Month: May 2023

Technology played ‘huge role’ in Atlanta mass shooting arrest

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Cobb Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer speaks as Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens listens. Cobb Police Department

Shortly after his officers apprehended a man who shot five people Wednesday at an Atlanta medical complex, Cobb Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer had a lot of people to thank.

After naming names, and admitting he was probably forgetting to identify others, VanHoozer said one of the most crucial components in capturing the suspect was new technology.

Flock license plate readers identified the truck in Midtown Atlanta that Deion Patterson allegedly commandeered after his shooting spree, and Cobb DOT traffic cameras pinpointed his exact whereabouts in Cobb County as the afternoon turned into the evening.

Patterson, 24, was arrested around 8 p.m. without further harm to others, VanHoozer said at a press conference at Atlanta Police headquarters shortly after the arrest.

A 39-year-old woman at the Northside Hospital building in Midtown Atlanta was killed and four other women were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, three of them in critical condition.

“If you rewind the hands of time four years, we probably would not be where we are right now,” VanHoozer said of the license plate readers. “Those tools are really what got us the clues that we needed.”

Cobb and Atlanta police both use Flock license plate readers that are used to track cars and license plates, but only after a crime is committed.

VanHoozer said having the people “who know how to use” the technology was just as vital in Wednesday’s frantic search, and as a fluid, fast-developing situation evolved, police and emergency dispatch crews had to sift through a flurry of 911 calls and information.

“It was a fairly chaotic scene,” he said, referring to the vicinity around Truist Park and the Cumberland/Smyrna/Vinings area.

Atlanta Police said the Patterson left the Northside Medical building on West Peachtree Street on foot shortly after the shootings around noon, and walked to a nearby Shell station where he saw an unattended pickup truck with the engine running and drove it away.

Atlanta Police notified Cobb Police around 12:30 that they had received an LPR (license plate reader alert) that the truck was in Cobb County.

Shelter-in-place orders were given in many areas around Truist Park and The Battery, and Cobb’s Real-Time Crime Center staff fielded many calls from the community.

Cobb DOT also aided in the search by providing its camera feeds, which VanHoozer also credited with giving police a precise location of the suspect.

VanHoozer didn’t specify that location, but it was the Waterford Place condominiums in the Cumberland area, not far from where police found the pickup truck they said Patterson had driven from Atlanta. He was taken into custody without incident near a swimming pool after being confronted by an undercover officer.

Atlanta Police have not thus far released a possible motive for the shootings. Patterson was scheduled to have a medical appointment at the Northside Hospital building when gunfire erupted on the 11th floor.

Atlanta Police said the suspect was in the building for roughly two minutes after the shootings.

Patterson, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard and returned to civilian life in January, has been charged with one count of murder and four counts of aggravated assault.

He is being detained at the Fulton County jail’s medical observation unit and on Thursday waived his arraignment hearing.

“Hats off to everybody who was involved in this,” VanHoozer said of the search.

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Cobb Police capture Atlanta mass shooting suspect

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UPDATED 8:25 PM

Cobb Police say they have arrested Deion Patterson and will release more information in a joint press conference with Atlanta Police.

Follow-up story can be found by clicking here.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Cobb Police said Wednesday that they are assisting Atlanta Police and other law enforcement agencies in trying to apprehend a man whom they say shot at least five people at Midtown hospital, one fatally.Midtown Atlanta shooting suspect

In a social media message posted around 3:15 p.m., Cobb Police said they have assigned officers in the search “after reports he may have come to Cobb County. Portions of Cobb County that border Atlanta may see heavier than normal presence.”

Cobb Police said in another message a few minutes later that “reports of a recovered carjacked vehicle near Campbell Middle School are not correct. We will update with information as it becomes available.”

Another message posted around 3:45 p.m. said the search was taking place in the Vinings, Cumberland and Truist Park areas.

At 4:25 p.m., Cobb Police said that “reports of shots fired at 200 Galleria Pkwy were a false alarm. No shots fired.”

The Smyrna Police Department posted a message shortly after 2 p.m. saying it had received “credible information that a vehicle possibly connected to the midtown shooting was seen in the area of Campbell Rd and Atlanta Rd.

“Officers responded to the area to assist in the search, but the vehicle was not there. Smyrna Police Department is continuing to work with other law enforcement agencies in this matter. If you see anything suspicious please call 911.”

At 4:45 p.m. the Cobb Sheriff’s Office said it had activated its SWAT unit to support Cobb Police search efforts.

The Cobb Police postings came shortly after Atlanta Police lifted a shelter-in-place order in the area around 1110 West Peachtree St.

That’s the address of the Northside Hospital Midtown campus.

Atlanta Police identified the suspect as Deion Patterson, 24, and released the accompanying photos, saying that as of 2:46 p.m. he was still at-large but believed he was no longer in the Midtown area.

