McIntosh County Records Lookup

Police records in McIntosh County are held by the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office in Darien, the county seat. Sheriff Thornell "T.K." King heads the department. McIntosh County is a coastal county in southeast Georgia, and the sheriff's office serves as the primary keeper of police reports, arrest records, and incident files for the area. Darien is a small town, and the sheriff's office staff manages records requests along with their other duties. Getting records from this office usually means calling or writing, since most small coastal counties in Georgia have limited online portals for public records access.

McIntosh County Sheriff's Office Contact

Sheriff Thornell "T.K." King oversees the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office. The office handles all law enforcement for the county, including the filing and release of police records. Staff process requests during normal business hours. The office is on Highway 251 in Darien.

Call (912) 437-5870 for any records-related question. The staff can look up what they have on file and guide you through the request process. Have the basics ready when you call. A date, a location, names, or a case number all help the search go faster. Walk-in visits work too. Darien is a small town, and the office is easy to find.

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association has a statewide directory that lists contact details for all 159 Georgia county sheriffs, including McIntosh County.

This directory is helpful when you need to verify phone numbers or addresses for McIntosh County or any neighboring coastal county.

Requesting Records in McIntosh County

There are a few ways to get records. Phone is the fastest starting point. Call and describe what you need. For a formal request, send a letter to 12317 Hwy 251, Darien, GA 31305. Your letter should include your name, a way to reach you, and a clear statement of the records you want. Keep it simple. You do not need fancy legal language.

Under O.C.G.A. 50-18-70, every person has the right to inspect and copy public records in Georgia. You do not have to live in McIntosh County. You do not have to give a reason for wanting the records. The Open Records Act puts the duty on the agency, not on you. The McIntosh County Sheriff's Office must make public records available when asked.

Written requests are a good practice even when they are not strictly required. If a problem comes up later, you have proof of what you asked for and when. A simple handwritten letter works just as well as a typed one. The key is being specific about which records you want.

In-person visits are the third option. You can go to the sheriff's office, fill out a request form, and wait while they pull your records. For simple requests like a single report, this can be the quickest approach. Larger requests still take time to prepare.

Note: McIntosh County is a coastal county with a small population, so office staff may be handling multiple roles at once. Be patient with response times.

Response Times and Deadlines

Georgia law is specific about timing. O.C.G.A. 50-18-71 says the agency has three business days to respond. That clock starts when they get your request. The response can be the records themselves, or it can be a notice saying the records will be ready by a certain date. Either counts as a valid response.

Simple requests get handled quickly. One incident report or one arrest record might be ready within a day. Bigger requests take more time. If the office needs to review documents and redact protected information like Social Security numbers, medical details, or information about juvenile subjects, that slows things down. The staff still has to meet the three-day response deadline, but the actual records may come later.

Follow up if you do not hear back. Call the office and ask for an update. Most of the time that is enough. If it is not, Georgia law gives you the right to go to court under O.C.G.A. 50-18-73. A judge can order the records released and make the agency pay your legal fees if the court finds they broke the law.

What Records Can You Get?

The McIntosh County Sheriff's Office maintains the usual range of police records. Incident reports document crimes and calls for service. They cover everything from burglaries and assaults to noise complaints and welfare checks. Arrest records show who was booked, what they were charged with, and their bond status. Accident reports document vehicle crashes within the county.

O.C.G.A. 50-18-72 makes initial incident and arrest reports public at all times. Even during an active investigation, the first report must be released. The investigative file beyond that initial report can be withheld until the case is done. But the basic facts of what happened, when, and who was involved are always public.

For crash reports written by the Georgia State Patrol, use the EPORTS system. State Patrol crashes in McIntosh County go through the state database, not the sheriff's office. Reports are $5 each through EPORTS. The Darien Police Department may also hold records for incidents that happened within city limits.

McIntosh County Records Fees

Copies are $0.10 per page. That is the state standard and applies to the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office. Viewing records in person is free. You only pay when you want copies.

The first 15 minutes of search and retrieval time are free. Past that, the office can charge an hourly rate tied to the salary of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. If the total fee will go over $25, they must tell you before proceeding. You can adjust your request to bring costs down or cancel if the price is too high.

Payment options may be limited at a small office. Call ahead and ask what forms of payment they take. Cash works almost everywhere. Checks and money orders are usually fine too. Credit cards are less certain at smaller locations.

Note: Crash reports from the State Patrol cost $5 through EPORTS and are paid online, separate from the sheriff's office fees.

State and Regional Resources

The EPORTS portal from the Georgia Department of Public Safety gives you access to State Patrol crash reports, incident reports, and citation records. If a trooper responded to something in McIntosh County, the report is in EPORTS. Email the DPS Open Records Unit at openrecords@gsp.net for records not in the online system.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation handles records for cases where state agents were involved. If the GBI investigated a case in McIntosh County, their records are separate from the sheriff's office files. Contact the GBI directly for those. The Glynn County Police Department in neighboring Brunswick may also be relevant if you are looking for records from the broader coastal area.

Nearby County Police Records

McIntosh County is on the Georgia coast and borders several other counties. Incidents near a county line may have been handled by a neighboring agency. If you cannot find what you need from the McIntosh County Sheriff's Office, check with the counties below.