Screven County Sheriff's Office

11/13/2026

PRESS RELEASE
Screven County Sheriff's Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arrest Made Following Shooting in Screven County
Screven County, GA – November 13, 2026 – On the evening of November 12, 2026, the Screven County Sheriff's Office responded to a neighborhood off of Union Church Road in Screven County following a reported shooting.

Deputies and Investigators responded to the crime scene and subsequently Optim Medical Center in Sylvania as part of the investigation.

During the course of the investigation, Otis Lockhart Jr. was identified as the suspected shooter. Shortly after, Lockhart was taken into custody without incident.

The victim survived the shooting and is currently listed in stable condition.

Lockhart has been charged with the following offenses:

Aggravated Assault
Possession of a Fi***rm During the Commission of a Crime
Possession of a Fi***rm by a Convicted Felon
Battery – Family Violence
Cruelty to Children in the Third Degree

At this time, investigators are not seeking any additional suspects in connection with this incident.

Sheriff Norman Royal stated that the Screven County Sheriff's Office remains committed to protecting the citizens of Screven County and thoroughly investigating and prosecuting incidents of violence in our community.

The investigation remains ongoing.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Norman Royal
Screven County Sheriff's Office

11/11/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Veterans Day! 🇺🇸

Today, the Screven County Sheriff’s Office proudly honors all the brave men and women who have served our nation.

We extend a special thank you to the veterans within our own agency who answered the call to serve our country and continue that commitment by protecting and serving the citizens of Screven County.

Your dedication, sacrifice, and continued service do not go unnoticed.

❤️🤍💙 From military service to community service, we thank you for your unwavering commitment!

Happy Veterans Day! 🇺🇸

11/10/2026

🦃🍁 OUR FIRST EVER THANKSGIVING MEAL GIVEAWAY! 🍁🦃

The Screven County Sheriff’s Office is excited to announce our First Ever Thanksgiving Meal Giveaway!

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, giving back, and coming together as a community. This year, we are proud to help local families celebrate the holiday with a traditional Thanksgiving meal! ❤️

Each meal package will include a turkey (uncooked) and all the Thanksgiving meal necessities to help families prepare a holiday dinner at home.

📅 Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2026

⏰ Time: 4:00 PM until supplies run out

📍 Location: Front parking lot of the Screven County Sheriff’s Office

🚗 Traffic Information: Please follow all traffic directions provided by deputies and staff upon arrival to ensure a safe and organized giveaway.

🤎 A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY SPONSORS!

This event would not be possible without the incredible generosity and support of our local community sponsors. Your willingness to give back is helping us make a difference for families throughout Screven County.

We will be making a special recognition post at a later date to individually acknowledge and thank all of the businesses, organizations, and community members who have contributed to making this event possible. We want to ensure each of our generous sponsors receives the recognition and appreciation they deserve!

At the Screven County Sheriff’s Office, serving our community goes beyond the badge. We are grateful for the opportunity to come together, lend a helping hand, and spread a little extra kindness this Thanksgiving season.

Meals will be distributed while supplies last.

🧡 From Sheriff Norman Royal and the entire Screven County Sheriff’s Office, we wish everyone a safe, happy, and blessed Thanksgiving!

11/03/2026

🍂🎃 Community, Fall Fun & Great Memories! 🚔💙

The Screven County Sheriff’s Office had a wonderful time attending the Sylvania Fall Festival, Hiltonia Fall Festival, and Newington Trick-or-Treat Event!

We want to thank each community for welcoming us and allowing us the opportunity to connect with the wonderful people we are blessed to serve.

We truly enjoyed every event and are grateful to be part of such an amazing county!

Thank you for the memories! We can’t wait until next year! 💙

10/30/2026

Tomorrow from 6-8

10/28/2026

10/23/2026

🍂🎃 FALL FESTIVAL FUN! 🍬🍁

The Screven County Sheriff’s Office is excited to join members of our community at the Sylvania Fall Festival TONIGHT!

📅 Friday, October 23, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Our deputies will be handing out bags of candy, sharing smiles, and enjoying an evening of fall fun with our community!

We love opportunities to connect with the families we serve, and we can’t wait to see everyone there!

🍭 Stop by, say hello, and grab a bag of candy!

10/22/2026

🚨 TRAFFIC UPDATE – ROADWAY REOPENED 🚨

The Screven County Sheriff’s Office would like to inform motorists that Burtons Ferry Highway near the Welcome Center has reopened following the earlier motorcycle accident.

✅ Traffic is now able to resume normal flow.

We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation while emergency personnel worked to clear the scene.

Screven County Sheriff’s Office

10/22/2026

🚨 TRAFFIC ALERT – BURTONS FERRY HWY 🚨

The Screven County Sheriff’s Office is advising motorists of a single-vehicle motorcycle accident near 8463 Burtons Ferry Highway, in the area of the Welcome Center.

🚔 Law enforcement personnel are currently on scene and have advised that traffic delays are expected in the area.

⚠️ Motorists are encouraged to seek an alternate route if possible and use extreme caution when approaching the area. Please reduce your speed, remain alert, and allow emergency personnel room to work safely.

We appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation.

Screven County Sheriff’s Office

10/21/2026

🎃🚨 OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM SHERIFF NORMAN ROYAL 🎃🚨

HALLOWEEN GUIDELINES FOR REGISTERED S*X OFFENDERS