Armed convicted felon from Lakeland arrested by VPD

VALDOSTA – A Valdosta Police Department traffic stop leads to the arrest of an armed convicted felon from Lakeland.

Release:

Arrested: Ricky Hill, Jr., African American male 38 years of age, Lakeland, GA resident

On September 16, 2024, at approximately 1:55 a.m., a Valdosta Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that did not have operating headlights or taillights. The driver, later identified as Ricky Hill, Jr., provided the officer with his driver's license. While the officer was talking to Hill, he observed a magazine from a handgun showing from underneath the front seat that Hill was sitting in. When the officer asked Hill to step out of the vehicle, Hill put the car in drive and sped off from the traffic stop at a high speed. Not far from the traffic stop location, Hill lost control of the vehicle and struck a power pole. Hill then ran from the car. Hill was located by officers hiding at a closed business and he was taken into custody.

During the search of the vehicle, officers located a handgun under the front seat driver's seat. Hill was transported to Lowndes County Jail, and he has been charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (felony), obstruction of an officer (misdemeanor), and several traffic violations.

If anyone has any further information on this case or any other cases, please contact the Valdosta Police Department Bureau of Investigative Services at 229-293-3145, the crime tip line at 229-293-3091, or file a tip online at www. valdostacity.com/police-department.