DALE COUNTY (RSN) — Seven individuals have been charged with human trafficking–related offenses following a two-day undercover operation targeting child exploitation activity in Dale County, according to the Dale County Sheriff’s Office.
The operation, dubbed Operation Nutcracker, focused on identifying and disrupting online activity involving the exploitation of children. Authorities say all seven arrests stem from proactive investigative efforts conducted within the county.
The operation was led by Sheriff Mason Bynum and the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit, in close partnership with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and additional local partner agencies.
Officials emphasized that strong interagency collaboration was key to the operation’s success.
“My hope is that this operation sends a clear message there is no safe place in Dale County or anywhere in the Wiregrass for those who seek to traffic or exploit our children,” Sheriff Bynum said. “These efforts require strong coordination and teamwork across agencies, and when we work proactively together, offenders have nowhere to hide.”
Sheriff Bynum also recognized Captain David Hall with SBI Region B for assisting with on-scene coordination, calling the operation “a total team effort.”
Investigator Steve Brown with the Dale County Sheriff’s Office said the timing of the operation was especially meaningful.
“This operation was a huge success. As we approach the holidays, we can rest a bit easier knowing that some of those who would subject our children to evil are being held accountable,” Brown said.
Captain David Hall echoed that message, emphasizing the operation’s broader purpose.
“Operation Nutcracker sends a clear message — if you exploit people, especially children, we will find you. This operation was about protecting the vulnerable and holding offenders accountable, no matter where they hide,” Hall said.
Authorities say the Sheriff’s Office remains committed to proactive enforcement, continued interagency cooperation, and protecting those who cannot protect themselves. Additional details regarding the arrests may be released as cases move forward through the judicial process.
Florida officials announced that 43 missing children were safely located and recovered during a recent statewide operation aimed at finding critically missing juveniles.
The 12-day initiative, known as Operation Northern Lights, was led by the U.S. Marshals Service in partnership with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies across Florida.
Authorities said all of the children were classified as critically missing, meaning investigators believed they were at heightened risk of harm, including exposure to violence, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, criminal activity, or domestic violence.
According to officials, some of the children had been moved across multiple counties and, in certain cases, transported across state lines before being located.
Sgt. Rachel Buell with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office said participating agencies began the operation by compiling a list of critically missing children and assigning cases based on jurisdiction. Deputies and officers then followed up on leads through door-to-door checks, phone calls, and social media monitoring.
As a result of the operation, nine individuals were arrested in connection with the cases. Officials stated that additional charges are expected, including human trafficking, child endangerment, and custodial interference.
Law enforcement leaders emphasized that the operation highlights the importance of interagency cooperation and urged the public to continue reporting tips that could help locate missing or endangered children.
HOUSTON COUNTY: 04:00 AM Houston County District Court Judge Lori Collier Ingram has announced her retirement from Judgeship effective December 31, 2025.
judge Ingram finished what cases were scheduled before her this past week and will wind down her final week of serving as District Court Judge.
Appointed in 2009, Judge Ingram has been successfully elected to the bench three times in the course of her career. Over the tenure of the years Judge Ingram has served the cases she presided over did not gain much publicity or spectators in her courtroom. In fact, much of her court time was behind closed doors. WHY? Judge Ingram was assigned Juvenile Court cases for most, not all, of her docket. And juvenile matters do not have a posted docket for the public and are held behind closed doors to protect the juveniles.
In addition to juvenile Judge Ingram had the task of handling the non-popular child support cases and some civil cases.
Judge Ingram has served with honesty, dignity and integrity during her tenure on the bench.
Governor Kay Ivey will be charged with the responsibility of making an appointment to fill the vacancy in the District Court. In the meantime the Presiding Judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit, Honorable John John Steensland, will make case assignments until another District Court Judge is appointed.
Houston County has two District Court Judge. The Honorable Benjamin Lewis serves as District Court Judge. During Lewis tenure he is assigned criminal cases, civil cases, small claims cases and evictions. The 20th Judicial Circuit has 5 Circuit Judges which serve both Houston and Henry County. Those are the honorable Todd Derrick, Butch Binford, Kevin Moulton Chris Richardson and John John Steensland.
TO JUDGE LORI COLLIER INGRAM – thank you for your dedicated service.
REHOBETH-HOUSTON COUNTY: 8:52 PM Houston County 911 dispatched a moderate injury motor vehicle accident vehicle overturned, driver ejected. The location is 531 Cobb Road. Dispatched to the scene, Rehobeth Fire-Rescue, Southern Junction Volunteer Fire, Houston County Sheriff Deputies and ALEA – Troopers.
8:57 PM Rehobeth Fire – Rescue arrived and moments later Southern Junction Volunteer Fire Command Vehicle arrived on the scene. Rehobeth Fire – Rescue reported persons were self extricated, making sure only one person in the vehicle.
9:02PM ALEA -Trooper on the scene.
9:05PM Rehobeth Fire – Rescue reports only one patient. Rehobeth Operations Commander Todd Phillips responded.
