CORDELE — During the early morning hours of Thursday, August 4, 2016 multiple residents woke up to find that their trash receptacles had been damaged and multiple mailboxes destroyed.

Crisp County Sheriff’s office began getting calls at 5:00 am. Deputies began to canvass the areas, continuing to find more damage. Investigators began their investigation and by 10:30 am, four individuals had been taken into custody. By the end of the day on Thursday, there were a total of 44 victims throughout Pine Hills, Wells, Cedar Lake, Sunnybrook and Timberland Subdivisions. Residents on Old Hatley Road, Rockhouse Road and some residents within the city limits of Cordele were also victimized.

Arrested and charged with 44 counts of Criminal Trespass are 21 year old,

Alexander West of Vienna, Georgia, two 17 years old, Johnathan Thomas Ray and

Jimmy Lee Johnson both of Cordele and a juvenile. Sheriff Hancock would like to remind young people that it is against state law to damage or destroy someone else’s property. Hancock is proud of his deputies and investigators for their fast response and diligent investigation that lead to the apprehension of these individuals.