In Worth News, Sylvester police search for suspects Saturday night after a pepper spray incident in a popular local club; also a Sylvester woman contends she is innocent after a warrant was issued for her arrest Monday on 22 charges, including forgery (pictured). This and more below:
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Club Evacuated After Pepper Spray Discharged
The Celebrities Club on Main Street in Sylvester was evacuated Saturday night when a female sprayed pepper spray inside the business establishment. Sylvester Police Officer Doug Brooks confirmed Saturday that following the evacuation, shots were fired around 1:50 A.M. while patrons were outside of the club. A look-out was issued to Moultrie police by SPD to watch for a four female subjects in a blue Tahoe possibly headed into Moultrie.
Moultrie police were able to locate the vehicle around 2:30 A.M. and Sonja Tatum, 22, of Moultrie was taken into Worth County custody charged with terroristic threats and acts due to the pepper spray incident. SPD Investigator Ronnie Graddy said shots fired could not be linked to Ms. Tatum and no one was charged in that incident.
PHOTO Courtesy: WCSO
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Sylvester Woman Claims Innocence After Arrest Warrant is Issued
Chiquita Rivers Wilburn, 37, of Sylvester turned herself in Monday when a warrant signed by Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens was issued for her arrest.
Mrs. Wilburn is charged with 13-counts of theft by taking, 6-counts of forgery 1st degree and 3-counts false statements.
According to open records, the charges stem from forged checks Wilburn cashed in 2006. She is charged with unlawful taking of US currency from the Teacher’s Retirement System of Georgia ‘with intent of depriving TRSG of said property’.
The money apparently withdrawn by Mrs. Wilburn (then Ms. Rivers) from a local bank account was under another Sylvester woman’s name, supposedly a relative of Wilburn. According to records, Wilburn made the forged check transactions ranging from $125 – $2, 550 from February 2006 until October of 2006 (over $19,000). The state did not discover the criminal activity however until February 2010, from which point an extensive investigation ensued.
Wilburn was reportedly contacted at her work place in Sylvester Monday by officials regarding the warrant for her arrest and she turned herself in. She was released on a $25,000 bond, according to the Worth County Sheriff’s Office.
We spoke with Mrs. Wilburn this evening (Tuesday) by phone. She said she is innocent of these allegations against her and is unaware of why these charges have been brought against her.
We will follow this case and update information as available.
UPDATE Wednesday: The GBI office in Conyers responded today to an open records request submitted by Worthit2u.net. The response Wednesday was they are unable to comment or answer any questions because the case is still open.
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