Shooting leaves one dead and two injured at Club Pepper’s
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Following a shooting at a local dance club this past weekend, some Baxley and Appling County residents are expressing concern over whether or not the community desires this type of business in the community, including the Baxley City Council.
According to Baxley Police Chief James Godfrey on Dec. 26, at approximately 1:24 a.m., officers from the Baxley Police Department and the Appling County Sheriff’s Office responded to Club Pepper’s, located on Highway 341 East, in reference to shots being fired. While the officers were on the way to Club Pepper’s a subject near the Huddle House flagged officers down in reference to a subject needing medical attention. The subject was actually a victim of a gunshot wound and had been shot at the club. Some other club attendees (from out of town) were trying to take the victim to find medical assistance, but did not know where the hospital was located.
Upon arrival at the club, officers discovered that two more subjects had been shot and were in need of medical attention. Officers assisted the EMS and secured the scene along with requesting additional units for backup. Units from the Graham Police Department and the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist with the incident.
Chief Godfrey told The News-Banner that he estimated that there were over 800 people at the club. It was also reported that some of the people at the scene were trying to get inside the ambulance while emergency medical personnel were trying to assist one of the victims. “It was a chaotic scene,” said Godfrey.
The victims were transported to Appling HealthCare by Appling EMS. Christopher Yarborough, age 19, of Vidalia, died from a gunshot wound he sustained during the shooting. Cezar Adams, age 20, of Vidalia, was treated and later transferred by Life Star to Savannah for a gunshot wound. A third victim, Denzel Adkins, age 17, also of Vidalia, was treated and admitted to the Appling HealthCare for a gunshot wound.
A brief investigation into the incident revealed that apparently a disturbance of some kind had taken place, resulting in person(s) unknown pulling a firearm and shooting several times striking the above individuals.
As of press time no arrests have been made and no person(s) of interest have been named in connection with this incident.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Baxley Police Department, the Appling County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Law enforcement investigated the area around the club until late Sunday afternoon. During this time the area, including buildings and parking lots adjacent to the club, were barricaded.
Chief Godfrey would like to urge anyone who has any knowledge of this incident to please contact one of the above agencies as soon as possible.
According to Chief Godfrey, law enforcement officials have responded to approximately 30 calls between 2008 and 2009 at the dance club or as club attendees were leaving the facility. Incidents reported included calls answered for something as simple as a theft of a wallet or a vehicle being damaged to aggravated assault and illegal drug use. Some may recall one of the more severe incidents (prior to this past week) was an August 8, 2008 shooting incident at the club when a juvenile received a gunshot wound to the neck.
According to City of Baxley records, the name of the business on the city’s business license is Pepper’s Dance Hall and the owner/manager of the facility is Henry Ryals, Jr. The business license was issued on January 23, 2009.
City revokes business license
On Monday, December 28, the Baxley City Council held a called meeting for the purpose of discussing Pepper’s Dance Hall’s business license. During the meeting a number of emergency response personnel and law enforcement shared testimony about what happened the night of the shooting at the club.
Chief Godfrey shared information with council members about Club Pepper’s history. Godfrey stated that not long after the club opened the police department started receiving complaints about the club and reported that it was not long before Baxley Police and the Altamaha Drug Task Force launched an investigation into the club.
Dean McManus, with the Altamaha Drug Task Force, told council members that undercover agents were brought in and after an 18-month investigation Henry Ryals, Jr. and Chip Ryals were arrested and charged with unruly house (a felony charge for running a facility for people to use illegal drugs) and multiple counts of the city’s brown-bagging law (a misdemeanor).
Assistant District Attorney Jan Kennedy then reported that the case went to trial and about mid-way through the trial, the Ryals’ decided to opt for a plea bargain deal. Henry and Chip were charged with a misdemeanor and agreed to a 12-month probation-type deal in which they would not operate a facility where illegal drugs would be used.
Godfrey said that following the trial the club reopened and his department started receiving calls again. The chief stated that this club draws a large number of people and a tremendous amount of people from out of town, including some from as far away as Atlanta and parts of Florida.
“We know that there have been a lot of drug dealers coming (to the dance club) as a result of the prior investigation,” said Godfrey.
Deputy State Fire Marshal James Atkins also spoke to the city officials about the club. Atkins reported that the State Fire Marshal’s office has no record of Club Pepper’s and the club would certainly fall under their jurisdiction. Atkins told Henry Ryals, Jr. (present at the meeting) that as of that moment the club was shutdown until an inspection could be performed on the club and it meets state requirements for dance halls. Atkins stated that the club should have had an inspection done before they ever opened the facility.
