Drew Favakeh

What does John Bush allege about his ONSE tenure and termination?

In late July 2024, the City of Savannah terminated the employment of a former director due to alleged ethics violations.

Former City of Savannah ONSE Director fired due to alleged harassment, unprofessional conduct

The City of Savannah's first Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) Director, John Bush, allegedly harassed coworkers and exhibited unprofessional/unbecoming conduct of a City of Savannah employee.

Settlement reached in lawsuit of man who died in Chatham County Jail in 2020

Attorneys for the family of Lee Michael Creely, a man who died in a Chatham County Detention Center in 2020, and Chatham County attorneys have reached a settlement.

Lawsuit dismissed for man who committed suicide in Savannah police interrogation room

A Federal Judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed for the family of a man who was found hanging in a Savannah Police Department interrogation room.

"It's worse than meat tenderizer, open sores": Dangerous drug found in overdose deaths

Drug overdoses in Chatham County are decreasing, although there is a dangerous and increasingly popular tranquilizer being found in autopsies.

$972,000 grant from SCAD SERVE will fund Savannah Police "technology enhancements"

A $972,000 fund from SCAD to the City of Savannah awarded in late February 2025 will fund "technology enhancements" for the Savannah Police.

Settlement reached in gender discrimination lawsuit against Chatham District Attorney

Former Chatham County prosecutor who filed a federal lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and the Chatham DA have reached a settlement agreement.

Parent of deceased Chatham County Detention Center inmate files complaint against county

The parent of a man who died in the Chatham County Detention Center in March 2023 has filed a complaint against the county alleging wrongful death.

Savannah Pride Center holds vigil for victim of March 15 shooting, potential hate crime

The Savannah Pride Center held a vigil tonight for Chris Allen Villegas Fentress, who was shot and killed on March 15 of this year in Savannah.

String of fires at this Savannah recycling plant raise concerns about safety

Eight fires and one dust explosion have occurred at the Celadon Plant at 48 Artley Road since it opened in November 2021, endangering employees at the paper processing plant, according to documents obtained through an open records request from the Savannah Fire Department.

Multiple fire hydrants throughout Chatham County rated non-functional. What's the plan to fix them?

Of the 2,606 total fire hydrants in Chatham County, 73 are considered nonfunctional, according to a report presented to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 11 by Vickers and Phil Koster, chief operating officer for Chatham Emergency Services

Chatham County Sheriff says two recent inmate deaths caused by drug overdoses

The deaths of two inmates at the Chatham County Detention Center within the past week were both drug overdoses, according to multiple Chatham County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) officials who spoke at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Chatham Co. considers creation of fire department. 'Preparing our county for the future'

Chatham County is considering establishing its own fire department. The Chatham County Commission approved a resolution at its Aug. 25 meeting to develop a transition plan away from the current fire service provider, Chatham Emergency Services (CES) and implement its own fire service.

Should a Savannah Police Detective be fired? DA and City discuss at a civil board meeting

On Friday morning, the City of Savannah Civil Service Board weighed whether or not they should uphold the firing of former Savannah Police Department (SPD) homicide detective Ashley Wood, whose employment was terminated after an internal investigation revealed she had falsified information in multiple search warrant applications tied to the 2021 murder of Charles Vinson.

Savannah Police detective under review over search warrants in Charles Vinson murder case

Savannah Police has launched an internal investigation into a homicide detective, Ashley Wood.

Of the crimes guns recovered in Savannah, 11% were purchased at Welsh Pawn Shop

Despite warnings and fines, Savannah-based Welsh Pawn Shop continues to sell firearms that end up used in crimes.

Gun crimes in Savannah have drawn increased federal agency presence. What does this mean?

An uptick in shootings, especially among young men, in recent years has drawn the attention of the U.S. Dept. of Justice, the FBI and the ATF

Where do guns used in Savannah crimes come from? Data provides answers — and begs questions

Most guns used in crimes in Savannah in 2022 were bought legally within the state, according to an internal Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spreadsheet obtained by the Savannah Morning News.

Chatham County District Attorney staff shortage puts defendants, victims, prosecutors in jeopardy

The District Attorney's Office employs 12 assistant district attorneys to prosecute felony cases, fewer than half of what it needs to ease caseloads.

Savannah mayor's race: How much money are Kesha Gibson-Carter, Van Johnson bringing in?

How much money has Savannah Mayor Van Johnson and Alderwoman and mayoral candidate, Kesha Gibson-Carter, raised? Who are they giving money to?

'We have factors to balance': Chatham County District Attorney on low rate of prosecutions

Of the 40 total cases prosecuted for murder between 2021 and 2022 under Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones, 27 ended in less-than murder convictions, a review by the Savannah Morning News has found. The statistical analysis, more than anything, reveals that the DA's office is pursuing a higher rate of plea deals in murder cases, leading to lesser charges such as voluntary manslaughter, rather than felony murder convictions.

Chatham County DA proposes quality control plan to improve criminal prosecutions

Incomplete and delayed case files, evidentiary problems, lack of communication cited as problems resulting in dismissals and reductions in homicide cases.

Public Defender: Jail denying inmates access to defense lawyers

Court motion seeks 'meaningful access' and 'right to communicate' with clients awaiting trial, including Simon, who is charged with the murder of her 20-month-old son.

Savannah High School shooting hoax: After-action report recommends improved communication

The communication breakdowns "could have had significant consequences if there had been an active shooter in the building," according to the National Policing Institute.

