Meriwether County Sheriff Chuck Smith reported that his agency along with the GBI recently conducted a death investigation which led to an arrest for the offense of murder.
“On November 28, 2020 around 3:40 am. our patrol deputies responded to the Warm Springs Medical Center, Warm Springs, Ga. in regard to a reported injured subject that had been dropped off in the parking lot of the hospital. Once our units arrived on the scene they located a black male subject that was deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. Our investigators responded to the location for the follow-up investigation. Our investigators were able to identify the victim as one David Johnson, 53 years of age of Manchester, Ga. Our investigators contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigations for assistance with this incident in which a crime scene had not been established or located at that time. Our Investigators began conducting a neighborhood canvass in Manchester, Ga. and began speaking with person(s) known to Johnson. Through the course of these interviews our personnel were able to track down the last known location that Johnson had been reported to have been earlier that evening. The last known location that Johnson was purported to have been was on Friendly Ave., in the City of Manchester. Our investigators along with Manchester P.D. Officers responded to the Friendly Avenue location to attempt contact with the residents. Upon arrival on the scene our investigators and Manchester Police Officers were able to observe physical evidence that a crime had occurred at that location. Our investigators obtained a search warrant for the scene location in which the GBI responded for crime scene processing. Our units and agents with the GBI located several witnesses that revealed the identity of a possible suspect related to the death of Johnson. Through these contacts additional witnesses were located and interviewed which established probable cause for the issuance of an arrest warrant. GBI agents obtained an arrest warrant for a Jimmie Lee Stevenson, B/M, 76 years of age of Manchester, Ga. for the offense of Murder. Our personnel put a BOLO out for Stevenson and a vehicle description that was he was possibly occupying. On November 28, 2020 at around 6:30 pm. a Greenville Police Officer located the vehicle being driven by Jimmie Lee Stevenson on Hwy 100 within the City Limits of Greenville, Ga. Our patrol deputies assisted Greenville P.D. with a felony traffic stop of the vehicle in which Stevenson was the lone occupant and he was taken into custody without incident. Stevenson was transported to the Meriwether County Jail by our deputies in regard to the outstanding warrant for his arrest. Stevenson is being held in the Meriwether County Jail on one count of Murder without bond. This investigation is still active, if anyone has any additional information related to this case investigation we request that they call the GBI Tip Line at (404) 244-2600 or 1-800-597-TIPS. They can also call our investigators at (706) 672-6647.” Sheriff Chuck Smith said.
“I appreciate the assistance and collaboration of all agencies in regard to this case investigation. It is commendable the expediency in which they were able to take the suspect into custody without further incident.” Sheriff Smith advised.
Note: Arrest Booking Reports can be obtained from the Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office Records or Jail Division by news agencies that have waivers on file with this agency, (706) 672-4489. If news agencies do not have a waiver on file one can be obtained from this agency in accordance to O.C.G.A. 35-1-18.