Godfrey followed by stating that each night that the club is open, it is a nightmare for public safety workers including police, emergency medical personnel and even fire.
Godfrey asked Appling EMS Director Larry NeSmith to share some information about his department’s experiences with the club. NeSmith shared that EMS has had to respond to the club on a number of occasions and EMS crews fear for their safety each time. He reported that on the night of the shootings, EMS had responded to a prank call to help a person that was supposedly sick. After responding and unable to find the person at the club, EMS left the scene and was returning back to the EMS building. Crewmembers reported that as they were leaving they heard gunshots and were immediately called back to the club. NeSmith stated that there were so many vehicles at the club and so many trying to get out that one of the two ambulances called in was not able to get to one of the victims (it was later reported that an Appling County Deputy got the victim and put him in his patrol car and took him to Appling HealthCare). NeSmith stated that the ambulance that was on the scene had trouble keeping people out of the way and some even were trying to get in the ambulance during the time they were working on one of the victims. A large crowd even followed the ambulance to the emergency room and law enforcement had to respond there to clear the crowd. He ended by saying that he did not want to see any business put out of business, but added that something has to be done about this situation.
Chief Godfrey followed NeSmith by reporting that the scene was just chaotic at this point. He stated that there were liquor and beer bottles all over the parking area and police even recovered two baggies of illegal drugs at the facility. Godfrey thanked all the back up units that responded to the call and especially thanked Appling County Sheriff Major Lee Sweat for calling in all available law enforcement.
Sweat stood and reported that as he listened to what was happening he knew they were in trouble and needed extra support. Major Sweat stated that as he arrived on the scene he felt that they did not have control of the city and this really bothered him. He said that the stress level was at a peak and the situation could have been much worse. Sweat gave credit to officers for restoring order quickly. The major also shared that before the shooting, Appling Deputies had stopped a speeding vehicle from Coffee County traveling at a high rate of speed (over 100 mph). Sweat stated that the deputy asked the driver why he was traveling at such a high speed and the driver stated that he had heard there was going to be a shooting at the club in Baxley. The major finished by saying that the sheriff’s department is not going to tolerate this type of unlawful behavior any more.
Godfrey stated that even businesses where suffering from the club adding that following the dances many would gather at places such as the Huddle House parking lot or convenience store parking lots.
Henry Jones spoke on behalf of the owners of Huddle House. Jones stated that there have been times that the business has had to lock the doors because of the amount of people in the restaurant and state fire code. He said that some customers are good and some are very unruly. Jones added that it really puts staff in a dangerous position.
Godfrey concluded by saying that the club is a danger to the community and public safety. Godfrey stated he had spoken with Ryals in the past and told him the things he needed to do to make the club safer and legal. He added that the people that had spoke at the meeting were there to ask the city government to do what they could to help correct the problem. “If not corrected it can get a lot worse,” said Godfrey.
Travis Ryals, son of Henry Ryals, Jr., spoke to the council and those present. Ryals stated that when his father got a business license from the city he didn’t get it to do things illegal. He said he agreed with Godfrey and they too did not want to see illegal drugs in the dance facility. Ryals stated that his family regretted the events that had taken place with the club, but stated that law enforcement has not really offered advice to the owners. He also added that the facility opens as a dance hall, not as a place for illegal drugs.
City Attorney Alex Johnson stated that the council has exercised restraint for some time and added that he thought it was now time for the council to make a decision concerning this business. Johnson recommended that the council consider revoking Pepper’s Dance Hall’s business license and also issue a moratorium on any new entertainment-type businesses applying for a business license.
Council member Betty Livingston made a motion to revoke the license and establish a moratorium on any new entertainment-type business license applications. Council member Pat Williams seconded the motion.
Mayor Steve Rigdon asked if there was any discussion on the matter. Mayor Pro-tem Dr. Esco Hall Jr. stated that he wanted to discuss the matter in a closed-door session. Attorney Johnson stated that the council could not discuss the business license in a closed-door session. Hall stated that he wanted to discuss potential litigation as a result of this decision. Hall made a motion to go into a closed session for potential litigation purposes, and council member Eugene Walker seconded the motion. Hall and Walker voted in favor of the motion and council members Livingston, Williams, Mickey Bass and Tim Varnadore opposed.
Mayor Rigdon then called for a vote to the original motion made by Livingston. The council approved the motion unanimously.
Immediately following the meeting arrest warrants were served to Travis and Henry Ryals and they were arrested and charged with knowingly to keep or maintain any store, shop, warehouse, dwelling, building, vehicle, boat, aircraft, or other structure or place which is resorted to by persons using controlled substances in violation of this article (16-13-42a) for the purpose of using these substances, or which is used for keeping or selling them in violation of this article. An arrest warrant was also issued for Chip Ryals. Chip Ryals was not present at the meeting.
