Detective Harry McGarvey Passes Away at Age 63
Community, Police & Government January 5, 2023
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of retired Detective Harry McGarvey’s passing. He was a kind person with a heart the size of Texas. Below is Detective McGarvey’s obituary.
Harry Arthur McGarvey passed away on December 19, 2022. He was born on July 21, 1959 to the late Gerald and Janie McGarvey. Harry was a United States Army Veteran and a member of Masonic Barlett Lodge #139. He retired from the Paulding County Sheriffs Office after over 20 years of service. Harry loved spending time with his sons and especially enjoyed watching his sons play football in high school and college. Around the holidays, Harry would anonymously help out others and would help make hard times easier for those who were struggling. Harry was an incredible man who will be truly missed.
Harry is preceded in death by his parents, Gerald William McGarvey and Janie Outlaw McGarvey and sister, Sydney McGarvey Parham. He is survived by his sons, Sidney (Amanda) McGarvey and William (Brittney) McGarvey; stepson, Joe (Jamee) Thurmond; brother, Rene (Clara) Letourneau Sr.; brother-in-law, Joe Parham; grandchildren, Kinleigh Mae Phillips, Jaxson Avery McGarvey, Owen Daniel McGarvey, and with one on the way, Bryson Thurmond, McKenzie Thurmond, Baylee Thurmond, Merritt Thurmond; great-grandchild, Kaden Thurmond; nieces and nephews, Rene (Diana) Letoureau Jr., Josh (Jennifer) Letoureau, Doreen Rogers, Darlene Cole, Joy (Wanye) Tucker, Jason Parham, Courtney (Trevor) Willis, Allison Moore, Morgan Moore, Emma and Jonah Rogers.
The family will receive friends at Clark Funeral Home on Sunday, January 1, 2023 from 5:00pm until 8:00pm. Funeral Services for Mr. McGarvey will be held at Clark Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, January 2, 2023 beginning at 11:00am with Chaplain Joey Meeks officiating. Interment will be held at the Georgia National Cemetery on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at 2:00pm.
VISITATION
Sunday
January 1, 2023
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Clark Funeral Home
FUNERAL SERVICE
Monday
January 2, 2023
11:00 AM
Clark Funeral Home Chapel
4373 Atlanta Highway
Hiram, GA 30141
INTERMENT
Tuesday
January 10, 2023
Georgia National Cemetery
Canton, GA
Deputy Saves Child During a Traffic Stop
Community, Featured Stories, Police & Government October 24, 2022
PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. – Zackery Dubreuiel, a Paulding County Sheriff’s Office deputy, is being recognized as a hero who saved a child, after performing ‘life saving actions’.
On September 30, 2022, while assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division, Deputy Dubreuiel was conducting a traffic stop on Dallas Acworth Highway at the Ace Hardware.
While he was on the traffic stop, a distraught male pulled up in a vehicle and told Deputy Dubreuiel that his infant child was not breathing and unconscious.
The parents of the baby handed the child to Deputy Dubreuiel and he immediately noticed that the baby was limp and was neither breathing nor responsive.
Deputy Dubreuiel immediately began to perform a sternum rub on the child with no response. He then began performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on the baby.
Deputy Dubreuiel continued CPR until Fire and EMS personnel arrived on scene.
Once Fire and EMS arrived, Deputy Dubreuiel turned lifesaving efforts over to them. Before they left the scene, Fire and EMS advised that they were able to get a pulse back on the child.
Medical professionals later stated that as a result of Deputy Dubreuiel’s life saving actions, the child’s life was prolonged. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Deputy Dubreuiel reflect great credit upon himself and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office.
Paulding- K-9 Memorial Dedication Ceremony
Community, Featured Stories, Police & Government October 14, 2022
Yesterday morning, we unveiled our brand new K-9 Memorial that sits in front of the Sheriff’s Office. Every dog that has ever served at the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office is listed on the monument. After many years of hard work from so many people, the finished product was even better than we expected.
This monument would not have been possible without the support of Donnie and Samantha Glass and the Jess Rousey Honoring Heroes Foundation, Inc. We would also like to thank the countless local sponsors that donated money to make this monument a reality.
We would also like to give a special “Thank You” to Bobby Hulsey and Wesley Mauldin of Affordable Monuments for providing such a high quality monument to remember our canine partners.
The support from metro Atlanta K-9 teams from various agencies was overwhelming and much appreciated. We also had several citizens who came out to be a part of this ceremony.
Detention Officer Janice Borders Officially Retired
Community, Police & Government, Press Release October 3, 2022
Paulding County, GA- On Monday October 3, 2022, Detention Officer Janice Borders officially retired from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. An official retirement celebration was held at the Sheriff’s Office with Detention Officer Borders’ family, friends, and co-workers present.
