Militia Group Marches To Sheriff To Challenge Suicide Ruling

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — About two dozen black-clad members of a Black militia group challenging a hanging death ruled to be suicide protested Friday at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

“The group was respectful” and the protest peaceful, according to a social media post from the sheriff’s office. Still, the jail was placed on lockdown until the group left, according to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office.

The militia group — known as the Not F---ing Around Coalition or the NFAC — were protesting the conclusion of a February investigation by the sheriff’s office that Stephen Styles had killed himself.

When Douglas County authorities learned the group would march, Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds and Douglasville Police Chief Gary Spark reached out Thursday to NFAC to let them know that they were welcome to protest — as long as it was peaceful. Pounds also agreed to meet with them and members of the Styles family to discuss their concerns.

The group started at Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville, then drove the short distance to the sheriff’s office, where they parked and then marched in formation to be met by deputies about 100 yards from the front door.

According to the sheriff’s Facebook post, NFAC members sported “black clothing, ballistic vests, facial coverings, firearms, and high capacity magazines.”

When told they could proceed no further while carry weapons, eight NFAC members laid down their arms, then went to the conference room with Styles’ brother. After discussing the case with Pounds, according to the Facebook post, the group left the building, re-armed, briefly paused for selfies, then left the premises altogether.

The march stemmed from a February investigation into the hanging death of Styles, whose body was found in a remote area off Mason Creek Road, 250 yards from his car. Investigators later learned that he had been on parole for child molestation.

Records from Styles’ ankle monitor showed that he had left home nine days earlier after an argument with his grandmother, then drove straight to where his car and body were found. A chair found near Styles’ body had an impression of one of his shoes.

The sheriff’s office posted more complete details of its investigation into Styles’ death in its Friday Facebook post.