Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office

08/19/2026

🎉 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬!

The Sheriff's Office would like to wish all students attending The University of Alabama, Stillman College, and Shelton State Community College a fantastic first day and a successful school year.

Whether you're starting your first semester or returning to finish your degree, we encourage you to stay focused, stay safe, and make the most of your college experience.

We're proud to be part of a community that supports higher education and student success. Best of luck this year!

08/17/2026

🔍👤𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒚: 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐬
🗓𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟑 | 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐦𝐚

Twenty-three years ago, Heaven LaShae Ross was a loving daughter, sister, and friend. Known as a sweet girl who preferred being at home with her family, she adored her father and was often described as the peacekeeper among those she loved.

On the morning of August 19, 2003, Heaven left home to catch the school bus. She was walking just behind her sister and only a short distance ahead of her stepfather. It should have been an ordinary school day. Instead, it was the last time her family saw her.

When Heaven couldn’t be located, concern quickly turned into panic. Searches were conducted, tips were pursued, and her loved ones held onto hope that she would be found safe.

Tragically, that hope was shattered more than three years later. In December 2006, a man collecting cans discovered human remains beneath an abandoned house in Holt, Alabama. Those remains were later identified as Heaven.

Today, the circumstances surrounding Heaven's disappearance and death remain a mystery. After more than two decades, her family is still waiting for answers, accountability, and the closure they deserve.

Someone knows what happened to Heaven LaShae Ross. Even the smallest detail could make a difference.

If you have any information regarding Heaven's disappearance or death, please contact the:

Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit
📞 205-464-8690

Heaven was loved. She mattered. She is not forgotten, and neither is the search for justice.

08/16/2026

If you or someone you know need a cool place to stay, please see the information below:

📢 Due to the current heat advisory, if you or someone you know needs a cool place, Compassion Coalition is operating a cooling station from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. 📢
Please call the number provided below for assistance.
A cooling station serves as a temporary emergency shelter, offering a cool and dry place for those in need during hot weather.
If you or someone you know needs assistance in Tuscaloosa County only, please call 205-349-0150 and provide the following information:
1. Your name
2. A callback number
3. Your current location in Tuscaloosa County
4. The number of people requesting shelter
Please refrain from calling the cooling station number to inquire about donations at this time.

08/16/2026

𝟏𝟎𝟖 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐖𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫.

We know it’s late, but we did not want to end the day without remembering this important date in Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office History.

Today, we remember Sheriff Palmer M. Watts. On August 15, 1918, Sheriff Watts left home to do the job he had sworn to do: protect the people of Tuscaloosa County. He never returned. While attempting to raid an illegal moonshine still in the Piney Woods community of northern Tuscaloosa County, Sheriff Watts and his Deputy were ambushed by an escaped convict armed with a shotgun. Sheriff Watts was killed in the line of duty at the age of 47.

Behind the badge was a husband, a father of two daughters, and a man who answered the call to serve his community. More than a century has passed, but the sacrifice he made and the life he lived remain a part of the history and tradition of this office.

Today, we pause to remember not just how Sheriff Watts died, but who Sheriff Watts was: a public servant who gave everything in the service of others. Sheriff Watts, your watch ended on August 15, 1918, but your memory lives on through those who continue to serve and protect the citizens of Tuscaloosa County. You are not forgotten.

08/15/2026

📱 “𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫...” 𝐈𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐓𝐨𝐨.

With it being the weekend, we wanted to share some information from our partners at Operation Light Shine: 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 "𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬."

They can reach any child with access to a phone, tablet, gaming system, social media account, or internet connection.

And as children grow, the risks can change. What a 7-year-old may encounter online can look very different from what a 13- or 17-year-old may face.

That's why prevention starts with knowing what to look for.

➡️ Swipe through to see some of the most common online risks by age, where they may show up, and simple steps parents can take to help reduce them.

You don't have to know everything about every app. Start by checking privacy settings, staying involved in your child's online world, and reminding them they can always come to you, even if they've made a mistake.

𝐈𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝. 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬.

West Alabama Intercept Task Force

08/14/2026

𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐄𝐃 🐴

There are some things you just can’t cover at the academy.

Deputies Pope and Skelton recently assisted Animal Control Deputy Hocutt with wrangling two horses that had managed to get out of their fence.

The horses, both rescues who are now in the care of their current owner, were safely returned where they belonged. These horses were rescued by their current owner and have been evaluated by Animal Control. They are on a healthy diet and receiving appropriate care to help them safely regain weight.

And before anyone asks, yes, the fence is being repaired.

Deputies Pope and Skelton enjoyed adding a little cowboy experience to their résumés, although the Alabama August heat made sure nobody got too carried away with it.

Just another day serving Tuscaloosa County, whatever the call may be. 🐴☀️

08/13/2026

🎓 🚔 𝐓𝐂𝐒𝐎'𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥

Congratulations to Deputies Triston Forsythe and Michael Vail on graduating from the Law Enforcement Academy Tuscaloosa, Session 26-02.

We are also proud of these two Deputies for their achievements: Deputy Forsythe received the George L. Cooley Excellence Award and Deputy Vail received the Billy Sharp Physical Training Award. Additionally, Deputy Vail was selected to serve his class as Chaplain.

Before attending the academy, both Deputy Forysthe and Deputy Vail served as Detention Deputies in the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Both deputies will begin the Field Training Program with our Patrol Division next week. We are proud to have them on our team and excited to see where their law enforcement careers take them!