Today Marks 15 Years Ago - Dexter Hammond Life Was Taken and Ted Yost Career Was Taken

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Apr 24 2024 1:18 PM

HEADLAND - HENRY COUNTY:     It was 15 years ago today, on a Friday afternoon, that lives were suddenly changed.

Henry County Sheriff Deputy Ted Yost and Henry County Sheriff Reserve Deputy went to a house off Highway 134 at Granberry crossroads. As Deputy Yost approached the house he received three shotgun blasts to the face from the person who lived in the house. Deputy Yost also received 29 birdshot pellets to his Rayban sunglasses.

After the first shot Deputy Yost was able to key his SouthernLinc portable but reached a fellow law enforcement who RSN understands lived in Central Alabama saying he had been shot. The fellow officer was not sure if Deputy Yost was kidding but quickly realized he was not kidding. That friend alerted Headland Police and/or Abbeville Police.

Reserve Deputy Mickey Gillis was scrambling to help Deputy Yost and keep cover because the shooter was reported to be attempting to get to Reserve Deputy Gillis.

Headland Police Officer Dexter Hammond was the first law enforcement officer to arrive on the scene. Officer Hammond attempted to place his patrol vehicle in a safe position and to get to his fellow officers. The suspect was able to fire shots on Headland Officer Dexter Hammond and struck Deputy Hammond.

Abbeville Police Lieutenant Noel Vanlandingham and Quitman County Georgia Chief Deputy Eddie Ingram arrived at the same time followed shortly by Henry County Sheriff Deputy Jessie Ingram.

RSN does not know which, but either Lt. Vanlandingham or Chief Deputy Eddie Ingram fired the fatal shot on the person who shot Deputy Yost and Officer Hammond. Then Lt. Vanlandingham kept there area hot with gunfire while emergency units got the two officers into a safe zone. Multiple law enforcement agencies from all around responded.

EMS units ( Haleburg or Headland or Abbeville ) rushed the officers to a Dothan hospital. Shortly after arrival on the scene Headland Police Officer Dexter Hammond, a husband - a father, passed away from the gunshots.

Henry County Sheriff Deputy Ted Yost lost his vision and career as a law enforcement officer because of his loss of vision.

Henry County Sheriff Reserve Deputy Mickey Gillis was not injured but only because of the rapid response of Lt. Vanlandingham and Chief Deputy Eddie Ingram. Reserve Deputy Gillis received mental trauma and anguish over the set of events.

Today, April 24th, marks 15 years ago, that a wife lost her husband and children lost their father, and Headland Police Department lost a dedicated law enforcement officer.

And today marks 15 years ago that a Henry County Sheriff Deputy, Ted Yost, a husband and father, lost his career as a law enforcement officer because of the gunfire he received to his face.

WE REMEMBER both Headland Police Officer Dexter Hammond who made the ultimate sacrifice, and Deputy Ted Yost who was forced to give up his career he loved.

And we thank Houston County Native ( long time Henry County resident ) Noel Vanlandingham and Houston County Native Eddie Ingram for their prompt response and tactical operation that stopped more violence.

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