Detention Officer Borders began her law enforcement career with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office on September 20, 2001, as a Jailer. Detention Officer Borders quickly realized her passion was working in the Jail, which is the reason she stayed in the Jail Division for the majority of her career. During her over 21-year career with the Sheriff’s Office, she served under two different sheriffs.
Detention Officer Borders began her career with the Sheriff’s Office like most, working in our Jail Division. She attended Basic Jail training at the North Central Georgia Law Enforcement Academy where she graduated and became a P.O.S.T. certified Jailer. For a short time, Detention Officer Borders worked in the Warrants/Civil Division as an administrative clerk before moving back to the Jail Division. Detention Officer Borders spent the majority of her career in the Jail Division working in many different positions at the Jail, to include a supervisory role at one point. For the past twelve years, Detention Officer Borders has been tasked with being the Court Services liaison where she worked closely with the many different courts in Paulding County.
Sheriff Gary Gulledge stated, “Janice was a hard worker and always enjoyed her job in our Jail Division. She was extremely knowledgeable about our Jail and the court system and will be truly missed. I am thankful that Janice has the opportunity to retire, and I hope she has plenty of time to relax with her family.”
Detention Officer Borders’ law enforcement career has spanned over 21 years. During her tenure in law enforcement, she has seen many changes. We want to wish Detention Officer Borders a happy and relaxing retirement. Now she will have plenty of time to enjoy life and spend time with her family.
Paulding Deputies Awarded Medal of Merit
Community, Police & Government August 11, 2022
(Paulding County, GA) At the regularly scheduled meeting of the Paulding County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday August 9, 2022, two Paulding County Deputies were awarded the second highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Deputy. Corporal Jamie Winkles and Deputy Joshua Bishop were presented with the Medal of Merit by Sheriff Gary Gulledge at the beginning of the meeting for the heroic acts they performed during a call on June 24, 2022.
Corporal Winkles and Deputy Bishop, while assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division, selflessly risked their own personal safety when they voluntarily entered a burning home to locate several injured children along with an armed female suspect who had stabbed multiple children. When they were overcome with smoke, they exited the home and appropriated two oxygen tanks and masks from firefighters who were already on scene.
The Deputies then went back inside the burning home to search for the injured children and the female suspect. Even when their breathing apparatus’ were nearly out of air, they continued looking for the children. Corporal Winkles and Deputy Bishop went into that burning home with full knowledge of the risk that it posed to their personal safety due to the fact that they were not wearing any protective fire equipment.
Their heroic efforts ultimately helped remove several of the children from the home during this incident. Sheriff Gary Gulledge noted, “What Corporal Winkles and Deputy Bishop did was exemplary. They went above and beyond the call of duty to try and save the children who were trapped inside the home. I am grateful to have them as Deputies helping keep our county safe.” The singularly distinctive actions of Corporal Winkles and Deputy Bishop reflect great credit upon themselves, and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office. We are extremely proud of them.
Update: Murder Investigation at 10230 Buchanan Highway
Police & Government July 15, 2022
UPDATE: Murder Investigation at 10230 Buchanan Highway
A male individual called Paulding E-911 reference an unknown problem on Wednesday July 13, 2022, at approximately 12:16 PM. Deputies responded to 10230 Buchanan Highway Dallas, GA in order to determine what was going on. When they got to the residence, Deputies had trouble making contact with anyone at the home. Eventually, Deputies were able to make contact with an intoxicated male on scene, later identified as Joseph Mykytyn III (W/M, 43 YOA), who allowed them to enter the residence. It was later determined that Mykytyn was not a resident at this address. Once Deputies entered the home they located the homeowner, who has been identified as James Entrekin (W/M, 66 YOA), deceased inside the residence.
Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) secured a search warrant for the home. Detectives and Agents then searched the home and spoke with Mykytyn about the incident. As a result of their investigation, Detectives and Agents were able to preliminarily determine that Entrekin died as a result of a gunshot wound and that the manner of death appears to be consistent with that of a homicide.
Detectives and Agents subsequently arrested Mykytyn and he is being secured within the Paulding County Jail and held without bond. Mykytyn has been charged with the following offenses:
-Felony Murder (F)
-Malice Murder (F)
-Aggravated Assault (F)
-Exploitation of an Elder / Elder Abuse (F)
If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Tip Line at (770) 443-3047 or send a message via the free Paulding Sheriff mobile app.
