In the early morning hours of Friday, March 19, Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies went to investigate a complaint at a residence on Friendship Church Road. The owner of the residence was a patient in a nursing home and had reported to sheriff’s deputies that someone was illegally occupying her home. Deputies arrived to find two (2) persons inside the home.
One (1) of the persons fled on foot out of the residence and through the woods. The other subject, Nicholas Ryan Adler (age 31) of Eastman, was taken into custody by deputies. Adler has been charged at this time with criminal trespass, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug related objects. Sheriff’s investigators have identified the person who fled and have issued an arrest warrant for the suspect. Deputies also recovered some stolen property from the residence and the investigation is ongoing. Adler was also wanted on several outstanding arrest warrants from other jurisdictions. Deputies were assisted in the investigation by agents of the Oconee Drug Task Force.
Sheriff’s investigators, on Monday, March 22, arrested Deborah Whittington Stembridge (age 49) of Eastman, after a financial/identity theft investigation. Investigators have charged Stembridge with ten (10) counts of identity fraud/theft.
Sheriff’s deputies made a traffic stop in the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 17, which resulted in the arrest of a passenger and the seizure of a firearm. Deputies arrested James H. Cheek (age 29) of Hawkinsville, during the traffic stop. Cheek is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and giving false information/name to a law enforcement officer.
