On November 18, 2024, Tristan Zayne Anderson was formally indicted on child pornography charges by a Walker County Grand Jury in connection to an ongoing Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigation.

Anderson was charged with 1 count of Dissemination of Obscene Matter Containing Visual Depiction of Persons Under 17 Years of Age Involved in Obscene Acts and 93 counts of Possession of Obscene Matter Containing Visual Depiction of Persons Under 17 Years of Age Involved in Obscene Acts.

Anderson was taken into custody and is currently being held in the Walker County Jail on a $30,000 cash bond. Although there has been an arrest, this investigation remains ongoing.

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office requests that anyone with additional information regarding this case, please contact Investigator Bryant Parkhurst at 205-302-6177

Danny Alexander joins the team of School Resource Officers stationed across Walker County, ensuring a visible law enforcement presence at every campus. This initiative reflects Sheriff Smith’s long-standing commitment to having deputies in all county schools, a goal achieved on his first day in office.
 
The addition of an SRO at the Walker County Center of Technology marks a strategic step in fostering a secure educational environment while building meaningful relationships between law enforcement and the youth of our community.

Last week, your WCSO responded to 289 calls for service. In these calls for service, is included calls for harassment, domestic violence, and so much more. These calls for service are our primary responsibility, as public servants. We care about our community and strive to offer impeccable service to our citizens.   

While we weren’t busy with calls, we made 38 traffic stops, where we took time to educate citizens about the motor vehicle laws of Alabama. We also made seven arrests during the week, which is a slight decrease over the prior week’s numbers.   

We’re proud to serve you, Walker County. If you need us, please give us a call at 205-302-6464

The Walker County Sheriff's Office earned 1st place in the East Walker County Christmas Parade! Their beautifully decorated float brought holiday cheer to the community and showed off some creativity and teamwork.


Thank you to everyone who helped make this float happen. We greatly appreciate all of our office staff, reserve deputies, explorers, and deputy sheriffs for coming out and making the season bright!

Recently, the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force has been increasing efforts to locate wanted individuals in the Walker County Area. The following individuals were taken into custody over the past few weeks:
Douglas Ray Lashum, age 59 of Quinton, was arrested on warrants of sexual abuse of child under 12 years old, and enticing a child to enter
 
Jordan Allen Lopez, age 25 of Oakman, was arrested on warrants of burglary in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, and Domestic Violence in the first degree.
 
Abe Crum Cook IV, age 36 of Jasper, was arrested on warrants of elder abuse and neglect in the second degree.
 
Malique Savionne Harris, age 21 of Birmingham, was arrested on warrants of attempted murder, robbery in the first degree, and discharging a gun into an unoccupied building or vehicle.
 
We thank the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force members in their work to locate these individuals. If you know the whereabouts of any wanted individual, submit your tips through the WCSO app, which can be downloaded below.
https://apps.myocv.com/share/a43035501

On the evening of December 2nd, 2024, Investigator Franks and Investigator Richardson were working narcotics complaints in the area of Empire.
 
Deputy Franks observed a vehicle with an obstructed tag, and made a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver, Bradley Gann, age 41 of Hayden, was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Two other individuals were arrested on a separate traffic stop made by Investigator Richardson. Kaylyn Holt, age 21 of Jasper, and Jason Wayne Davis, age 30 of Cullman, were also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.
 
All three were arrested at the scenes without further incident. These three arrests highlight the continued effort by our investigators to actively prevent crime in our communities. By proactively responding to your complaints that are submitted, we are able to effectively focus these enforcement efforts. Submit your tips via our WCSO app, available at the links below!

https://apps.myocv.com/share/a43035501

Sheriff Nick Smith proudly announced that all deputies in the WCSO now possess their Sensory Inclusive Certification through a partnership with Kulture City. This initiative enhances our ability to serve and support individuals with sensory sensitivities, including those on the autism spectrum or living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
 
Kulture City, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to promoting sensory awareness and inclusion for people with disabilities. Their specialized training equips deputies with the knowledge and tools needed for recognizing sensory overload, de-escalating situations, and interacting with special needs individuals.
 
“This certification is a big step forward in making sure that every member of our county is understood, respected, and supported,” Sheriff Smith stated. “By partnering with Kulture City, we’re ensuring our deputies have the skills to provide appropriate responses to those who may face unique challenges.”
 
The training program emphasizes strategies, such as the use of sensory kits, clear communication techniques, and understanding the behaviors associated special needs individuals. These measures aim to foster trust and improve the overall safety and well-being of individuals with autism, PTSD, or other disabilities during encounters with law enforcement.

On November 24, 2024, Walker County Sheriff’s Office received two reports of arson that had taken place in the McCollum neighborhood close to Jasper. Deputies were dispatched and conducted the initial investigation and were able to identify the suspect as Frankie Lee Ellis Jr.

Following the identification of Mr. Ellis as the suspect, Deputies contacted the State Fire Marshal and evidence in the case was provided to the State Fire Marshal’s Office for further investigation related to the arson.

State Fire Marshal’s obtained an arrest warrant for Frankie Lee Ellis Jr. for Arson 2nd. Mr. Ellis was taken into custody on November 25, 2024 at 2:39 PM.

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division began working the case as it relates to the property crimes committed by the suspect during the commission of the arson.

On December 3, 2024, Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Frankie Lee Ellis Jr. for Burglary 3rd, Theft of Property 4th, and Criminal Mischief 3rd.

Frankie Lee Ellis Jr. is currently being held at the Walker County Jail on a 55K property bond.

Any indication of an arrest does not imply guilt. All suspects presumed innocent, until proven guilty in a court of law.

Being committed to the community is what I built my bid for sheriff around. I have a passion for the people that I share this county with, and I want to make our county a better place to live, and to raise my family. I love when I meet other people who share that vision, and I got the chance to do that recently.
 
I visited the Lupton Junior High School, and got to hear and spend time with the 7th graders as the presented community service projects. I was floored by the thoughtfulness and passion they shared with each presentation. They had vision for service projects that benefited others, and helped to make others’ lives that much better. Our students are some of the brightest and most caring individuals, and I can’t wait to see what they do in the future. We can all take a page out of their books, and take a moment to help others in need.
 
Today, do something for someone else. Don’t expect anything in return, and see what good things come from it. Sometimes the best blessing is to be a blessing to someone else. Take a moment today and do something, however small it may be, and be kind to someone else!