According to Baxley Police Chief James Godfrey on Dec. 26, at approximately 1:24 a.m., officers from the Baxley Police Department and the Appling County Sheriff’s Office responded to Club Pepper’s, located on Highway 341 East, in reference to shots being fired. While the officers were on the way to Club Pepper’s a subject near the Huddle House flagged officers down in reference to a subject needing medical attention. The subject was actually a victim of a gunshot wound and had been shot at the club. Some other club attendees (from out of town) were trying to take the victim to find medical assistance, but did not know where the hospital was located.
Upon arrival at the club, officers discovered that two more subjects had been shot and were in need of medical attention. Officers assisted the EMS and secured the scene along with requesting additional units for backup. Units from the Graham Police Department and the Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist with the incident.
Chief Godfrey told The News-Banner that he estimated that there were over 800 people at the club. It was also reported that some of the people at the scene were trying to get inside the ambulance while emergency medical personnel were trying to assist one of the victims. “It was a chaotic scene,” said Godfrey.
The victims were transported to Appling HealthCare by Appling EMS. Christopher Yarborough, age 19, of Vidalia, died from a gunshot wound he sustained during the shooting. Cezar Adams, age 20, of Vidalia, was treated and later transferred by Life Star to Savannah for a gunshot wound. A third victim, Denzel Adkins, age 17, also of Vidalia, was treated and admitted to the Appling HealthCare for a gunshot wound.
A brief investigation into the incident revealed that apparently a disturbance of some kind had taken place, resulting in person(s) unknown pulling a firearm and shooting several times striking the above individuals.
As of press time no arrests have been made and no person(s) of interest have been named in connection with this incident.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Baxley Police Department, the Appling County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Law enforcement investigated the area around the club until late Sunday afternoon. During this time the area, including buildings and parking lots adjacent to the club, were barricaded.
Chief Godfrey would like to urge anyone who has any knowledge of this incident to please contact one of the above agencies as soon as possible.
According to Chief Godfrey, law enforcement officials have responded to approximately 30 calls between 2008 and 2009 at the dance club or as club attendees were leaving the facility. Incidents reported included calls answered for something as simple as a theft of a wallet or a vehicle being damaged to aggravated assault and illegal drug use. Some may recall one of the more severe incidents (prior to this past week) was an August 8, 2008 shooting incident at the club when a juvenile received a gunshot wound to the neck.
According to City of Baxley records, the name of the business on the city’s business license is Pepper’s Dance Hall and the owner/manager of the facility is Henry Ryals, Jr. The business license was issued on January 23, 2009.
City revokes business license
On Monday, December 28, the Baxley City Council held a called meeting for the purpose of discussing Pepper’s Dance Hall’s business license. During the meeting a number of emergency response personnel and law enforcement shared testimony about what happened the night of the shooting at the club.
Chief Godfrey shared information with council members about Club Pepper’s history. Godfrey stated that not long after the club opened the police department started receiving complaints about the club and reported that it was not long before Baxley Police and the Altamaha Drug Task Force launched an investigation into the club.
Dean McManus, with the Altamaha Drug Task Force, told council members that undercover agents were brought in and after an 18-month investigation Henry Ryals, Jr. and Chip Ryals were arrested and charged with unruly house (a felony charge for running a facility for people to use illegal drugs) and multiple counts of the city’s brown-bagging law (a misdemeanor).
Assistant District Attorney Jan Kennedy then reported that the case went to trial and about mid-way through the trial, the Ryals’ decided to opt for a plea bargain deal. Henry and Chip were charged with a misdemeanor and agreed to a 12-month probation-type deal in which they would not operate a facility where illegal drugs would be used.
Godfrey said that following the trial the club reopened and his department started receiving calls again. The chief stated that this club draws a large number of people and a tremendous amount of people from out of town, including some from as far away as Atlanta and parts of Florida.
“We know that there have been a lot of drug dealers coming (to the dance club) as a result of the prior investigation,” said Godfrey.
Deputy State Fire Marshal James Atkins also spoke to the city officials about the club. Atkins reported that the State Fire Marshal’s office has no record of Club Pepper’s and the club would certainly fall under their jurisdiction. Atkins told Henry Ryals, Jr. (present at the meeting) that as of that moment the club was shutdown until an inspection could be performed on the club and it meets state requirements for dance halls. Atkins stated that the club should have had an inspection done before they ever opened the facility.
Godfrey followed by stating that each night that the club is open, it is a nightmare for public safety workers including police, emergency medical personnel and even fire.
