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Staff Reports

By Bradford L. Rigby, District Attorney Cordele Judicial Circuit

On Thursday, May 2, 2024, a Dooly County jury found Harry Surgreen guilty of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, Obstruction of an Officer (3 counts), and Unlawful Acts of Violence in a Penal Institution (3 counts) in Dooly County Superior Court following a four-day trail before Chief Judge Robert W. Chasteen, Jr. Judge Chasteen sentenced Surgreen to twenty-five (25) years to serve in prison.

Surgreen, 66, from Unadilla, Georgia, while lawfully confined at the Dooly County Justice Center on other charges, sprayed Major Darrel Bryant with pepper spray, chased Officer Carl Mosely with pepper spray, and threw feces on Sergeant Samantha Greene on April 10, 2023, thereby threatening the safety of all inmates, jailers, officers, and medical staff. Assistant District Attorney Lauren Warbington Fletcher represented the State of Georgia in the trial of the case, which was investigated by the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office. Surgreen exercised his Constitutional right to self-representation and was assisted by Charlie Arnold with the Public Defender’s Office, upon appointment of the Court.

District Attorney Bradford L. Rigby wishes to thank Sheriff Craig Peavy and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, specifically Major Darrel Bryant, Sergeant Samantha Greene, Officer Carl Mosely (now with Doughtery County Sheriff’s Office), Captain Chase McNeese, Sergeant William Lamb, Nurse Louise White, and Investigator Cozie Ray for their bravery and assistance in bringing Surgreen to justice. Assistant District Attorney Lauren Warbington Fletcher stated, ” Harry Surgreen is a violent con man with no regard for the lives of the brave men and women 0f the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, who kept him safe while he was lawfully confined at the Dooly County Justice Center. Dooly County sent a message yesterday that it will not tolerate the abuse of our law enforcement officers. Dooly County is a safer place because of Surgreen’s lengthy prison sentence.”