“The suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous and should not be approached,” Atlanta Police said shortly before 2 p.m.

The shelter-in-place was ordered around 12:40 p.m. after shots rang out at the medical building.

Midtown Atlanta shooting suspectPolice said four of the shooting victims were taken to Grady Memorial Hospital and the person who died was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A Grady official said at a press conference that three of the shooting victims taken to the hospital are in critical condition—two of them had been in surgery—and the other is in the emergency room.

Atlanta Police held a media briefing later Wednesday afternoon, and said a 39-year-old woman was killed, and that the other victims taken to Grady also are women, ages 25, 29, 56 and 71.

This story will be updated.

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Hand and Stone grand reopening set for The Avenue East Cobb

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Hand and Stone The Avenue East Cobb grand reopening

A number of stores are on the move at The Avenue East Cobb as redevelopment work continues.

One of those businesses affected by the construction of “jewel box” restaurants and a public plaza is Hand and Stone  Massage and Facial Spa.

It’s now located in Suite 900, between the Loft and Bath and Body Works, and on Friday will have a grand reopening celebration from 4-8 p.m.

The event is open house style and is open to the public, with refreshments, guided tours, raffle prizes and exclusive offers.

You’re asked to RSVP at this link.

A few other moves at The Avenue: The College Station store that was located in Suite 1520 near the Gap is now next to Lenscrafters in Suite 425; and Faced the Facial Studio has opened in Suite 200, between Warby Parker and the forthcoming Barnes and Noble bookstore.

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Cobb Library System’s ‘Vision to Learn’ partnership expanding

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The Vision To Learn on-site mobile clinics will return in June to Cobb County public libraries this summer to provide eye exams and glasses–free of charge–for children ages 5-18.Cobb Library Vision to Learn program

The program, which began in 2018, is expected to exceed last year’s record of almost 400 exams, with more than 250 receiving glasses.

Funding is being provided through the next four summers by the Cobb Board of Commissioners, using $264,000 of the county’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act, as well as $247,000 for Vision To Learn programs with Marietta City Schools.

Registration is required to take part, and the form for June is can be found https://bit.ly/vtlcobblibrary.

One library branch in East Cobb will be the venue for the Vision To Learn visits. The Sewell Mill Library (2051 Lower Roswell Road) will be accepting appointments from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on two Wednesdays next month, June 7 and June 14.

The Vision To Learn visits are part of the Cobb County Public Library’s collaboration with Learn4Life, Metro Atlanta Regional Education Partnership for students’ success to make the region a more equitable and prosperous community.

For information, visit Cobb County Public Library at www.cobbcat.org and Vision To Learn at www.visiontolearn.org.

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Delta Community Credit Union names new East Cobb branch manager

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Tina Nelson, Delta Credit Union East Cobb branch manager

The Delta Community Credit Union has named Tina Nelson the new branch manager at its East Cobb location on Johnson Ferry Road.

She has nearly 24 years of banking and management experience and was previously a branch manager with the Bank of Montreal in her native Canada and the Regions Bank branch in Dallas, Ga., and was a mortgage loan officer with Security Mortgage Company prior to joining Delta Community.

Nelson moved to the U.S. in 2014 after her husband, an American military veteran, retired after serving at a local installation.

“I’m looking forward to incorporating my industry knowledge to bring a positive impact to our credit union team and our members in Marietta and Cobb County,” Nelson said.

Based in Atlanta, the Delta Community Credit Union has more than 484,000 members and nearly 30 locations in the metro area and north Georgia.

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Cobb Planning board delays Post Oak Tritt subdivision plans

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Post Oak Tritt subdivision plans delayed
For a larger view click here.

A long-delayed request to build homes on property containing an historic 19th century cabin is being held again after the Cobb Planning Commission voted for a 30-day hold on Tuesday.

The 5-0 vote came after a lengthy discussion about a number of other issues—including stormwater, dam repair and traffic access issues—that weren’t resolved after the applicant submitted a revised site plan last month.

“It’s pretty clear to me that we don’t have enough information,” said Planning Commissioner David Anderson, who represents District 2, which includes the 13.38 acres at 4701 Post Oak Tritt Road.

The five-member board, appointed by members of the Cobb Board of Commissioners, voted to hold the request last month for similar reasons.

Kenneth Clary, the property owner, wants to sell the land adjacent to the Clary Lakes subdivision for what would be an 18-home development (case file here).

His property is currently zoned R-30, the lowest-density residential category in Cobb. After initially making an R-15 request, his attorney, Parks Huff, submitted an R-20 site plan per the recommendation of the Cobb Zoning Office.

Huff told the planning board that many of the outstanding issues mentioned by opponents can be resolved during the plan review process.

“Your job is to zone property,” he said. “You cannot say that R-20 is not a proper category for that property. Let’s not overthink this. Let’s put this in the proper zoning category and move on.”

