Latest news with #LibertyCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Liberty Co. Sheriff's Office sounds alarm for new jail
LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) — The Liberty County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) is sounding the alarm over the condition of its aging jail, and they are asking county leaders to help with constructing a new jail. LCSO said they are holding things together with tape and Band-Aids at the county jail. He said the more than 30-year-old facility is no longer meeting the needs of the growing population and that it's time to expand. WSAV spoke with Deputy Chief Al Hagan about the conditions. 'If you walk through the facility, you see where we're having to patch piping, where the copper pipe was put inside of concrete, air conditions are constantly breaking down,' he said. Hagan said it's an outdated facility that isn't safe for inmates or staff. The hope is the new jail will have a space for positive inmate programs and allow staff to do their jobs more efficiently. 'What we look at by having places to do programs allow us to send a better citizen back into the street instead of just bringing them here and warehousing people and turning them out the same person or worse, when they go back into the community,' said Hagan. The current facility has around 276 beds, 305 as the maximum of prisoners. Hagan told WSAV it is running near capacity every day. They are also housing federal inmates, while also holding prisoners from neighboring counties. In addition, we're told the ratio of toilets and showers per inmate is below state standards. 'Also, the county jail has become what I call the de facto mental health facility, because we have a lot of issues with mental health and a large percentage of our inmates has some form of mental health and so on,' Hagan said. 'Of course, our statewide facilities are not able to hold them all and we're having to try our best and I think we have four medical beds here for true medical issues.' A state evaluation revealed the county is in need of over 650 beds to keep up with future growth. However, the sheriff's office is pushing for at least 550, which would be cheaper and easier on taxpayers. Hagan said construction of a new jail could cost anywhere between $75-$100 million. 'It's mandated that the Sheriff's Office provide this service to the community,' he said. 'And so, I ask them to be mindful of it, understand that SPLOST is a way. When the SPLOST comes up, make sure they vote in favor of it because it will help offset the cost of this deal compared to what citizens pay straight from increased taxes.' He continued, 'I tell folks what growth comes crime. and we need to be prepared as we can in every way.' Hagan said shovels could be in the ground by early next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Liberty County High School teacher charged with 3 counts of simple battery
LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) — A Liberty County High School teacher and coach has been charged with 3 counts of Simple Battery. Keith Alan McGee, 62, was booked into the Liberty County Sheriff's Office on April 16. He was released on bond April 17. WSAV News 3 has reached out to the Liberty County School Board for more details. This is an on-going investigation. Stay with News 3 for the latest information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Liberty County deadly shooting: Manhunt ends for shooting suspect
The Brief A suspect is now in custody following a deadly shooting on Monday. The shooting occurred at 1800 Road 5740 in Cleveland. Numerous resources have been brought in to locate a suspect believed to be in a wooden area. LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas - A manhunt has ended for a suspect following a deadly shooting in Liberty County on Monday afternoon. What we know The Liberty County Sheriff's Office said they received a call from a woman stating there were two men in her driveway located at 1800 Road 5740, around 3 p.m. Officials said the two men appeared to be fighting. When she went out to check on them after calling 911, she saw one of the male subjects, a 44-year-old Hispanic male, slumped over in a pickup truck. Officials said the suspect, who has been identified as 34-year-old Luis Miguel Perez, ran from the location into a wooded area across the street. Authorities stated they called in numerous resources including drones, a DPS helicopter, K-9's, and other resources to find Perez. Liberty County officials stated Perez is a confirmed MS-13 gang member. He is a national of El Salvador and has been deported from the United States seven times. He also has an active felony warrant out of Maryland for aggravated assault. What we don't know Officials did not state what led up to the shooting, as the shooting occurred where neither of the men lived. Get news, weather and so much more on the new FOX LOCAL app The Source Information provided by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
