Putnam County Sheriff's Office

Jerome L. Johnson

Jerome L. Johnson

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Man hit with brick in bar brawl

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
An Eatonton man is behind bars facing charges related to hitting another man in the head with a brick during a bar brawl, according to Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills.Jerome Lorenzo Johnson, 43, of Custer Avenue, Eatonton, is facing charges that include aggravated assault and aggravated stalking.
Kenneth D. Brown

Kenneth D. Brown

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Shooting incident turns out to be false; caller jailed

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
A flurry of law enforcement activity filled Lakeview Estates Drive and Lane last week in response to a 911 call from a man who said his mother had just been shot in the yard of their house.“Obviously, we responded in a manner one would for such a report,” Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills said.
John W. Yates

John W. Yates

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‘Radioman’ arrested for altercation with child

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
A well-known person in the downtown Eatonton community was arrested recently following an incident at one of his regular hangouts.Warren Yates, better known as “Radioman,” is seen daily walking around town visiting with anyone who will talk with him.
Reyna Lopez

Reyna Lopez

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Babysitter pleads guilty to baby’s murder

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
A babysitter who killed a 5-month-old boy in her custody will be spending the next 20 years of her life in prison.Reyna Lopez, 43, of East Marion Street, Eatonton, pled guilty to murder in the second degree Monday in Greene County Superior Court.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Autistic child goes missing, found in Lake Oconee

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
The lake, with its many obvious pleasures and beauty, sometimes brings tragedy. Monday was one of those times for a Lake Oconee family who lost their young child.The 7-year-old boy, Xander Whitehurst, was playing in the yard of the Lakeview Estates Lane home he lives in with his great-grandparents.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

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Missing woman found by K9 dies at hospital

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
It’s one of those calls no officer wants to receive, and no person wants to make.Around 6:20 a.m. Monday, a call came in to the Putnam County Sheriff’s 911 Center about an elderly woman who was missing from her home on the 700 block of Lower Harmony Road.
Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

Dump truck rolls over on MLK Drive

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Traffic was blocked on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Eatonton on Monday for a few hours after a dump truck overturned on its side and its contents were strewn all over the road.
This 28.54 grams of methamphetamine was found during a traffic stop. The woman, Autumn Carrey, and passenger Robert Hough are facing trafficking charges. CONTRIBUTED

This 28.54 grams of methamphetamine was found during a traffic stop. The woman, Autumn Carrey, and passenger Robert Hough are facing trafficking charges. CONTRIBUTED

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Drug trafficker delivered meth to Putnam County ‘every 4-5 days’

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Upon her arrest, an Eatonton woman reportedly told detectives that she had been picking up “anywhere from 1 to 9 ounces of methamphetamine” every four to five days from Macon and bringing it back to Putnam County to sell to street drug dealers, Putnam County Sheriff’s Lt. Harry Luke said.
This 3.8 oz. baggie of methamphetamine, a.k.a. an 8-ball, came from Foston during a controlled purchase. CONTRIBUTED/ PCSO

This 3.8 oz. baggie of methamphetamine, a.k.a. an 8-ball, came from Foston during a controlled purchase. CONTRIBUTED/ PCSO

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Man throws drugs, money out window while fleeing

Lynn Hobbs
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
A Milledgeville man recently drove along Old Phoenix and New Phoenix roads slinging methamphetamine, scales, and money out the window of his car as he tried to escape Putnam County Sheriff’s Office detectives.Deputies caught the driver and recovered the evidence.
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