Death Investigation at 10230 Buchanan Highway
Community, Police & Government, Press Release July 14, 2022
Death Investigation at 10230 Buchanan Highway
A male individual called Paulding E-911 earlier today reference an unknown problem. Deputies responded to 10230 Buchanan Highway Dallas, GA on Wednesday July 13, 2022, at approximately 12:16 PM. When they got to the residence, Deputies had trouble making contact with anyone at the home. Eventually, Deputies were able to make contact with a male on scene who allowed them to enter the residence. Once they entered the home, they located a male (W/M, 66 YOA) who was deceased inside the residence. The male has been identified, but due to the family not being notified, his name will not be released at this time. It should be noted that the decedent is a resident of this address, although the male on scene was not.
Thus far, Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) have secured a search warrant for the home. Detectives and Agents are searching the home and speaking with the male that was on scene. Due to the infancy of the investigation, it is unknown whether the deceased individual died as a result of a homicide, suicide, or natural causes.
As this fluid investigation unfolds, we will provide timely updates.
DEA, Paulding Sheriff’s Office, and Haralson Task Force make Huge Meth and Gun Bust
Police & Government July 11, 2022
DEA, Paulding Sheriff’s Office, and Haralson Task Force make Huge Meth and Gun Bust at 89 Paces Lakes Point Road in Dallas
On Tuesday, July 5, 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, and the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force (HPDTF) executed a search warrant at 89 Paces Lakes Point Dallas, GA 30157. This search warrant was executed following a brief investigation that led Agents to believe this location was being utilized for the purpose of trafficking Methamphetamine. Agents with the DEA made contact with Wilber Leonel Romero-Zelaya at the residence and Agents with the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force were able to obtain a search warrant for the residence.
A search of the residence revealed the location was being used to convert liquid Methamphetamine into crystal Methamphetamine for distribution. During the execution of the search warrant, agents seized almost 9 pounds of crystal Methamphetamine, approximately 115 gallons of liquid Methamphetamine, six (6) rifles, one (1) pistol, three (3) vehicles, and $2,505.00 in U.S. Currency. The liquid Methamphetamine along with the finished crystal Methamphetamine seized has the potential for a street value of over $2.5 million. A hazardous waste disposal team responded to the scene in order to safely remove and dispose of the hazardous materials and dangerous/flammable liquids used in this Methamphetamine conversion process.
Wilber Leonel Romero-Zelaya, (H/M, 43 YOA) of Dallas, GA was arrested on the scene without incident. Romero-Zelaya was transported to the Paulding County Jail and was subsequently charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine. He is being held in the Paulding County Jail with no bond. Thus far, no other individuals have been charged in this case and the investigation continues.
Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge stated, “It is only through inter-agency cooperation that operations like this can occur. We are thankful for our state and federal partners and glad they are assisting us with putting drug dealers like this in jail.” Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Steven Sweatt, who is the Commander of the HPDTF, further stated, “The residents in our communities are the eyes and ears for law enforcement, we want to urge citizens that if you see or smell something that doesn’t seem normal, please call law enforcement to have an investigation initiated. Conversion Methamphetamine Labs like these are growing in popularity in the United States and the GBI, DEA, and local authorities are working hard to combat them every day.”
The Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force is located in Dallas, Georgia and services Haralson and Paulding Counties and is overseen by the GBI. The Task Force is comprised of members from the Haralson County Sheriff’s Office, Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas Police Department, Tallapoosa Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. If you have any information related to drug dealing in Haralson or Paulding Counties, please call the Haralson Paulding Drug Task Force at (770) 646-9175 or send a message via the free Paulding Sheriff mobile app to report it. These reports can be made anonymously if you wish.
Motor vehicle crash leads to suicide in Western Paulding County
Police & Government, Press Release July 5, 2022
Update 07/03/22 @ 8:25 PM
Paulding Detectives and Troopers with the Georgia State Patrol have been working diligently to complete their investigation into the incident that occurred earlier today at Al’s Exxon in the Rose’s Store/Union Community of western Paulding County. The family members of the driver of the white GMC Sierra have been notified of the incident. The driver has been identified as Christopher David Coleman (W/M, 30 YOA) who is a resident of Paulding County. Medical professionals informed Detectives that Mr. Coleman passed away at WellStar Kennestone Hospital earlier today as a result of the self-inflicted gunshot wound, he sustained. At this point, we do not have any updates on the condition of the bystanders who were injured in the incident.
Paulding Deputies responded to Al’s Exxon in the Rose’s Store/Union Community of western Paulding County reference a multi-vehicle accident and a possible shooting earlier today. At 10:01 AM on Sunday July 3, 2022, a white GMC Sierra crew cab truck was traveling southbound on GA 101 toward the GA 120/GA 101 intersection when it appears as if the vehicle was purposefully driven off of the roadway through the sign of Al’s Exxon which is located at 30 Highway 101 North Dallas, GA 30132. Once the vehicle traveled through the sign, it struck multiple vehicles in the parking lot of the store to include the gas pumps.
