Lawrence County Alabama Sheriff's Office

09/06/2026

09/05/2026

The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Administrative Office will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of Labor Day. We will resume normal business hours at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Please remember that our Patrol Division and Jail Operations remain staffed and operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

From Sheriff Max Sanders and everyone at the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, we wish you and your family a safe, enjoyable, and Happy Labor Day!

08/17/2026

08/16/2026

Around 10:30 Saturday night, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to a large gathering on County Road 407 in the Red Bank community after dispatch received a report that someone was shooting toward a very large crowd.

Because of the way the call came in, deputies treated it like it could be an active shooting and asked neighboring law enforcement agencies to respond and assist.

When deputies got on scene, thankfully nobody had been shot or hurt. At this point, all we know is that reports were made that shots had been fired. It is still unclear exactly what happened, including whether anyone was actually shooting toward the crowd or if shots were simply fired in the area. Several neighboring agencies arrived to help, while others were canceled as the scene was brought under control and the crowd dispersed.

The incident remains under investigation. We appreciate the response from our fellow law enforcement agencies.

08/14/2026

We are incredibly proud of Deputy Garod Hargett for graduating from the 74th Session of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Academy! This intensive 16-week program is no easy feat, and their dedication and hard work truly paid off.

Sheriff Max Sanders had the honor of presenting his diploma at the graduation ceremony.

We look forward to the positive impact these deputies will have as they serve the citizens of Lawrence County with integrity, professionalism, and commitment.

— Sheriff Sanders

08/14/2026

During the month of August 2026, deputies with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office received a report regarding the theft of a utility trailer and several other items valued at more than $10,000.

Deputies and investigators began gathering information and following leads in an effort to locate the stolen property and identify those responsible.

On August 11, deputies attempted to make contact with individuals believed to have information regarding the stolen property. During the encounter, deputies engaged a Christopher Bryant. Bryant was apprehended without incident.

While apprehending Bryant, deputies observed several items on the property that were believed to be connected to the reported theft. Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for the property. During the search, investigators confirmed and recovered an abundance of stolen property, along with approximately 86 grams of methamphetamine, an amount consistent with trafficking.

Bryant was transported to and booked into the Lawrence County Jail.

This is an active investigation if anyone has any information related to this case or know of any other suspects please contact the Lawrence County Sheriffs Office.

All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Sanders appreciates all deputies, investigators and the citizens who assisted in recovering these stolen items and illegal narcotics.

08/12/2026

We’d love to see your Back to School photos in the comments!
We’ll start things off with some of our SRO’s. Have a safe and successful school year!

08/12/2026

Our School Resource Officers are ready to welcome students back and help make this a safe and successful school year.

“Protecting our schools is more than a job—it’s a commitment to our children, our teachers, and our community. We’re proud to be there every day.” Sheriff Max Sanders

Please slow down in school zones and watch for our kids.

Have a safe and blessed school year!

07/30/2026

Recently, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Agency Search & Rescue Team successfully located hikers who became lost while hiking in Bankhead National Forest.

Following a coordinated search effort, the hikers were located safe and escorted back to safety with no injuries.

This successful mission was made possible through the teamwork and coordination of multiple agencies:
• Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
• Lawrence County EMA
• RAT-SAR
• North Alabama Search Dog Association
• Blackwater Search & Rescue Team
• Winston County Search and Dive
• U.S. Forest Service

Another key reason this mission was successful is that the lost hikers did exactly what they were supposed to do after calling for help—they stayed put at the location where they activated their SOS. By remaining in one place, search teams were able to locate them much more quickly and safely.

We appreciate the dedication of everyone involved in bringing these hikers home safely.

If you’re planning a trip to Bankhead National Forest, let someone know your plans, carry plenty of water, keep your phone charged, and stay on marked trails whenever possible. If you ever become lost and are able to call or send an SOS, stay where you are unless remaining there puts you in immediate danger. Staying put greatly increases the chances of search teams finding you quickly.

05/15/2026

Sheriff Sanders would like to thank the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division for their assistance in locating and taking a suspect into custody for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. We are releasing the attached MNPD press release and booking photo. At this time, no additional statements will be made so as not to jeopardize their active investigation.

All persons arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.