The Tipton County Grand Jury convened this month, leading to the Covington Police Department (CPD) making a series of arrests based on recent investigations. According to a social media post by the CPD, indictments were presented against 26 individuals. The arrest teams prioritized those defendants whose cases had been presented directly to the Grand Jury as a result of investigations in recent months.
Among the arrests made were Stephanie Griggs, a 36-year-old resident of S. College Street in Covington, who faces charges of Theft of Property and six counts of Forgery. In an October investigation, it was found that Griggs, who managed payroll for the local Work Experience Program (WEX), allegedly forged her supervisor’s signature on multiple documents, leading to unauthorized payments to a juvenile program participant. Griggs voluntarily turned herself in and was given a bond of $2,500.00.
Furthermore, 77-year-old Gary Stubblefield of Holmes Avenue was apprehended on an indictment having thirty-two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery and Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. Initiated by a referral from the Department of Children’s Services in March, the CPD’s investigation into Stubblefield unearthed allegations of consistent abuse over two years of an 8-year-old child. Stubblefield's arrest transpired at his residence, and he was placed under a $250,000 bond.
CPD Chief Donna Turner lauded the efforts of her team, saying, "I commend the men and women at the Covington Police Department who have diligently investigated, interviewed, arrested, and collected evidence in these cases over the recent months to present to the District Attorney’s Office for review and prosecution." Turner also praised the District Attorney’s Office prosecutors for their collaboration with the CPD staff. The defendants are set to appear in Tipton County Circuit Court for arraignments on November 10, 2025, with the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a Court of law.