When bystanders went to the truck to check on the status of the driver, the male driver brandished a handgun and according to witnesses, shot himself in the head. When responders arrived on scene, the male patient was immediately treated and subsequently transported to an Atlanta area hospital where he is in critical condition.
Due to the family not being notified yet, the name of the driver of the white GMC Sierra will not be released. It must be noted that the Georgia Department of Public Safety is investigating the motor vehicle accident portion of this incident and the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suicide portion of this incident.
There were multiple people at the gas station at the time of this incident and several of them were injured. As of now, none of the injuries to the bystanders appear to be life threating. If you have any information about this incident, please send us a message via the Paulding Sheriff mobile app or the Criminal Investigations Tip Line at (770) 443-3047
23rd Annual Paulding Cops for Kids, Inc Christmas Shopping
Community December 10, 2021
The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office will hold their 23rd annual Paulding Cops for Kids, Inc. Christmas shopping event on Saturday December 11, 2021 at 7:00 AM. As usual, the event will take place at the Dallas Walmart on Marietta Highway (3615 Marietta Hwy. Dallas, GA 30157).
Paulding Cops for Kids, Inc. participants are selected through an application process to verify that the children are truly needy and that they are residents of Paulding County. Paulding Cops for Kids, Inc. focuses on boys and girls ages 6 to 13. The reason that age range was selected was so that law enforcement officers could try and make a lasting and positive impact on those children. Last year we had over 200 children participate in the virtual Paulding Cops for Kids, Inc. program and we spent approximately $45,000 total. This year each child will be paired with a local law enforcement officer and together they shop for up to $250 in gifts for the child. In 2019, there were over 200 law enforcement and civilian participants that volunteered their time to take the kids shopping.
Paulding Cops for Kids, Inc. raises money all year. The two biggest fundraisers are an annual golf tournament and a donation request letter which is sent to most every business license holder in Hiram, Dallas, and unincorporated Paulding County. The majority of funds that are used in the program are donated by local businesses.
“These children would not have a Christmas without this program and its volunteers,” said Sheriff Gulledge. “It is so important that these children get to experience Christmas the same way that many of us remember it.”
If you feel compelled to donate to Paulding Cops for Kids, Inc., we would encourage you to do so. There are several ways to assist local children; you can drop off a check at the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Monday – Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. You can mail us a check at the below address, or you can donate electronically via our PayPal account:
Paulding County Sheriff’s Office
Paulding Cops for Kids, Inc.
Attention: Lieutenant Tracy Parker
180 Constitution Boulevard
Dallas, Georgia 30132.
Christmas Shopping Inc Paulding Cops for Kids Paulding County Paulding County Sheriff Department Shop with a cop
Operation Watchful Eye VI
Press Release November 8, 2021
Operation Watchful Eye VI
(Paulding County, GA) Thanks to an initiative involving 66 Georgia Sheriffs, 35 sex offenders were arrested and 51 warrants were issued across the state from October 25 – November 1, 2021 for violations of state registration laws. In 2015, the first coordinated effort across the state was launched to conduct residence verifications and compliance checks of registered sex offenders during a specific time period. The coordinated initiative became known as Operation Watchful Eye. Due to the overwhelming success of the original initiative, Georgia’s Sheriffs have made this an annual operation and recently conducted Operation Watchful Eye VI.
The Office of Sheriff is mandated by law to register sex offenders and to keep the public informed of where registered sex offenders reside, work and attend school. Throughout the year, each sheriff’s office verifies addresses provided by registered sex offenders. While conducting residence verifications, deputies also assure additional registration requirements are being adhered to.
The purpose of this statewide effort is to create awareness that sheriffs’ offices work collectively, network, and actively engage their office by participating in statewide verification checks and other non-compliant matters in order to make our state safer. In numerous counties, deputy sheriffs, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Probation officers and Department of Community Supervision probation/parole officers worked together to verify sex offenders comply with the law.
Preliminary reporting by the 66 participating sheriff’s offices reveals 10,330 registered sex offenders, 341 predators and 351 homeless sex offenders are currently living in their counties. During the one week operation, 6,283 residence verifications were conducted, 59 new sex offenders moved into the reporting counties, 51 new warrants were issued for violations of the sex offender registry law, 3 warrants were issued for new sex offenses, 26 warrants were issued for residency violations of the sex offender registry and 13 warrants were issued for other miscellaneous new charges. More importantly, it was discovered that 467 sex offenders had absconded from their last known address, which will require the sheriff to work with other supporting agencies and track these individuals down.
Remember, for the protection of your family and neighbors, download the free Paulding Sheriff mobile app or visit the http://gbi.georgia.gov/georgia-sex-offender-registry for more information on the whereabouts of registered sex offenders in your community. #PauldingSheriff #OperationWatchfulEyeVI