A late-night call to the Lee County Sheriff's Office sent deputies racing to a home on Lee Road 598 in the Smiths Station area, where they found a juvenile with a laceration to the arm following a stabbing. The victim was rushed by ambulance across the state line to a Georgia hospital, and investigators say they identified a suspect: 18-year-old Ryan Mychael George Jr., an acquaintance of the victim who now faces a felony assault charge.
Deputies Responded Within Minutes of the Report
According to CNAW 2 News, the Lee County Sheriff's Office received a report at approximately 11:39 p.m. Friday that a subject had been stabbed at a residence on Lee Road 598, and deputies arrived at the scene around 11:45 p.m.
The injured juvenile was transported to Piedmont Hospital in Columbus, Georgia.
Search Warrant Led Investigators to a Nearby Address
Investigators determined that George, described as an acquaintance of the victim, was the suspect, per the original report. Deputies located him and his vehicle at a residence in the 400 block of Lee Road 290 in Smiths Station, executing a search warrant at that address before making the arrest, according to Now Georgia.
George was booked into the Lee County Detention Center. He is being held on $25,000 bond, charged with assault in the second degree.
What the Charge Means Under Alabama Law
Under Section 13A-6-21 of the Alabama Code, assault in the second degree includes intentionally causing physical injury by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, or recklessly causing serious physical injury by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument, according to FindLaw. A conviction on a Class C felony in Alabama carries a mandatory prison term ranging from one year and one day up to ten years, along with potential fines of up to $15,000, per the Revill Law Firm.
The exact relationship between George and the juvenile beyond being described as acquaintances, along with the type of weapon recovered during the search warrant and the victim's current medical status, remain open questions in the case.
A Bedroom Community on the State Line
Smiths Station, incorporated in June 2001 as Alabama's second-newest city, functions largely as a residential bedroom community for workers commuting to Columbus, Georgia, and Phenix City, Alabama, according to Atlas Alabama. Smiths Station is near Columbus, Georgia, across the state line.
Smiths Station has a population of 5,384, and 23.6 percent of residents are under 18.
Investigation Continues
The case is being investigated by the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
The public is being asked to share any information with the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 334-749-5651 or with Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
