Serial Stabber Off The Streets

VPD Makes Arrest

The Vidalia Police Department responded to three stabbings at Parker’s, Food Lion, and Royal Inn on Friday afternoon. Police arrested Iz’aiah Maurice Howard, of Vidalia, who remains in custody for 3 counts of aggravated assault and 4 counts of Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers.

At 3:33 p.m. on Friday, VPD was dispatched to Parker’s to respond to a stabbing that occurred near the railroad tracks. Witnesses described the suspect as a black male dressed in all black. While continuing to respond to the scene at Parker’s, a similar dispatch call was received that another incident had occurred at Food Lion with the same suspect. A continued from page

third stabbing occurred at The Royal Inn while officers were still on-scene at the two prior locations.

Vidalia Police Officers and Toombs County Sheriff’s Deputies established a perimeter around the wooded area north of the Vidalia Boys and Girls Club, where they believed Howard had traveled. Upon being contacted, the Treutlen County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit joined efforts in search of the suspect.

Officers gathered information about Howard before making contact with a subject of a different description, who was wearing camouflage overalls instead of all black. The individual was identified as Howard, who fled, but was later sighted near Parker’s in Vidalia. Officers returned to the area, and apprehended Howard in the Save-ALot parking lot.

The victims of the incident were transported by ambulance to Memorial Health Meadows Hospital, except for the victim from the third incident at Royal Inn, who refused treatment. All victims are stable. The VPD shared its appreciation for assistance from Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, Treutlen County Sheriff ’s Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office in this case.