Former Savannah school administrator alleges in lawsuit district retaliated for whistleblowing

Sheila Garcia-Wilder, the former chief of schools for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, has filed a civil lawsuit against the district that claims she was terminated in retaliation for raising concerns that Black male students and special needs students were disproportionately disciplined with suspension and expulsion.

Former ADA claims discrimination, retaliation by Chatham County District Attorney

A former Chatham County assistant district attorney is claiming in a lawsuit filed earlier this month that he was terminated, in part, because of his sexual preference and in retaliation for sending a text message to colleagues about staffing shortages in the DA's office.

An EMS emergency: Why Chatham ambulance response times are alarming lawmakers, city officials

Misuse of 911 system, an antiquated dispatch process, an EMS labor shortage and overwhelmed hospital ERs plague the local EMS provider and have stretched emergency response times past 15 minutes.

Family of slain 15-year-old grapples with grief after teen arrested for his murder

Wendy Davis only drove Uber 10 hours last week. She used to drive 50 to 60 hours, chatting it up with riders, but ever since her 15-year-old grandson was shot to death, she's driven less, afraid she'll collapse at the wheel.

'He still deserves dignity': Family of Robert Gadson, man shot by police officer, seeks answers...

After a man was shot by the Savannah Police last March outside of a popular Savannah bar, an investigation by the GBI was launched. Now, many months later, the investigation has not been closed, and his family has questions.

Georgia state senator relied on farm contractors involved in major human trafficking case

Operation Blooming Onion is among the largest criminal prosecutions of labor trafficking of foreign farmworkers. Cogdell Berry Farm hired labor contractors whose Georgia homes were searched, money seized in the investigation. Sen. Russ Goodman, who owns the farm with his father-in-law, said he would investigate the situation.

Sen. Jon Ossoff shines spotlight on death in Chatham County jail during bipartisan investigation

A 10-month bipartisan investigation by the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations ("PSI"), chaired by Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), has revealed the U.S.

Savannah Police officer who killed Carver Village man has history of disciplinary reviews

Farm labor traffickers bribed Georgia government employees, federal agent testifies

The agent testified that bribery was linked to approval of farmworker housing, a key step in bringing seasonal workers in the U.S. Prosecutors say the organization targeted by Blooming Onion subjected workers to degrading living conditions, including housing them in cramped trailers The investigation has led to criminal prosecutions against 28 defendants charged with forced labor conspiracy or other crimes.

Documents show Savannah Police didn't fully vet officer who later shot, killed Carver Village man

A pre-employment background check of the Savannah Police officer who killed a Carver Village man in June failed to note a series of documented incidents at a previous job as a corrections officer, including three use-of-force violations.

'Officer Ferguson must understand to avoid conflicts': Documents detail SPD officer's previous work

Records obtained by the Savannah Morning News show Ferguson was involved in eight use-of-force incidents at Coastal State Prison. In the aftermath of two incidents, Ferguson was found to have violated use-of-force policy and Georgia POST Council orders. One case was forwarded for further investigation.

Lee Michael Creely's last hours marked by withdrawal, medical indifference in Chatham County jail

This article is based upon a review of thousands of pages of public documents — two Chatham County Sheriff’s Officer internal affairs investigations, Correcthealth medical records, two autopsies, jail video footage and photographs, and police reports — that provide insight into the last hours of Lee Michael Creely's life.

'Odds were pretty much against him': Creely's turbulent childhood shaped by drug addiction

Lee Michael Creely, who later died in Chatham County Jail to either a drug overdose or drug withdrawal, was exposed to drugs at a young age. But what made Lee turn to drugs remains unclear. Some family members say his friends got him involved. Some say his parents' divorce affected him. Others say his parents' drug use haunted him.

Two internal investigations reveal Creely's death in Chatham County jail 'preventable'

This article is first in a three-part series examining the life of Lee Michael Creely, who died at the Chatham County Detention Center in September 2020. His death revealed procedural errors by both county jail guards and the privately contracted healthcare company overseeing incarcerated people, many of whom, like Creely, suffer from drug addiction.

‘Beyond troubling’: Current, former government officials tied to human trafficking probe in Georgia

Two Georgia labor officials whose jobs involved protecting or advocating for farmworkers have links to one of the largest U.S. human trafficking cases ever prosecuted involving foreign agricultural laborers brought here on seasonal visas.

With at least 150 Afghan refugees moving to Savannah by February, one family tries to find a home

With at least 200 Afghan refugees moving to Savannah by February, one family tries to make Savannah home.

'God, it was rough, having doors continue to shut': Formerly incarcerated struggle with housing...

In the United States, formerly incarcerated people face discrimination when trying to rent or buy housing. In Savannah, that problem is acute.

Bobby Jones, his epilepsy diagnosis, and me

As the first NBA player to be publicly open about his epilepsy diagnosis, Bobby Jones' career was forever affected, positively and negatively. As someone with an epilepsy diagnosis myself, I believe we can learn from how Bobby handled his diagnosis.

Before Jackie Robinson, there was Thomas Harding

While the likes of Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens and Muhammad Ali received praise, if not recognition, after the fact, Tom Harding’s story remains mostly obscure. Like Robinson, Harding excelled in football, baseball and track. He won eight athletic letters, which no Butler athlete before or since has accomplished. His collegiate career was, well, the stuff of legends. Like Robinson, he also faced racism.