Shot in Bell Mountain
PRESS RELEASE – The GBI has concluded the investigation into the deaths of Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis. Based on the results of the medical examiner’s autopsy and other investigative findings, their deaths have been ruled suicide-suicide. GBI agents have met with the Lewis family to share the findings. Detailed below are some […]
Read More »Two arrested during traffic stop for drugs
PRESS RELEASE – On Tuesday May 6, 2025, a joint investigation by The Towns County and Clay County Drug Investigators led to a traffic stop on HWY 66. During the stop probable cause was developed and a search of the vehicle resulted in an amount of methamphetamine and marijuana being confiscated. Emily Joanne Smith, 32, […]
Read More »Two men arrested on drug charges
TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. – On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, The Towns County Sheriff’s office Drug Investigators did a follow up at a location on Rogers Rd, Hiawassee. Probable cause was established for the residence and a search resulted in an amount of methamphetamine and drug related objects being seized. Nathaniel Jerome Edwards Jr, 48, of […]
Read More »Man Arrested for Child Molestation
PRESS RELEASE – On June 3, 2024, the Towns County Sheriff’s Office Investigators received a complaint regarding child molestation of a 13 year old victim. Investigation revealed that the victim had been molested since the child was 9 years old. The molestation occurred in Towns County and other jurisdictions. On June 3rd the suspect, Tanner […]
Read More »GBI Investigates Deaths on Bell Mountain in Towns County
TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Towns County Sheriff’s Office with a death investigation on Bell Mountain in Hiawassee, Georgia. Hikers found two men dead at the top of Bell Mountain. The men were identified as twin brothers, Qaadir Malik Lewis and Naazir Rahim Lewis, both 19, of Lawrenceville, […]
Read More »Doctor arrested on animal cruelty charges
A Towns County man was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after complaints were made about the conditions of the animals on Old Chicken Farm Rd in Young Harris, GA. An investigation on Jan. 6, led to the arrest of Laneau Hayes, 75. Hayes is listed as a Doctor on the Union General Hospital […]
Read More »Blairsville man arrested on drug possession
PRESS RELEASE – On Tuesday January 21st, Towns County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Keanu Nguyen conducted a traffic stop on Highway 76 West. Probable cause was developed during the stop to search the vehicle. An amount of crystal-like substance, which field-tested positive for Methamphetamine, was confiscated. David Anthony Lowe, age 44, Blairsville was arrested and charged […]
Read More »Georgia State Senator arrested
GEORGIA – FYN became aware of an arrest made this morning at the Georgia State Capitol thanks to a new program called The Georgia Hour with BKP on VoiceofRuralAmerica.com. Georgia State Senator Colton Moore was seen being shoved to the ground and arrested as he tried to defy a ban that would keep him from […]
Read More »GBI Investigates Shooting in Towns County – One Deputy Shot and Injured
TOWNS COUNTY, Ga. – At the request of the Towns County Sheriff’s Office, GBI agents are investigating an aggravated assault on a Towns County Sheriff’s deputy who was shot during a traffic stop. The suspect has not been identified but is described as a white man, who is about 6 feet tall and 170-180 lbs. […]
Read More »Call of threats against a 14 year old victim turn into drug bust
PRESS RELEASE – On December 1, 2024, Towns County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 728 Twin Mountain Rd. in reference to threats against a 14 year old victim. Once on the scene uniform patrol observed a vehicle located on the property with a male and female inside. When approached by uniform patrol they detected […]
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