On September 1, 2025, city police were dispatched to Highland Courtyard Apartments following a report about Paul Ray, a registered sex offender residing at Highland Courtyard Apartments, who was allegedly making inappropriate comments to children and threatening people.

Officers arrived but could not locate Ray as he did not answer the door. Dispatch confirmed his status as a registered sex offender and noted active warrants from Morgan County, after which officers left the scene.

Later that day, police were called to McClarty Lane, where Ray was reported to be inside a 2011 Kia Optima, with callers holding the doors shut. En route, officers learned Ray had consumed a handful of pills and was threatening others.

Upon arrival, Officer Keith Sadula handcuffed Ray due to his warrants and called EMS to assess him for possible drug ingestion. Ray’s brother, Brandon Ellison, confirmed Ray had been staying with him for about two weeks.

EMS found Ray’s blood pressure and heart rate to be very high and decided to transport him to the hospital.

Officer Sadula removed Ray’s handcuffs, determining he was not an immediate public danger, but signed warrants against him for violating the Sex Offender Registry.