Putnam County Sheriff's Office

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills is defending Flock Safety cameras amid growing controversy over their use, saying the technology has helped solve crimes and locate missing people. CONTRIBUTED

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills is defending Flock Safety cameras amid growing controversy over their use, saying the technology has helped solve crimes and locate missing people. CONTRIBUTED

Sheriff answers questions about use of Flock cameras

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, August 20, 2026
The arrests of several Georgia deputies for the illegal use of Flock Safety cameras have ignited a fiery controversy across the state and nation.
Douglas Grady

Douglas Grady

Naked man attacks car, has disagreement with dog

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
“Argumentative, belligerent,” and “naked.”Putnam County Sheriff’s Office deputies not only had to work in the 93-degree heat on Friday, Aug. 8, but one of their arrests involved a man who apparently was frustrated by the soaring temperatures.A 911 dispatcher alerted them to a call on Lower Harmony...
Victoria M. Lacuesta

Victoria M. Lacuesta

Thief accused of stealing $280K nabbed at airport

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
A Texas woman was arrested after authorities say she scammed more than $280,000 from a Putnam County resident.Putnam County Sheriff Howard R. Sills said his office received a call from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after the woman attempted to leave the country from Hartsfield-Jackson...
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

GBI investigates holiday weekend drowning on Lake Sinclair

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now looking into the drowning of a Habersham County man on Lake Sinclair over the July 4th holiday weekend.Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said he emailed the GBI on Thursday and requested their agency investigate the drowning of 34-year-old David Hoyt...
Sammy Lackey

Sammy Lackey

Man menaces friends with gun; charged for terroristic threats

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Several people called 911 after a friend allegedly pointed a gun at them and threatened to shoot up their house, according to law enforcement reports.Putnam County Deputy Sheriff Hollie Collins responded to a residence in the 100 block of Friendship Road between 7 and 8:30 a.m. on May 27, Sheriff...
Ahmer Chodhary

Ahmer Chodhary

Convenience store raided by authorities; two arrested

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Once again, the Georgia Lottery may have been cheated out of potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars because a license holder is accused of not following the law.Putnam County Sheriff’s Office detectives Lt. Harry Luke and J. Turk served a search warrant and raided the BP Food Mart at Lake...
Putnam County authorities pull over the vehicle traveling back from Macon that led to the arrest of an Eatonton man on drug trafficking charges. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

Putnam County authorities pull over the vehicle traveling back from Macon that led to the arrest of an Eatonton man on drug trafficking charges. CONTRIBUTED/PCSO

Meth Bust: Suspected trafficker arrested in Putnam County

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
An Eatonton man was arrested earlier this week by deputies with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division Drug Unit.Deputies stopped and arrested Shawn Daniel Malm on May 10 as he drove into Putnam County after allegedly picking up methamphetamine in Macon, according to...
Helen Nelson and Lt. Tracey Pitoccheli reminisce how they became friends many years before Pitoccheli became a deputy and worked for PCSO. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Helen Nelson and Lt. Tracey Pitoccheli reminisce how they became friends many years before Pitoccheli became a deputy and worked for PCSO. LYNN HOBBS/Staff

Nelson honored for many years of service at sheriff’s office

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Lots of laughter, stories, hugs, fond memories, and the aroma of barbecue filled the conference/courtroom of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office last week in celebration of Helen Nelson’s many years of service and retirement.“It’s a good day for Miss Helen, but a bad day for the sheriff’s office,”...
Carlton Wright

Carlton Wright

Credit card fraud grounds Wright brothers

Lynn Hobbs
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Two brothers were arrested for using their employer’s credit cards to buy gasoline totaling $7,750 for themselves and their family and friends, Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said.Carlton Ramon Wright, 36, of Mack Lane, Eatonton, and Richard Duane Wright, 38, of Turkey Run, Milledgeville, are...
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