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Man in head-on collision after fleeing deputies, shuts I-20 in Newton for hours
police-blue-lights-WEB
David Clemons
The Walton Tribune
Updated: Jul 1, 2021, 8:09 PM
Published: Jun 30, 2021, 12:17 PM

A man fleeing sheriff’s deputies crashed three counties away, resulting in several injuries and shutting down I-20 for hours Tuesday.

State troopers said a 28-year-old South Carolina man ran from Greene County sheriff’s deputies. The chase went through Morgan and Walton counties into Newton County, where the pursued vehicle hit another car head-on Tuesday afternoon.

Cpl. Cal Barton of the Georgia State Patrol said 28-year-old Dontrail McDaniel was driving west on I-20 and took the Stanton Springs Parkway exit near Social Circle.

McDaniel then allegedly reentered I-20 the wrong way in his 2020 Chevrolet Impala, traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.

About a mile to the west, McDaniel’s car struck an eastbound 2018 Chevrolet Cruze. The impact forced the Cruze into the rear of a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox.

Barton said a 23-year-old Augusta woman was driving the Chevrolet Cruze. She was taken to Piedmont Newton Hospital in Covington with moderate injuries.

Also sustaining moderate injuries and transported to Piedmont Newton were the 50-year-old driver of the Chevrolet Equinox and his 44-year-old passenger. Both were from White Plains, Georgia.

Greene County sheriff’s Capt. Lee Stancil told the Morgan County Citizen newspaper a deputy there tried to stop the Impala for speeding about 4 miles east of the Siloam exit on I-20.

McDaniel allegedly took the Greensboro exit, then turned around when a second deputy joined the pursuit. The chase then continued westbound on the interstate.

Morgan County deputies tried to use “stop sticks” at the Buckhead exit, but that didn’t slow the Impala.

Stancil told the Citizen the lead car took the Madison/Monticello exit, but drove over Monticello Highway and got back on I-20, heading toward Newton County where the driver finally crashed.

Morgan County sheriff’s Capt. Dietrich Roland said deputies from his office gave up the chase after the Impala crossed into Newton County but came to the scene and helped the driver of the Cruze escape moments before the car burst into flames.

Stancil said McDaniel was treated for minor injuries at a Madison hospital, then released to the Greene County Detention Center.

Barton said GSP is investigating the crash with assistance from the Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team.

The crash shut down eastbound travel for quite some time in Newton County. The collision was reported just before 1:40 p.m. and didn’t clear until 4:05 p.m., according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Walton EMS assisted in the emergency response, Assistant Chief Craig League of Walton County Fire Rescue said.

Barton said McDaniel faced a warrant from his arrest from the Board of Pardon and Paroles for an alleged parole violation. He was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs and “will face numerous charges” from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Barton said.

Georgia Department of Corrections records show McDaniel was convicted in Newton County for a November 2019 incident. He got a two-year sentence for fleeing and one-year concurrent sentences for obstruction and traffic charges.

He was released from state custody on Dec. 17, 2020.
Man convicted of killing wife sentenced to life without parole
Arrief McKenzie allegedly killed two different women on March 3, 2020, including his wife in Newton County
Arrief McKenzie
Arrief McKenzie (Photo courtesy of Gwinnett County Police Department)
Evan Newton
Published: Mar 25, 2025, 2:26 PM

NEWTON COUNTY – A Gwinnett County man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after murdering his wife.

Arrief McKenzie was sentenced on March 24 to life without parole plus 20 years for killing Niki McKenzie, a 51-year-old Covington woman who was married to Arrief. 

The sentencing comes one month after Arrief pled guilty to charges including malice murder, felony murder, burglary in the first degree, home invasion in the first degree, family violence aggravated assault, aggravated stalking and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony. While prosecutors originally sought the death penalty for these charges, the State withdrew its intent after Arrief pled guilty and waived his right to trial by jury.

According to a press release from the Newton County District Attorney’s (DA) Office, Arrief and Niki were estranged after Arrief pled guilty to family violence battery against Niki in 2019. As part of the 2019 sentencing, Arrief was to have no contact with Niki. This caused Arrief to move away from their residence in Newton County.

Arrief then moved to Gwinnett County where he began seeing 36-year-old Jillian Myles-Waters. In the early morning hours of March 3, 2020, Arrief entered Myles-Waters’ home and allegedly stabbed her seven times while at home with her two young twin boys. Myles-Waters died from her injuries.

Soon thereafter, prosecutors claimed Arrief fled to Newton County where he ambushed Niki as she was leaving to go to work. The press release states that Arrief stabbed and cut Niki 21 times with the same knife he used earlier in the day, leading to her death at the scene.

An officer pulled over Arrief on suspicion of driving under the influence in Dunwoody. The officer reportedly saw a “large amount of blood” on Arrief’s clothes and car. After removing opened beer bottles from the vehicle, officers spotted the knife.

With the Newton County Sheriff’s Office quickly issuing warrants for Arrief’s arrest following Niki’s murder, he was taken into custody where he faced the aforementioned charges.

According to the DA’s office, the court heard from a number of witnesses including some of Niki’s family members and former co-workers. The court also got to hear from one of Arrief’s family members as well as a psychologist on his behalf.

After a full day of testimony, the life without parole plus 20 year sentence was handed down.

The charges against Arrief are pending in Gwinnett County for the murder of Myles-Waters.

“I first want to thank Niki’s family for their everlasting support of their loved one,” said Newton County District Attorney Randy McGinley via a press release. “She raised amazing children who will push forward and do great things. While this conclusion will not undo what happened, the sentence will provide some level of justice for the family. But it also sends a strong message to our community that crimes like this will lead to the most severe consequences. I also want to thank the hard work of multiple agencies working together to bringing justice to Niki’s family.”