But the requested zoning category wasn’t why opponents came forward.

Another outstanding issue is historic in nature, that being the possibility of three graves on the site located near the Power-Jackson Cabin, one of the last one-room structures left in the county dating from the 1840s.

Huff said his client knows of no human remains on the property.

But Jimmy Richards of the Cobb Cemetery Preservation Commission cited a book about the early history of Cobb County (up to 1932), indicating a young mother, part of the Power family, died there nearly 140 years ago giving birth, and she is buried there with her baby twins.

He asked for the delay for the applicant to hire an archaeologist, per county code, to conduct a survey to discover if, and where, they may be resting.

The site plan submitted by Huff, according to Richards, doesn’t indicate anything about the location of the cabin or the possible graves.

Joe Ovbey, who lives in an adjacent home on Post Oak Tritt, said his family has known the Clarys for decades.

“I’ve been shown where those graves are for many years,” he said, urging that the rezoning be delayed.

Cobb Landmarks, an historic preservation non-profit, wants to have the cabin relocated to Hyde Farm, near other Powers family cabins.

The Power-Jackson Cabin includes Masonic markings on the chimney that are “why it wasn’t burned down during the Civil War,” Ovbie said.

More modern concerns also prompted the additional delay.

Richard Grome, president of the East Cobb Civic Association, said the new site plan “seems to have some of the same problems as the old one.”

One of the lots would not be accessible by the subdivision street at all, but via Post Oak Tritt Road.

other lots are included on a flood plain on the southern edge of the two Clary lakes. There also is a dam that is located on one of the lots.

When Anderson asked who would bear responsibility for repairing the dam, Huff indicated that it might not be a homeowners association but rather an individual property owner.

“We’re doing this the same way [as nearby subdivisions],” Huff said. “We’re doing it at a lower density.”

But Anderson wasn’t reassured by that response, nor some of the traffic access problems. His motion to delay included provisions for a community meeting between the applicant and nearby residents, a third-party analysis of the possible graves and further addressing dam and stormwater issues.

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LM Frame and Gallery to hold ribbon-cutting for expanded space

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LM Frame and Gallery expanding

The LM Frame and Gallery is opening expanded gallery space at its existing location at the Shops of Woodlawn (1062 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 150) and will hold a special ribbon-cutting ceremony later this month to celebrate.

The ribbon-cutting, which is being held in association with the East Cobb Business Association, takes place on May 18 at 5:30 p.m. and the event will include a special art exhibit of local artists featuring Aboriginal works.

The custom framing store and contemporary art gallery is owned by Christophe and Caroline Choquart. Framing work includes traditional paintings, 3D objects, needlework, posters and more.

New Businesses

The following businesses in East Cobb were granted licenses in April by the Cobb Community Development Agency:

  • Cindy’s Stitch Studio, 4901 Olde Towne Parkway, Suite 100 (tutoring services)
  • Drea Nicole Photography, 2000 Powers Ferry Road, Suites 1-4 (photography studio)
  • Larry’s Kitchen, 3910 Canton Road, Suite 140 (restaurant)
  • PT Solutions Physical Therapy, 4401 Shallowford Road, Suite 100 (physical therapy)
  • Scooter’s Coffee, 2943 Canton Road, Suite 1600 (coffee and tea store)

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Cobb County outdoor burn ban continues through Sept. 30

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From May 1-Sept. 30, an outdoor burn ban is in effect in Cobb County.Cobb Fire Department fireworks safety reminder

Citizens may not burn leaves, tree limbs or other yard waste and forest land and may not use air curtain destructors for land clearing.

Cobb is one of 54 counties in Georgia with the outdoor burn ban, which includes unincorporated areas as well as the cities of Acworth, Kennesaw and Powder Springs.

Certain types of recreational fires and bonfires are permitted throughout the year, and there are restrictions that apply and some permits may be required.

Exempted from the burn ordinance are fires stemming from barbecue grills or pits, and outdoor fireplaces and similar devices that burn logs and clean wood.

For more information on permitted outdoor burning in Cobb, please click here.

