Brawl with Authorities Leads to Several Arrest - Calm Restored

Quitman County Sheriff’s Office

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Posted by: JSKeppy
Date: Aug 28 2009 4:53 PM

Authorities are wrapping up the investigation and paperwork from what proved to be an eventful Thursday night in Quitman County following a traffic-stop in which two Deputies were physically assaulted by several individuals.

 

Seven adults and one juvenile have been arrested and taken into custody by officials thus far and more arrests and charges are forthcoming according to authorities there.

 

“The entire incident stemmed over an ongoing drug investigation and subsequent traffic-stop. The Deputies were physically attacked while in the performance of their duties and the video evidence clearly indicates who the aggressors were”, said Sheriff Steve Newton.

 

Royzell Wilson, age 46, of Georgetown, GA was charged with Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer, and Hindering Apprehension – all felonies.

 

Barbara Billings, age 44, of Georgetown, GA and Eric Levonne Johnson, Jr., age 19, of Eufaula, AL were charged with one count each of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and one count each of Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, both charges are felonies.

 

Dante Monique Billings, age 29, of Georgetown, GA was charged with one count of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and one count of Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, both felonies.

 

Tyrone D. Billings, age 21, Bryshawn Farrand Smith, age 23, and Lisa Billings, age 38, all from Georgetown, GA were charged with one count each of Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, a misdemeanor.

 

A 15 year-old male juvenile has been taken into custody and charged with two counts of Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer and Obstruction of a Law Enforcement Officer, both felonies.

 

“Quitman County is a great place to live and work and the majority of the people here are very good law-abiding individuals. There are always a few in every town who think that the law doesn’t apply to them and they can do what they please. That’s not the case here anymore”, said Chief Deputy Eddie Ingram.

 

Despite incidents like the one that occurred last-night, Sheriff Newton said he is extremely pleased with the progress the Sheriff’s Office has made in the past seven months and is very optimistic about the future.

 

“Arrests have sky-rocketed primarily because of our pro-active drug enforcement but our over-all crime rate is down about 70%. As I’ve previously stated, we are very committed to cleaning up the drugs and crime here and we’re not about to back-off”, said Sheriff Newton.

 

The Sheriff’s Office has made more than 250 self-initiated and investigatory arrests since January and the majority are drug related.

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