First Responses
Lakeland Fire and Rescue Department Report for February 24, 2025*
February 24 – No calls in the city for the past week. At the August 2024 Lakeland City Council meeting the Fire Department reported: Received a total of 17 calls – 7 within the city – in July 2024 Total department salaries for the month of July was $1,145.00 Department will need…
Read MoreValdosta house raid yields variety of illegal drugs, pair of firearms, police say
By T.S. Carter VALDOSTA, Lowndes County, Georgia – Valdosta narcotics detectives seized 3.8 ounces of cocaine, 10 grams of crack cocaine and dozens of Fentanyl and Tramadol pills in a house search on Thursday, February 20. Miscellaneous other illegal drugs were found, along with two firearms, police said. A Valdosta Police Department…
Read MoreValdosta Fire Department Welcomes New Firefighters and Announces Promotions
VALDOSTA, Lowndes County, Georgia – The Valdosta Fire Department proudly welcomed four new firefighters and recognized several well-earned promotions during a graduation and promotion ceremony on Friday, February 21, 2025. Firefighters Makayla Hatchett, Keanu Hannon, Donald O’Leary, and Rashawn Johnson officially joined the ranks of VFD after completing the Fire Academy. During the academy, recruits…
Read MoreOne Lowndes County and one Coffee County resident are dead from I-75 wrong-way crash
By Carol A. Gasser Moore Cordele, CRISP COUNTY, Georgia – Desiaree Nikita Coley (27) of Hahira and Cassidy Lott Esterson (35) of Douglas have been confirmed as the Crisp County fatalities by the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). They died from a fatal I-75 wrong-way collision early morning Wednesday, February 19 crash. Crisp…
Read MoreValdosta car break-in sprees putting guns on the street, say police in urging more vehicle security
By T.S. Carter VALDOSTA, Lowndes County, Georgia – Vehicle break-ins have been a nearly daily occurrence in Valdosta since January 1, the Valdosta Police Department says. Sounding the alarm after responding to over 45 calls since New Year’s Day, police urged residents to take extra steps to prevent becoming a victim. Most…
Read MoreGBI Arrests Camilla Man in Sexual Exploitation of Children Investigation
CAMILLA, Mitchell County, Georgia – The GBI has arrested and charged Colvin Granato (20) of Camilla with Sexual Exploitation of Children. In August 2024, the GBI CEACC Unit began an investigation into Granato’s online activity after receiving a Cyber Tipline Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the possible online…
Read MoreValdosta Fire Department Responds to Apartment Fire
VALDOSTA, Lowndes County, Georgia – On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at approximately 11:46 p.m., the Valdosta Fire Department responded to the report of an apartment fire at 2313 N. Barack Obama Blvd. The first fire unit arrived on scene within three minutes to find smoke and flames coming from the second story of the building. Firefighters quickly controlled the…
Read MoreUPDATED: Two charged after dispute results in car fatally striking pedestrian
By T.S. Carter VALDOSTA, Lowndes County, Georgia – Valdosta police have made a pair of arrests in the death of a pedestrian struck and killed by a car during a domestic dispute shortly before 3 a.m. on Saturday, February 22. Valdosta Police Department personnel have identified the victim as Treesy Mensah (50). Her daughter, Jakie…
Read MoreLakeland Police Department Reports ending February 24, 2025
February 18, 1600 hours. Officer Grant had a walk-in at the Police Department. [Redacted] advised me that her neighbor has made their residential property a commercial property and that they are letting random people dump metal in her yard. I advised [Redacted] that we can write them a ticket but we couldn’t force them to…
Read MoreValdosta Fire Department Responds to Structure Fire on Langdale Drive
On Sunday, February 23, 2025, at approximately 9:02 p.m., the Valdosta Fire Department responded to the report of a structure fire at 705 Langdale Drive. The first fire unit arrived in less than three minutes to find flames and heavy smoke coming from a single-family home. Nineteen fire personnel responded, quickly bringing the fire under…
Read More