The call came into the Miller County 911 office that a G.B.I. agent, Jeff Reed, had several suspects being held at gunpoint on Friday evening, October 28, on State Hwy. 91 north of Colquitt. The exact location was not determined until most of the law officers on duty in Miller County and Colquitt were on their way to assist the agent.
As it turned out, it was almost 25 miles north of Colquitt, just outside of Newton, in Baker County. The agent was headed north when he noticed several Hispanics fighting or having a struggle in a vehicle from Decatur County. When the other officers from Newton, Baker County, Miller County and Colquitt arrived, the agent had five suspects on the ground and was interviewing another passenger in the car. The passenger stated that he had been kidnapped by the five Hispanic males, and his car was car jacked.
A Georgia State Patrol officers attempted to speak to the victim and one of the Hispanics who was accused of having a knife, which could not be found at the time.
When the officers arrived at the scene, traffic on SR 91 had been stopped both ways. There were suspects lying down and sitting down in the right-of-way on the east side. There were probably 10 to 15 armed officers in the vicinity when shooting started. Officers drew their weapons and started looking where the shooting came from.
As it turned out, there were several hunters on the west side of the road hunting quail. When the covey flushed, the hunters started shooting. To say the least, it was a tense time, especially for those of us who were not armed. The hunters continued shooting the singles for quite awhile.
The five suspects were handcuffed and taken to jail for questioning.
According to an officer who was at the scene in Baker County, the suspects have all been cleared and released. It appears that the alleged victim had been working the five Hispanic males, and they had a labor dispute while going down the highway.
As it ended, there was no shooting by the law officers, but the suspects were put in danger with that many guns and law officers when the shooting started across the road by the quail hunters.
The incident is still under investigation by G.B.I. agents from the Sylvester area.

If you want to talk to someone about being snake bitten, Bubba Tully is the one that can give you first-hand experience on the subject.
I was over at Cotton Hall checking on my ticket taking crew when Ruth Tully asked me, " Have you seen Bubba? You need to talk to him about being bit by a snake."
Bubba is Ruth and Bobby Tully's baby son. Of course, I knew the whole story before I left Ruth, but just in case I missed something, I went over to Twelve Oaks Antiques to talk to the victim.
As I drove up, I asked Chuck Cutchen, "Where is Bubba, the snake man?"
"He's across the street checking on a building," Chuck replied.
As I walked across the street, Bubba saw me and said, "Oh, no! You've been talking to Mama."
All Bubba's life, he has been like many of us crazy, redneck Miller County boys; he loved wild things, be it birds, raccoons, wildcats, alligators, turtles, fish or snakes. He would catch them and try to tame them.
His last catch could have cost him his life if the action he took had not been so fast.
Thursday evening, October 27, Bubba was messing with a timber rattler that he called "Ruckus." The small rattlesnake was only two feet, three inches long with one rattler and a button. He had never acted like he would bite or even get mad, before.
Like all accidents, Bubba reached down with his right hand to catch the snake, but caught him too low. Before he could release the rattler, Bubba had been bitten three times on the hand.
Bubba lives in Shady Grove, Alabama, just outside of Troy. He was at Troy Regional Medical Center in 12 minutes after the snake had bitten him.
"I didn't think too much about it when I first got there. Nothing was happening. I felt great until my body started tingling. I couldn't see, and my breath left me. I thought I was going to die," Bubba said.
The snakebite victim was given 12 vials of anti-venom before the poison was neutralized.
Bubba got out of the hospital on Saturday, October 29, and other than six snake holes in his hand and a number of holes that came with the treatment , he is in good shape.
"They did a great job on me. Time is very important. Another snakebite victim was brought in just before me, and he had to be given 24 vials of anti-venom. He didn't get there as quickly as I did. He could lose something, like a finger, hand or arm. I'm just glad I'm left handed," Bubba stated. "I think that will do me with being a snake handler. The snake that bit me won't be biting anyone else. Ruckus taught me a lesson about snakes that will be with me the rest of my life. They are to be left alone. I’m through with them," Bubba said.
"There were lots of folks praying for me, and I want to thank them and Mama for their prayers. They worked. They won't have to pray for me about being snake bitten anymore as long as I can see the snake," Bubba promised.
Bubba lives in Alabama, but his heart is always looking toward his home in Colquitt.
Glad you’re doing good, Bubba!

