Press Release
U.S. Attorney, Law Enforcement Leaders Announce New Top 15 Most Wanted In Middle Georgia
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia
MACON – Macon Regional Crimestoppers released a new list of the Top 15 Most Wanted fugitives, announced United States Attorney Charles “Charlie” E. Peeler. U.S. Attorney Peeler joined law enforcement leadership from across the Middle District of Georgia to make the announcement at a location known as “The Field”, a former gathering place and launching pad for criminal activity in the Unionville neighborhood, a section of Macon with the highest violent crime rates. Macon Regional Crimestoppers, a community-run organization dedicated to increasing the safety of citizens, first announced on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 a new quarterly initiative offering a $1,000 reward for a tip leading to the arrest of a Top 15 Most Wanted. The third quarter Top 15 Most Wanted has defendants charged with the most violent crimes, including Child Molestation, Aggravated Assault and Voluntary Manslaughter. The defendants are wanted in counties associated with Macon Regional Crimestoppers. For a complete list, visit www.crimestop.us.
“Strong citizen support coupled with strong law enforcement collaboration has resulted in the apprehension of some of the most violent offenders in our region through this initiative,” said Charlie Peeler, U.S. Attorney. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners and Macon Regional Crimestoppers, a community-led effort to curb violent crime, for not backing down from our shared goal to make our neighborhoods safer and eliminate violent crime.”
“We’ve had great success since we launched this program in February. The results of our efforts have resulted in the capture of 27 violent offenders and this has made our community a much safer place,” said Warren Selby, Jr., Chairman of Macon Regional Crimestoppers. “Our success is due to the partnership of the different agencies working together for the good of the community.”
“The Fifteen Most Wanted initiative has been a huge success for all of Middle Georgia,” said John Cary Bittick, United States Marshal, Middle District of Georgia. “The information provided by the public to Macon Regional Crimestoppers is oftentimes the key to making high profile arrests and disrupting criminal activity. When the public and law enforcement work hand in hand with one another, we can make our communities a better place for everyone.”
“This year, as a result of the 15 Most Wanted initiative, many dangerous offenders have been removed from our neighborhoods,” said David Davis, Bibb County Sheriff. “This united effort from Crimestoppers, law enforcement, and, most importantly, the public has helped to make our region safer. We look forward to the continued success of this innovative program.”
“The Baldwin County Sheriff’s office has enjoyed a great relationship with Macon Regional Crimestoppers. This joint venture has given us a great media platform to publicize our wanted persons,” said Bill Massee, Baldwin County Sheriff. “It provides the opportunity to give the public notice of our crime situations and ask for their assistance. Crimestoppers additionally offers rewards to entice the public to provide their assistance. What a phenomenal partnership!”
“We won’t tolerate those who commit acts of domestic violence, child molestation or violent gang crime. With the tips that led to arrests from the past Top 15 lists, our community has shown that they won’t either,” said David Cooke, Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney.
This quarter’s Top 15 Most Wanted can be viewed at the Macon Regional Crimestoppers website at www.crimestop.us. All of the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. Macon Regional Crimestoppers is a local non-profit serving Bibb, Baldwin, Houston, Jones, Twiggs, Crawford, Monroe, and Peach counties. The organization partners with law enforcement agencies and community groups to provide anonymous rewards for tips that lead to criminal arrests. Citizens can safely and anonymously report tips at 1-877-68CRIME.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office partnership with Macon Regional Crimestoppers is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.
Updated September 26, 2019
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Project Safe Neighborhoods
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