THOMASVILLE — Warrants were secured Tuesday on a man who turned himself in later in the day.

“He was contacted by phone and turned himself in on two misdemeanor warrants,” said Maj. Wade Glover, Thomasville Police Department public information officer.

Keith Anthony Thomas is charged with simple battery and disorderly conduct in an incident at an East Jackson Street towing business. Thomas, 53, 432 Woodsgate Lane, was released on a $1,000 bond.

About 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 26, a TPD officer was flagged down on East Jackson Street by a man who said he had been involved in an incident earlier in the day at the business.

“He said law enforcement had responded, but no report was completed,” Glover said. “The officer contacted his supervisor, who went to the scene and began a preliminary investigation.”

The man said that three hours earlier Thomas approached him at the business and talked to him in an aggressive manner, Glover said, adding that the man told the officer he and Thomas have been in an ongoing dispute for several years.

The man said Thomas struck him, and he struck him back in defense, Glover said.

Thomas went to his vehicle and said, “ ‘I’ll be back. I got something for you,’ “ according to Glover and an incident report.

The officer said the victim thought his life was in jeopardy and that Thomas was retrieving a firearm from his vehicle.

Glover said the victim went to his vehicle, got a firearm and fired a warning shot into the air.

Reports state that Thomas contacted Tim Watkins, the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office chief investigator. The victim called 911.

Watkins arrived before police and tried to maintain order, Glover said.

“He told our officer he had it under control, and (Mr.) Thomas was directed to go to the sheriff’s office,” Glover said. “Our office never got an opportunity to interview at the incident at the time it occurred.”

The case was assigned to the TPD Criminal Investigations Division. All witnesses were interviewed.

Findings were presented to a Thomas County Magistrate Court judge, who issued two warrants.

Charges on the man who fired the weapon were considered.

Glover said the man was not charged because he thought his life was in jeopardy and that Thomas had gone to his vehicle to retrieve a firearm. 

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820