9:06 PM Rehobeth Fire-Rescue ambulance has left the scene with one patient, emergency, trauma alert, to Southeast Health.
9:11 PM The car was in a front yard. The patient was about 60 feet from the wreckage. Heavy damage to the vehicle.
BELOW ARE FIRE / EMS CALLS ACROSS HOUSTON COUNTY, DOTHAN, ASHFORD, COLUMBIA, COTTONWOOD, REHOBETH, TAYLOR, KINSEY, HEADLAND, WICKSBURG, MALVERN, SLOCOMB, ENTERPRISE, SOUTHERN JUNCTION, ABBEVILLE BEGINNING 12/20/2025 AT ABOUT 8:00 PM TO 12/21/2-25 AT 8:12 PM
ALL OF THE CALLS BELOWE REFLECTED ONE COMMON THEME
NOT ONE OF THE BELOW CALLS MADE AN APPOINTMENT
ALL OF THESE CALLS BEGAN IN THE 911 CENTER BY A GROUP OF DEDICATED WOMEN AND MEN TRAINED IN GIVING LIFE SAVING INSTRUCTIONS WHILE THE BELOW EMERGENCY UNITS ROLL
DOTHAN – HOUSTON COUNTY: Beginning December 20, 2025 – AFTERNOON LATE: 4:30 PM Fire Alarm – High Occupancy 5005 Montgomery Highway; 4:55 PM Medical Emergency Williamsburg Place; 4:56 PM Medical Emergency 3700 block Montgomery Highway; 5:37 PM Motor vehicle accident – moderate injuries; 5:47 PM Medical Emergency Laney Lane; 5:53 PM Medical Call – Non Emergency Tulip Lane; 6:20 PM Medical Emergency 300 block Sixth Avenue; 6:24 PM Medical Emergency Sweetwater Apartments; 7:08 PM Medical Call – non emergency 500 block Girard Avenue; 7:09 PM Medical Emergency Asphodel Drive; 9:16 PM 400 block Timbers Road; Medical Emergency; 9:35 PM 100 block Drake Drive Medical Emergency; 9:57 PM 100 block TV Road Medical Emergency; 10:06 PM Medical Emergency 700 block Honeysuckle Road; 11:21 PM Medical Emergency Grandvilla Drive 11:52 PM Medical Emergency 500 block Pleasant Road
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025 00:12 AM Medical Call – Non Emergency 400 block Timbers Drive; 00:47 AM Medical Call 600 block S. Lena Street; 00:50 Edged Weapon Assault 2500 block Ross Clark Circle; 01:23 AM Medical Call – Emergency 600 block S. Lena Street; 01:50 AM HAZ MAT – Carbon Monoxide Detector – 1600 block S. St. Andrews Street; 01:53 AM Medical Emergency 108 Oak Grove Drive; 02:44 Am Assault – Moderate Inuries 300 block Pinecrest Drive; 05:24 AM Medical Call – Emergency 300 block Sixth Avenue; 06:59 Am Medical; Call Emergency 1700 block Westover Drive; 07:53 AM Medical Call Emergency 7200 block Cottonwood Road ( Houston County – Pilcher Ambulance); 08:29 AM Medical Emergency 300 block Stonegate Drive; 08:35 Am Medical Call – Non Emergency Garden Lane; 09:38 AM Medical Call Emergency 200 block Highland Street: 09:46 AM Medical Call Emergency 300 block Chickasaw Street; 10:04 AM Medical Call – Non Emergency 300 block Hidden Creek Circle; 10:07 AM Fire Alarm High Occupancy 2600 block S. Park Avenue; 10:13 Am Service Call 1500 block Osceola Street; 10:30 AM Medical Emergency 200 block Chinkapin Drive; 10L35 AM Fire Alarm 210 Halifax Drive; 10:35 Am Medical Emergency 3100 block Clayborne Road; 11:11 AM Medical Emergency 1500 block Catalina Drive; 11:55 AM Medical Call 300 block Headland Avenue; 12:58 PM Medical Emergency 100 block Lawrenceburg Court; 1:01 PM Medical Emergency 3300 Block S. Oates Street; 1:33 Pm Medical Call – Non Emergency 4900 Montgomery Highway; 2:31 PM Wreck with Moderate Injuries West Main Street and Honeysuckle; 2:56 PM Medical Emergency 1600 block John D. Odom Road; 3:33 PM Medidcal Call Emergency 100 block of Cumberland Drive; 2:34 PM Wreck with moderate injuries Cottonwood Road and Eddins Road; 3:41 PM Medical Emergency 2300 block of Reeves Street; 4:09 PM Medical Emergency 2100 block Oakdale Court; 4:27 PM Medical Call Emergency 1100 block of East Lafayette; ; 6:46 PM Medical Emergency 1700 block Honeysuckle; 7:10 PM Medical Call – Non Emergency 405 East Adams Street; 7:40 PM Medical emergency 400 block Alabama Avenue;
COLUMBIA or ASHFORD: 6:09 PM Medical Emergency River Road, Columbia; ASHFORD 7:24 PM Medical Emergency 1100 block Broadway St.; 8:06 PM 4600 block Ebenezer Road – Columbia; 9:21 PM Wicker Road in Cowarts; 10:06 PM Medical Emergency Meadowceek Dr. Webb: 09:21 AM Medical Call – Emergency Mills Street – Webb; 2:32 PM Medical Call Emergency 100 block Grimsley Drive; 4:43 PM Medical Emergency 3900 block Enon Road;
HEADLAND: 8:26 PM Raley Lane – Kinsey; 8:36 PM Medical Call 100 block Covenant Drive Kinsey.
