GBI investigates death of inmate in Forsyth County jail
News December 10, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. –The GBI is conducting an investigation of death of an inmate in the Forsyth County jail.
Melissa Ponce, 28, of Tucker was found unresponsive in a holding cell at 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 20.
Three nurses within the jail, along with deputies performed life-saving measures, including administering a dose of Narcan and utilizing the A.E.D., as EMS was called. A short time after EMS arrival, the inmate was pronounced deceased.
Ponce was arrested on suspicion of D.U.I. at approximately 3:40 a.m. At approximately 6:00 a.m., she was observed by deputies, served breakfast and showed no signs of requiring medical attention.
An initial investigation suggests Ponce ingested an illegal narcotic prior to being incarcerated. She was transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. Per the Sheriff’s Office Standard Procedures, the GBI was requested to conduct an investigation.
The GBI will contact the Sheriff when that investigation is complete, and the cause of death is de of Professional Standards is doing a parallel investigation into the incident.
The GBI will contact the Sheriff when that investigation is complete, and the cause of death is determined. The Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards is doing a parallel investigation into the incident.
GBI investigating death at Forsyth County Jail
News November 18, 2021
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. –The GBI is investigating the death of a 63-year old inmate at the Forsyth County jail.
Rhett Anderson of Cumming was arrested Nov. 13 on a warrant for Failure to Appear Probation Violation. He was housed in the medical unit on detox protocols. Deputies observed Mr. Anderson sleeping during the 2:28 a.m. watch tour.
At approximately 2:50 a.m., jail deputies responded to the medical unit for an unresponsive inmate. The nurse within the jail, along with deputies performed life-saving measures as EMS was called. A short time after EMS arrival, the inmate was pronounced deceased.
Anderson suffered from multiple medical issues. The body was transported to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. The Sheriff’s Office requested the GBI to conduct an investigation.
Sheriff’s deputies take more drugs off the street
News August 7, 2020
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — What started as a routine traffic stop shortly before midnight Wednesday, resulted in the arrest of two individuals with felony warrants, the recovery of 10 ounces of methamphetamine and approximately $5,000 in cash.
When Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop a vehicle on Matt Highway, near Heardmont Trace for failure to maintain lane, the driver refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated.
According to a post on the sheriff’s office Facebook page, deputies witnessed the driver and passenger throw several items from the car window. After a short distance, deputies were able to successfully apply a pursuit intervention technique, which ended the chase.
The driver, Larry Williams, 42 of Flowery Branch, was charged with reckless driving, trafficking methamphetamine and failure to maintain lane.
The passenger, Amanda Ryder, 38 of Ball Ground, was charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug-related objects.
Both are being held without bond in the Forsyth County Jail.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com