Suspect Joe Elvin Cloud was indicted by the Miller County Grand Jury October Term 2005 for simple battery for causing physical harm to Courtney Heard by slapping said victim on August 29, 2005.
Suspect Joe Elvin Cloud was indicted by the same Miller County Grand Jury on eight other counts when an alleged fight occurred and Rocky Heard was killed when he was shot on August 31, 2005. The incident occurred at the corner of Fourth Street and U.S. Highway 27 (Crawford Street) on Wednesday, August 31, 2005, at approximately 10:00 p.m.
During the October Term of the Miller County Grand Jury a number of cases were heard. Of those cases, there were 149 true bills and 26 no bills. The district attorney filed five accusations.
A true bill indicates that there was enough evidence presented to the grand jury to indict the subject charged and go to court. A no bill indicates that there was not enough evidence to indict the charged person or persons. A true bill or no bill does not denote guilt or innocence.
True Bills
Charlie B. Backey Jr. was charged with kidnapping and two counts of aggravated assault.
Joe Elvin Cloud was charged with malice murder, two counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, possession of firearm during crime, two counts of affray, and simple battery.
Ray Dean Heard was charged with affray.
Narendrahumar Brahmbhatt was charged with two counts of commercial gambling and two counts of keeping a gambling place.
Maheshkumar Patel was charged with two counts of commercial gambling and keeping a gambling place.
Derrick R. Miller was charged with burglary.
Ricky Perry was charged with obstruction of an officer, driving under the influence, and suspended license.
Betty Jean Moten was charged with terroristic threats and acts.
Hinton James Bryant was charged with aggravated stalking, three counts of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and cruelty to children in the third degree.
Dorothy D. Grant was charged with possession of cocaine and criminal trespass.
Donald R. Morgan was charged with aggravated stalking.
Christopher C. Johnson was charged with two counts of forgery in the first degree.
Michael Tyrone Roberts was charged with forgery in the first degree, criminal attempt theft by taking, and possession of marijuana.
Ben Williams was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of obstruction of an officer.
Michael J. Logue was charged with theft by taking.
Brandy E. Turner was charged with forgery in the first degree.
Ginger Nicole Hoskins was charged with forgery in the first degree.
Derrick R. Miller was charged with two counts of burglary and criminal damage to property.
Lee Sentel Morgan was charged with two counts of burglary and criminal damage to property.
Marvin Ray Davis was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, possession of gun during a crime, and possession of gun by a felon.
Robert D. Williams was charged with two counts of child molestation, four counts of solicitation of sodomy, four counts of enticing a child for indecent purpose, and three counts of aggravated child molestation.
Wayne Burney was charged with nine counts of theft by deception.
Lorenzo Bush was charged with possession of cocaine.
Yuwanda Denise Gadson was charged with possession of cocaine.
Susant Grant Long was charged with two counts of fraudulently obtaining drugs and two counts of forgery in the first degree.
Fredrick E. Grant Jr. was charged with possession of cocaine with intent and obstruction of an officer.
Dorothy Pearl Bullard was charged with two counts of sale of cocaine.
Jarod D. Fulford was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
Josh Smith was charged with possession of marijuana.
Sarah A.M. Howard was charged with possession of marijuana.
Delunta Tequan Huntley was charged with two counts of sale of marijuana.
Ronald Mancel was charged with sale of marijuana.
Michael Tyrone Roberts was charged with sale of marijuana and sale of cocaine.
Orando M. Thornton was charged with sale of marijuana.
Daron M. Sloan was charged with possession of marijuana with intent.
Antonio Walters was charged with aggravated assault and two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree.
Marvin Ray Davis was charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats and acts.
Torric Byron Bryant was charged with possession of marijuana, attempting to elude an officer, tampering with evidence, and reckless driving.
Sylvester Bush was charged with burglary.
Kimberly Palmetto was charged with two counts of cruelty to children, public drunkenness, and disorderly conduct.
Wayne Dennis Chambers Jr. was charged with ten counts of theft by conversion of payment.
James Bivins was charged with theft by taking.
Josh Eugene Chancy was charged with forgery in the first degree and theft by taking.
Ronnie Shuler was charged with two counts of theft by taking.
Wanda Sue Suggs was charged with theft by taking.
David L. Hunt was charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, and criminal trespass.
Peggy L. Roberts was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, and criminal trespass.
Calvin Hartsfield was charged with possession of cocaine.
David Beard was charged with possession of marijuana.
Stevie W. Bush was charged with theft by taking.
Thomas William Smith Jr. was charged with manufacture of marijuana.
Alan Brooks was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
Terry Don Smith was charged with theft by retaining.
Kenyatta Thomas was charged with burglary.
Daniel Conley was charged with burglary.
Rosalyn Nicole Thompson was charged with giving false statement.
Linda Hicks was charged with deposit account fraud.
Stanley Gentle Jackson was charged with forgery.
No Bills
Juan Sabastian was charged with aggravated assault.
John Dodson was charged with child molestation and statutory rape.
Charles McMillian was charged with two counts of child molestation.
Herman Pollard was charged with child molestation.
Wayne Perkins was charged with rape.
Lorenzo Bush was charged with battery.
Roy Lee Myrick was charged with burglary, simple battery, and interference with 911 call.
Ronnie Shuler was charged with two counts of criminal damage to property, two counts of criminal trespass.
Wanda Sue Suggs was charged with two counts of criminal damage to property, two counts of criminal trespass, and theft by taking.
Continuing Bills
Antonia P. Thompson was charged with attempting to elude an officer and reckless driving.

Seasonal comedy, traditional holiday carols, and original musical scores come together for the third year to bring you “A Southern Christmas Carol. “
The Colquitt Miller Arts Council (producers of Swamp Gravy) proudly announces that “A Southern Christmas Carol” will be performed eight times a week from November 26 to December 18 at Cotton Hall in Colquitt, GA.
Premiering two years ago in Colquitt, “A Southern Christmas Carol” has received rave reviews from regional theatre critics and audiences alike. Written by award winning playwright Rob. Lauer, the show sets the familiar story of Scrooge, the town’s stingy cotton gin owner, in rural Georgia during the Great Depression. Throughout the show, you will see Scrooge as he is haunted by a host of Christmas Spirits, and also you will enjoy rousing original music by Rob. Lauer and Steve Hacker.
The show stars professionals including Allison Spragin, who is returning to recreate her role as “Celie.” The show will also feature many newcomers to this year’s cast who are professionally cast out of New York and Atlanta. The show will once again be choreographed by Karen Beyer whose credits include the hit film “Sweet Home Alabama.”
“A Southern Christmas Carol” opens Saturday, November 26, and closes Sunday, December 18. Show times are Thursday – Saturday 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday 3:00 p.m.. Group rates are available. For more information or reservations, call 1-229-758-5450 or visit us online at www.swampgravy.com.

Week of October 30, 2005