Godfrey asked Appling EMS Director Larry NeSmith to share some information about his department’s experiences with the club. NeSmith shared that EMS has had to respond to the club on a number of occasions and EMS crews fear for their safety each time. He reported that on the night of the shootings, EMS had responded to a prank call to help a person that was supposedly sick. After responding and unable to find the person at the club, EMS left the scene and was returning back to the EMS building. Crewmembers reported that as they were leaving they heard gunshots and were immediately called back to the club. NeSmith stated that there were so many vehicles at the club and so many trying to get out that one of the two ambulances called in was not able to get to one of the victims (it was later reported that an Appling County Deputy got the victim and put him in his patrol car and took him to Appling HealthCare). NeSmith stated that the ambulance that was on the scene had trouble keeping people out of the way and some even were trying to get in the ambulance during the time they were working on one of the victims. A large crowd even followed the ambulance to the emergency room and law enforcement had to respond there to clear the crowd. He ended by saying that he did not want to see any business put out of business, but added that something has to be done about this situation.
Chief Godfrey followed NeSmith by reporting that the scene was just chaotic at this point. He stated that there were liquor and beer bottles all over the parking area and police even recovered two baggies of illegal drugs at the facility. Godfrey thanked all the back up units that responded to the call and especially thanked Appling County Sheriff Major Lee Sweat for calling in all available law enforcement.
Sweat stood and reported that as he listened to what was happening he knew they were in trouble and needed extra support. Major Sweat stated that as he arrived on the scene he felt that they did not have control of the city and this really bothered him. He said that the stress level was at a peak and the situation could have been much worse. Sweat gave credit to officers for restoring order quickly. The major also shared that before the shooting, Appling Deputies had stopped a speeding vehicle from Coffee County traveling at a high rate of speed (over 100 mph). Sweat stated that the deputy asked the driver why he was traveling at such a high speed and the driver stated that he had heard there was going to be a shooting at the club in Baxley. The major finished by saying that the sheriff’s department is not going to tolerate this type of unlawful behavior any more.
Godfrey stated that even businesses where suffering from the club adding that following the dances many would gather at places such as the Huddle House parking lot or convenience store parking lots.
Henry Jones spoke on behalf of the owners of Huddle House. Jones stated that there have been times that the business has had to lock the doors because of the amount of people in the restaurant and state fire code. He said that some customers are good and some are very unruly. Jones added that it really puts staff in a dangerous position.
Godfrey concluded by saying that the club is a danger to the community and public safety. Godfrey stated he had spoken with Ryals in the past and told him the things he needed to do to make the club safer and legal. He added that the people that had spoke at the meeting were there to ask the city government to do what they could to help correct the problem. “If not corrected it can get a lot worse,” said Godfrey.
Travis Ryals, son of Henry Ryals, Jr., spoke to the council and those present. Ryals stated that when his father got a business license from the city he didn’t get it to do things illegal. He said he agreed with Godfrey and they too did not want to see illegal drugs in the dance facility. Ryals stated that his family regretted the events that had taken place with the club, but stated that law enforcement has not really offered advice to the owners. He also added that the facility opens as a dance hall, not as a place for illegal drugs.
City Attorney Alex Johnson stated that the council has exercised restraint for some time and added that he thought it was now time for the council to make a decision concerning this business. Johnson recommended that the council consider revoking Pepper’s Dance Hall’s business license and also issue a moratorium on any new entertainment-type businesses applying for a business license.
Council member Betty Livingston made a motion to revoke the license and establish a moratorium on any new entertainment-type business license applications. Council member Pat Williams seconded the motion.
Mayor Steve Rigdon asked if there was any discussion on the matter. Mayor Pro-tem Dr. Esco Hall Jr. stated that he wanted to discuss the matter in a closed-door session. Attorney Johnson stated that the council could not discuss the business license in a closed-door session. Hall stated that he wanted to discuss potential litigation as a result of this decision. Hall made a motion to go into a closed session for potential litigation purposes, and council member Eugene Walker seconded the motion. Hall and Walker voted in favor of the motion and council members Livingston, Williams, Mickey Bass and Tim Varnadore opposed.
Mayor Rigdon then called for a vote to the original motion made by Livingston. The council approved the motion unanimously.
Immediately following the meeting arrest warrants were served to Travis and Henry Ryals and they were arrested and charged with knowingly to keep or maintain any store, shop, warehouse, dwelling, building, vehicle, boat, aircraft, or other structure or place which is resorted to by persons using controlled substances in violation of this article (16-13-42a) for the purpose of using these substances, or which is used for keeping or selling them in violation of this article. An arrest warrant was also issued for Chip Ryals. Chip Ryals was not present at the meeting.