QUITMAN —
The Brooks County Sheriff’s Department deputy involved in the Wednesday morning accident on Highway 84 East is on the way to recovery, according to Sheriff Mike Dewey.
Sgt. Ronnie Rhames, 62, was admitted to Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville Wednesday afternoon after Barry Funck, director of the Valdosta Crime Lab, struck his patrol car while he was assisting the driver of a disabled vehicle on the side of the road, reportedly pinning Rhames between the vehicles.
According to Dewey, Rhames’ right leg was shattered and broken in four different places but there were no internal injuries as originally suspected. Surgeons operated until 9:30 p.m. Wednesday night and expected the law enforcement officer to be in general care sometime Thursday.
“He’s been with the Brooks County Sheriff’s Department about 7 or 8 years,” said Dewey. “He’s level-headed and has the years of experience and rank. He’s a good officer.”
“When you have a small department, one man down is always kind of a setback,” Dewey said. “We hate that this happened to him. We’ll be there to show support for him and can’t wait until he gets back to work.”
According to surgeons Dewey spoke with, the healing process could take months due to Rhames’ age.
Dewey said it was too early to tell if he would return to the force or go into retirement.
Funck was cited by the Georgia State Patrol for following too close, according to Valdosta Police Commander Brian Childress, and as a city employee, was subjected to a drug screen Wednesday morning.
Childress said Funck is cooperating fully with the investigation.
Childress said the Ford Crown Victoria Funck was driving is a city-owned vehicle,and was impounded and secured for evidence at the VPD until the investigation is complete.
The incident is still under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol.
Local News
Related Photos
-
A deputy from the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office was seriously injured Wednesday morning while assisting the driver of a disabled vehicle on the side of the road.
Discussion
Brooks deputy recovering
- Local News
-
-
The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless. The Memphis airport — the country’s biggest air terminal for packages — goes off-line. Major oil and gas pipelines across Tennessee rupture, causing shortages in the Northeast. In Missouri, another 15,000 people are hurt or dead. Cities and towns throughout the central U.S. lose power and water for months. Losses stack up to hundreds of billions of dollars.
-
Preparing South Georgia for a disaster
A pair of specialized urban rescuers shed some of their protective gear for a moment and exchange relieved smiles because, on the roads across the swamps of residential rubble, a caravan of Lowndes citizens returns to a county that, according to Lowndes officials, was able to repair its wounds in the aftermath of a Category 5 storm due to a dynamic package of disaster plans.
-
Valdosta police honor Moody security force
Valdosta Police Chief Brian Childress awarded a set of challenge coins Friday to 12 members of Moody Air Force Base’s security forces. The coin ceremony served as a thank-you from the Valdosta Police Department for the base’s operational support in handling bomb threats and helping in community matters.
-
Charges filed in bomb threat made from jail
A pair of inmates received additional charges this week when they reportedly phoned a bomb threat from the Lowndes County Jail to South Georgia Medical Center Tuesday, according to the Valdosta Police Department.
-
Echols deputies seize a half-million in pot
A public indecency call late Friday afternoon led to the seizure of a marijuana grow house, 38 mature plants, and the arrest of an Echols County man, according to the Echols County Sheriff’s Office.
-
Weekend Update: Morven Peach Festival
News reporter Caitlin Barker speaks to representatives Sandy Rentz and Dawana Nunnally from the Morven Peach Committee, about the Peach Festival taking place this Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The band Trailer of Tears will play from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., followed by a parade taking place at 2 p.m.
-
Just Peachy
Peach tarts, peach ice cream, a peach parade and the Peach Queen — it’s time for the 26th Annual Morven Peach Festival.
-
Boys and Girls Club prepares for smooth transition
When longtime Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta Chief Professional Officer Robert Soper officially retires on June 1, his successor will already be in place, ready to take the reins of the organization.
-
Lowndes Middle student charged in school fire
An 11-year-old has been charged with arson after reportedly starting a fire in a Lowndes Middle School restroom on a dare earlier this week, according to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Thursday.
-
Kingston taps Hahira teen for Air Force Academy
Georgia Congressman Jack Kingston announced Thursday a Valwood student has received an appointment to a United States Service Academy.
- More Local News Headlines
-