SLOCOMB: 8:24 PM Medical Call Noma Road; 8:36 PM Medical Call 100 block S. Dalton Street; 11:51 PM Medical Call 900 block Ewell Road;
ENTERPRISE: 8:52 PM Medical Call 900 block Drayton Avenue; Fire Alarm 600 block Boll Weevil Circle; Medical Call 200 block Colony Drive;
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025
REHOBETH: 7:27 PM Medical Call 11000 block Highway 231 South; 9:33 PM 200 block S. State Highway 109 Medical Emergency; 11:57 PM Medical Call – Non Emergency Morning Glory Lane – Taylor; 04:10 AM Medical Call – Non Emergency 200 Morning Glory Lane Taylor; 08:18 AM Medical Call – Emergency Knob Hill Road: 08:20 Am Medical Call Emergency – 100 block Jan Drive; 12:08 PM Medical Call – Non Emergency 500 block Cobb Road: 2:000 PM Mutual Aid Malvern Opal an College Street outdoor fire; 2:29 PM Medical Emergency 100 block Litchield Drive;
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025 REHOBETH 01:35 AM Fire Alarm Gooseberry LN: 2:29 Pm Medical Emergency 100 block Lithfield Drive
TAYLOR VOLUNTEER FIRE: 2:00 pm Mutual Aid Malvern – Grass Fire Opal and E. College
WICKSBURG: 00:08 AM Medical Emergency 600 block Magnolia Lane; 11:19 AM Medical Emergency5300 block Judge Logue Road
COTTONWOOD: 05:13 AM Medical Call – Emergency 500 block Sealy Wells Road; 5:47 PM Medical Call – non emergency 100 block Fossil Ridge;
HEADLAND-ABBEVILLE: 05:47 AM Medical Call 1800 block Highway 95 S.; 06:15 AM Medical Call 3000 block County Road 31; 07:44 AM Medical Call 300 block County Road 32 East; 1:27 PM Medical Call 1300 block Lake front Drive; 7:16 PM Medical Call 200 block Feggins Drive;
SLOCOMB: 05:19 AM Medical Call 400 block W. Court Street; 10:02 AM Medical Call 300 block N. Third Avenue; 10:30 Am Medical Call 600 block E. Main Street Hartford; 12:17 PM Medical Call 100 block Sunnyside Lane; 2:00 PM Grass Fire Opal and College Street; 3:13 PM Medical Call 100 block N. Hemby Street
MALVERN: 1:51 PM Grass Fire Opal Road and E. College
ENTERPRISE: 00:48 AM Medical Call 700 block Glover Avenue; 01:28 AM Medical Call 100 block County Road685; 03:14 AM Medical Call 100 block Madison Lane; 07:52 AM Lift Assist Call 1600 block Smith Avenue; 10:09 Am Medical Call Beaver Dam Street; 10:36 AM Medical Call Reese Street; 11;36 Am Fall Victim 100 block County Road 724; 12:45 Pm Medical Call 700 block Damascus Road; 2:07 PM Medical Call 100 block County Road 551; 2:50 PM Fire Alarm 300 block County Road 724; 2:52 PM Medical Call 500 block County Road 527; 3:16 Pm Medical Call 200 block County Road 106; 2:42 Pm Medical Call Dale County Road 109; 5;49 PM Fire Alarm 100 block Comanche Street; 6;34 Pm Motor Vehicle Crash County Road 114 and County Road 145; 6:41 PM Medical Call 200 block Highway 167 South
SOUTHERN JUNCTION: 12:23 PM Medical Call – Non Emergency – 500 block Cobb Road
DOTHAN: 3:34 PM Dothan 911 dispatched a three vehicle accident, Cottonwood Road and Eddins Road. Dothan Fire Engine Company 4 ( Southside ), Pilcher Ambulance and Dothan Police dispatched to the scene.
On arrival of Dothan Fire engine Company 4, ( Southside ), they reported one vehicle minor, one moderate and one moderate to heavy damage. Engine 4 also reported all patients were ambulatory. Engine 4 called for a second Pilcher Ambulance to respond to the scene, emergency,
The injuries were not reported to be life threatening.
Anyone with information or scene pictures TEXT RICKEY 334-790-1729.
Dothan Police are in charge of accident investigation.
