The Dothan Police Department located a key witness who could help solve the mystery of a hit-and-run that killed a retired Troy professor.
Former Troy professor 79-year-old Marcus Gaddis was hit and killed on Honeysuckle Road on January 7, and no suspect vehicle was located near the scene.
DPD released photos of a white pickup truck who may have been a witness, and the witness was located. The driver of the white truck is not a suspect.
Investigators say current witness reports indicate Gaddis was hit by a dark Chevrolet SUV, possibly a Tahoe.
Anyone with information on the hit-and-run should call DPD at 334-793-0215 or submit a tip at 334-215-STOP or P3TIPS.com.
DOTHAN – HOUSTON COUNTY: The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has declared Thursday, January 9, 2024 as a holiday for the funeral services of former United States President Jimmy Carter.
The Federal office will be closed. The United States Postal Office will be closed and no mail delivery on Thursday. It is a federal holiday, not a state or local holiday.
RSN checked with some State of Alabama Offices and they will be OPEN. Those were the Clerk of Court office in Houston County. RSN has checked with the City of Dothan and they will be open. Houston County Offices are open tomorrow.
COTTONWOOD: At the end of the Cottonwood Town Council Meeting, Mayor James Coachman resigned as Mayor. The announcement came with tears in his eyes. The reason for the resignation: health related issues.
James Coachman was in his first term as Mayor. He had served as a Councilman for the City of Cottonwood for several terms before seeking election as Mayor. The incumbent Mayor, Ken Hamilton, did not seek re-election, and the Mayor’s Office was up with no incumbent.
Cottonwood was struck a year ago on January 9, 2024 with a tornado. The tornado caused extensive damage to Cottonwood, including the destruction of long term Animal Clinic belonging to Dr. Bruce Wozow. The tornado damaged Cottonwood Town Hall, Cottonwood Senior Citizens Clinic, Cottonwood Volunteer Fire Station and several other businesses and residences.
Mayor James Coachman is being forced to take several trips to Birmingham for treatment. He realizes that it will take him out of Cottonwood and not be available for management of the projects that are needed to get the City of Cottonwood back to the future.
It was evident during his talk his love for the Town of Cottonwood. His resignation was James Coachman looking into the future and what was best for the residents and businesses of Cottonwood Alabama. To make Cottonwood’s future brighter and bigger.
Being the Mayor of a small town is difficult. It is hard to be innovative to attract business to a small town and attract people to shop in a small town. And without the revenue it is them hard for a small town to grow. So in great times serving as Mayor is difficult.
THANK YOU James Coachman for your service as Councilman and as Mayor. And THANK YOU for being a man, stepping up to the plate, and thinking of Cottonwood’s future.
PRAYERS AND BEST WISHES as you battle health issues.
Houston County Coroner Robert Byrd identified the person struck and killed on Honeysuckle Road Tuesday night as 79-year-old Marcus Gaddis.
The coroner says it’s possible Gaddis stopped to pick something up from the road, possibly something from his car, when another vehicle hit him.
Officials say the driver who struck Gaddis was not on-scene when police arrived.
Gaddis was a retired Troy professor.
The matter is under investigation.
UPDATE:
Police confirmed Marcus Gaddis had stopped in the 800 block of Honeysuckle Road for unknown reasons. After he stopped, he exited his vehicle and dropped papers he was carrying. Some of the papers scattered into the road, and while Gaddis tried to collect them he was struck by a vehicle.
The suspect vehicle was described by witnesses as a dark colored Chevrolet SUV, which may have been a Tahoe.
If anyone has any information on the vehicle or driver of the dark Chevrolet SUV, they are asked to contact the Dothan Police Department at 334-615-3632. Citizens can also submit tips anonymously through Central Alabama Crimestoppers at 334-215-STOP or at P3TIPS.com. Central Alabama Crimestoppers offers rewards on tips that lead to the arrest in serious cases. Vehicle body repair shops should be alert to vehicles matching this description that may come in for repairs and call the Dothan Police Department.
COTTONWOOD: At the end of the regular scheduled Cottonwood Town Council Meeting, Cottonwood Mayor James Coachman stepped to the podium.
With tears in his eyes, Mayor James Coachman tendered his resignation as Mayor for the Town of Cottonwood. Mayor Coachman stated that he had some health issues and was going to be required to make trips to and from Birmingham. With that in mind, and knowing the needs of Cottonwood one year after it was struck by a tornado, Mayor Coachman said it was best for Cottonwood for him to resign.
Mayor Coachman said this is very hard for him to do and that he loves Cottonwood and everyone is a family. But, he had to what he felt was best for the future of Cottonwood.
Just prior to Mayor Coachman’s announcement the current Mayor Pro Tem Michael Capehart resigned as Mayor Pro Tem. Not as a Councilman, but only as Mayor Pro Tem.
In a unanimous vote, Councilman Van Granger was appointed Mayor Pro Tem. With the resignation of Mayor Coachman, now Mayor Pro Tem Van Granger will step in as Mayor. Following Mayor Coachman’s announcement the City Clerk for Cottonwood stated the procedures following the Mayor’s resignation.
We wish Mayor Coachman well and ask for prayers to be lifted for him as he deals with his pending medical issues.
PINCKARD: At 6:56 PM last evening Ozark – Dale County 911 dispatched Pinckard Police, Echo Rescue, Pinckard Volunteer Fire and Dale County Sheriff Deputies to a motor vehicle accident with injuries.
The accident location was 1024 Lees Bridge Road in Midland City. Reports to Ozark – Dale County 911 a motor vehicle accident with entrapment, single vehicle, vehicle verses tree with one female injured. A one vehicle, single occupant accident.
ECHO Fire – Rescue called a trauma alert. The patient was transported emergency to Southeast Health. The injuries were critical.
Around 6:44 AM Southeast Health notified Dale County Coroner John Cawley the victim from the auto accident passed away. The victim was identified as 61-year-old Susan Hutcheson.
Under today’s laws, the hospital is to notify the Coroner where the chain of events started. This accident was in Dale County. Although the death was in Houston County being in the healthcare facility, the Dale County Coroner has to be notified because that is where the chain of events, the wreck, initiated.
Pinckard Police are in charge of the accident investigation.