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East Cobb residential real estate sales, April 10-14, 2023

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The Fountain at Woodlawn, East Cobb real estate sales
The Fountain at Woodlawn

The following East Cobb residential real estate sales between April 10-14, 2023, were compiled from agency reports:

April 10

3428 Lower Roswell Road, 30068 (Oak Leaf Plantation, Walton): $730,000

4976 Concert Lane, 30066 (Tanglewood Enclave, Lassiter): $1.65 million

1745 Jody Drive, 30066 (Shallowford Oaks, Lassiter): $420,000

2971 Goldfinch Circle, 30066 (Woodrush Court, Sprayberry): $575,000

2467 Sewell Mill Road, 30062 (Hickory Grove, Walton): $1.8 million

1526 Oakmoor Place, 30062 (Allgood Farms, Sprayberry): $526,000

492 Kelly Drive, 30066 (Addison Heights, Sprayberry): $280,000

3348 Vandiver Drive, 30066 (North Forty, Sprayberry): $500,000

948 Blackwell Trail, 30066 (Blackwell Bend, Sprayberry): $432,000

4592 North Landing Drive, 30066 (North Landing, Kell): $375,000

524 Gramercy Drive, 30068 (River Park at Hampton Farms, Walton): $2.3 million

April 11

118 Yancy Drive, 30067 (Hamby Acres, Wheeler): $225,000

3882 Emerson Street, 30062 (Emerson Bridge, Walton): $274,000

2159 Spalding Drive, 30062 (Sandy Plains Estates, Sprayberry): $462,000

164 Bristol Lane, 30066 (Bristol, Sprayberry): $374,500

2689 Tritt Springs Trace, 30062 (Post Oak Springs, Pope): $557,620

5005 Gardenia Circle, 30068 (The Gardens at Parkaire, Walton): $308,000

4563 Fountain Drive, 30067 (The Fountain at Woodlawn): $862,000

April 12

2734 Suwanee Way, 30067 (Bentley Ridge, Wheeler): $278,000

2799 Hitchcock Mill Run, 30068 (Princeton Mill, Wheeler): $650,000

1210 Rockcrest Drive, 30062 (Blackjack Hills, Sprayberry): $435,000

2962 Bea Mar Drive, 30062 (Folkstone, Walton): $725,000

2565 Jewell Drive, 30066 (Sprayberry): $420,000

2971 Pauls Way, 30062 (Barbara Estates, Pope): $435,000

2920 Foothill Trail, 30066 (Caribou Hills, Sprayberry): $390,000

4016 Upland Trace, 30066 (Highland Park, Lassiter): $600,000

2311 Fox Hound Parkway, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $732,100

April 13

2121 Heritage Trace Drive, 30062 (Heritage Trace, Walton): $479,500

3099 Balearic Drive, 30067 (Valencia Hills, Wheeler): $275,000

3482 Sheridan Drive, 30066 (Oak Leaf Plantation, Sprayberry): $720,000

266 Pinehurst Lane, 30062 (Heritage Woods, Walton): $320,000

2638 Cedar Forks Drive, 30068 (Cedar Forks, Pope): $443,000

4446 Chimney Springs Court, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $750,000

1375 High Country Court, 30066 (Jamerson Forest, Kell): $339,000

270 Hampton Farms Court, 30068 (Hampton Farms, Walton): $860,000

2065 Kinsmon Drive, 30062 (Easthampton—The Estates, Walton): $909,750

April 14

1009 Birch Creek Lane, 30067 (The Oaks at Powers Ferry, Wheeler): $536,080

3321 Page Heights Court, 30062 (Hembree Heights, Pope): $1.102 million

4061 Defender Way, 30075 (Garrison Oaks, Lassiter): $935,000

2746 Morgan Road, 30066 (Olde Morgan Farm, Sprayberry): $572,000

654 Gunby Road, 30067 (Sibley Forest, Wheeler): $947,600

1241 Pebble Creek Road, 30067 (Terrell Mill Estates, Wheeler): $610,000

402 Somerset Close, 30067 (Somerset, Wheeler): $625,000

623 Lullingstone Drive, 30067 (Glens at Powers Ferry, Wheeler): $445,000

192 Kings Row, 30067 (Kings Cove, Walton): $500,000

234 Hunting Creek Drive, 30068 (Weatherstone, Wheeler): $440,000

3669 High Green Drive, 30068 (Indian Hills, Walton): $1.925 million

2284 Collinworth Drive, 30062 (East Lake Ridge, Wheeler): $382,500

3169 Wicks Creek Trail, 30062 (Wicks Creek, Pope): $680,000

1726 Willie Drive, 30062 (Benson Heights, Sprayberry): $292,000

1160 Alan Lane, 30062 (Benson Heights, Sprayberry): $325,000

300 Piedmont Drive, 30066 (Bristol Mill, Sprayberry): $348,000

2501 Hidden Hills Drive, 30066 (Hidden Hills, Sprayberry): $367,500

2710 Salzburg Drive, 30062 (Alpine Forest, Pope): $630,000

4148 Westchester Crossing, 30075 (Westchester, Lassiter): $702,000

2715 Hawk Trace, 30066 (Falcon Crest, Kell): $410,000

3603 Hampstead Lane, 30075 (Hampstead, Pope): $685,000

748 Olde Towne Lane, 30068 (Hamptons of Olde Towne, Walton): $475,000

2285 Chimney Springs Drive, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $543,000

2120 Stone Hollow Court, 30062 (Chimney Springs, Pope): $690,000

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