Nine Arrests Made Concerning Car Thefts & Entering Autos

Over the last eight weeks the Tift County Sheriff’s Office has noticed a sharp rise in reports related to entering autos and motor vehicle thefts. Since that time, Sheriff’s Deputies and Investigators have been working diligently to identify and apprehend those responsible. Over the last two weeks, deputies and investigators have been able to identify and arrest nine individuals in conjunction to many of the reported crimes, in addition to two incidents of loitering and prowling. The offenders, five adults and four juveniles, range in age between fifteen and twenty years old. Thus far, a total of twenty nine charges have been filed against suspects involved.

Sheriff Gene Scarbrough would like to thank the public for their support and help throughout the process and give thanks to all the men and women who worked so diligently to help bring the rash of thefts to an end. He would also like to take this opportunity to remind the public to safeguard their property and remain on the lookout, not only for their interest, but their neighbors as well.

Suspects and their respective charges:

-Tyrone Washington (17 years old) 1 count entering auto (felony), 1 count theft by taking (felony)

-Mekiau Griffin (17years old) 4 counts entering auto (felony), 2 counts theft by taking (felony), 2 counts theft by receiving (felony), 1 count criminal attempt to commit entering auto (felony).

-Patriana Daniels (17 years old) 2 counts entering auto (felony), 1 count criminal attempt to commit entering auto (felony), 1 count theft by receiving (felony), 1 count theft by taking (felony), 1 count loitering (misd)

-Shymek Brown (20 years old) 1 count entering auto (felony), 1 count theft by receiving (felony), 1 count loitering (misd), 1 count contributing to the delinquency of a minor (misd).

-Luke Ferro (17 years old) 1 count entering auto (party to a crime) (felony), one count theft by taking (felony).

Four Juvenile's were also arrested and charged with the following:

Juvenile #1) 16 years old, 2 counts of entering auto, two counts of theft by receiving (felony)

Juvenile #2) 15 Years old, 1 count theft by receiving (felony), loitering and prowling

Juvenile #3) 16 years old, 1 count theft by taking (felony)

Juvenile #4) 16 years old, 1 count theft by receiving