THOMASVILLE — A 16-year-old male on adult felony probation is charged with possession of a firearm at the Friday night football game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

A Thomasville police officer working a security detail saw what appeared to be a hand-to-hand drug transaction at 9:55 between two males at the annual gridiron rivalry between Thomasville and Thomas County Central high schools.

When the individuals involved in the transaction saw the officer, they ran, a Thomasville Police Department (TPD) incident report stated.

The officer pursued the males on foot, and the firearm fell from the juvenile’s waistband, said Capt. Maurice Holmes, TPD Criminal Investigations Division commander.

Holmes said the juvenile was charged as an adult in a crime that resulted in the probation.

“He was involved in a carjacking at the hospital where a woman was run over,” Holmes said. “He’s a juvenile, but he’s on adult probation.”

At the game, the officer handcuffed the juvenile, who is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a minor under 21 and and obstruction by fleeing.

The other suspect, 17-year-old Markevious Samuel, was charged with creating a disturbance and processed at the Thomas County Jail. According to the incident report, Samuel was yelling and screaming profanities and did not comply with officers’ attempts to stop. Samuel was issued a trespass warning to stay off stadium property.

“This was done in front of many citizens, adults and children,” the report stated, in reference to Samuel’s alleged behavior.

The juvenile’s chin was cut while he was being detained. He was evaluated at Archbold Memorial Hospital and transported to the Loftiss Youth Detention Center.

“We look for anything suspicious, out of the ordinary or a threat to the public safety,” Holmes said of security at the game.

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