East Cobb Public Safety Archives

Pope student plans East Cobb protest for Black Lives Matter

June 11, 2020 5:32 PM by Wendy Parker

Eli Lubell, East Cobb Black Lives Matter protest — *Eli Lubell at a previous Black Lives Matter rally in East Cobb.*

Eli Lubell has been attending a number of demonstrations, rallies and protests for the Black Lives Matter movement over the last couple of weeks.

On Friday, he’s hopeful a teen-organized protest he’s leading will be the biggest yet seen in East Cobb.

It starts at 1 p.m. at the corners of Roswell Road and Johnson Ferry Road, the site of ongoing rallies for the same purpose.

“I just wanted to create a sense of urgency and community,” said Eli, who’s 16 and attends Pope High School.

While similar rallies have drawn a few dozen people, his goal is to have a hundred or more people of all ages attend.

“It’s about visibility, about getting people in a conservative area to be more active and vocal,” Eli says.

Like many whites, Eli was prompted to action after seeing a video of a while Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a black man, who was handcuffed on the ground and who later died.

That set off protests by Black Lives Matter and other groups around the country, as well as violence attributed largely to other elements.

“People in East Cobb aren’t always outspoken about their beliefs,” he says. “When something doesn’t affect them, they don’t think it’s their problem.”

But Eli said he learned that attending other rallies, especially in Decatur and Woodruff Park in Atlanta, how sheltered he had been from the realities faced by those in other racial and ethnic groups.

“Being a bystander is part of the problem,” he said, “but that’s starting to change.

“I don’t think I was aware. I hadn’t taken the time to educate myself.”

Eli drew some parallels to the Me Too movement, which struck a chord across the larger American society in the wake of sexual assaults and harassment by high-profile men.

He said he’s been hearing from other teens and promoting the rally via Instagram and other social media channels, but anyone of any age group is invited to attend.

Friday’s protest is expected to last two or three hours, he said, and a rally for Black Lives Matter is slated for 5-7 p.m. at the same Roswell-Johnson Ferry intersection that’s had daily protests.

Cobb DA distributes ‘Kid Kits’ during Crime Victims’ Rights Week

June 8, 2020 1:58 PM by Wendy Parker

Kid Kits Crime Victims Week — Director Kimberly McCoy (front) and Victim Advocate Adriene Grey assembling the kid kits.

Submitted information and photos:

Cobb District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes announces that her office is distributing 250 “kid kits” in a further effort to raise awareness of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. The event is usually marked each April but has been extended this year due to health concerns.

Earlier this year, the Cobb DA’s Office received $5,000 in funding from the National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators (NAVAA) through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), within the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, to promote community awareness of crime victims’ rights and services during the 2020 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

Some of those funds were used to purchase items for the kid kits, which include a pencil pouch, coloring book, crayons, and hand sanitizer. The kits include contact information for the Victim Witness Unit of the Cobb DA’s Office.

The kid kits are being distributed through Cobb and Marietta City School districts, and at Cobb Fire Stations.

First designated by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week increases general public awareness of and knowledge about the wide range of rights and services available to people who have been victimized by crime. The 2020 theme is “Seek Justice, Ensure Victims’ Rights, and Inspire Hope.”

Since 2004, the NCVRW Community Awareness Project has provided financial and technical assistance to more than 977 community projects that promote victim and public awareness activities, and innovative approaches to victim outreach and public education about victims’ rights and services during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Cobb’s was one of the 109 recommended by NAVAA and selected for funding by OVC for 2020 from the 262 applications that were submitted nationwide.

For additional information about 2020 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week activities or about victims’ rights and services in Cobb County, please contact the Victim Witness Unit in the DA’s Office at 770-528-3047 or visit our website at www.cobbda.com.

Kid Kits Crime Victims Week

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

PHOTOS: Black Lives Matter rally near Lassiter High School

June 6, 2020 3:46 PM by Wendy Parker

Lassiter Black Lives Matter rally

Thanks to Matthew Poer for sending along photos from Saturday’s Black Lives Matter rally near Lassiter High School in East Cobb.

He estimated around 400 people lined up along Shallowford Road to bring attention to racism and police brutality in the wake of the death last week of George Floyd, a black man, in police custody in Minneapolis.

“I’ve been a law abiding and taxpaying resident of Cobb County and Marietta for eight years,” Matthew told us. “I’m a white man and I am sick of my friends, neighbors, coworkers and fellow Americans living in fear of systemic and individual discrimination.”

Saturday’s event at Lassiter was one of several rallies and protests to take place in East Cobb and around the county this week, as local elected officials and law enforcement agencies also responded to the issue.

All of the demonstrations thus far in Cobb County have been peaceful.

Lassiter Black Lives Matter rally

On Friday Cobb police officers retook their oaths promising to fight brutality and racism.

On Tuesday, Cobb commissioners will consider an anti-racism revolution similar to what passed in Smyrna and Acworth.

Lassiter Black Lives Matter rally

Many of the protests around the country also have been held in honor of Ahmaud Arbery, a black man shot to death while jogging near Brunswick, Ga., in February. Three white men have been charged with murder, and Cobb District Attorney Joyette Holmes has been appointed to prosecute the case.

Lassiter Black Lives Matter rally

Poer told us he also showed up Saturday in honor of Breonna Taylor, a black woman in Louisville, Ky., who was killed in March after police crashed into her apartment with a no-knock warrant related to a narcotics investigation.

Her boyfriend opened fire on officers, and Taylor was shot eight times during the exchange. Police did not find any drugs and no charges have been filed, but her family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

Lassiter Black Lives Matter rally

Cobb police officers take stand against racism, brutality

June 5, 2020 3:34 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb police pledge racism brutality

The Cobb Police Department has released a video with officers and Chief Tim Cox reiterating previous statements the department has made condemning racism and police brutality.

Standing on the front steps of department headquarters in Marietta, a number officers also retook their oath of office.

Newly appointed Cobb Public Safety Director Randy Crider also spoke in the video, which is a little more than six minutes long.

Crider said the statements were not forced on the officers by any of their superiors, and Cox said the oath ceremony was even the idea of officers “to show the community the symbolism of how serious they are.”

In prepared remarks, Cox said he recently had a conversation with a pastor who told him that if one part of the body is hurting, then all the body is hurting.

“I think that’s what we’re experiencing in society,” Cox said. “All of society is hurting because one part is hurting.

“Our department will not stand for it, we will not tolerate it in any form,” Cox said, referring to racism and police brutality, “and we will not have it in the ranks of our department.”

On Tuesday, Cobb commissioners will consider a resolution to condemn racism in the county.

Thus far, several peaceful protests have taken place in Cobb to decry the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in Minneapolis police custody.

That incident sparked protests around the country that in many cases turned violent, including the city of Atlanta, which has had a curfew for nearly a week.

On Friday, an interfaith coalition of Atlanta clergy urged Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to “demilitarize” the law enforcement presence in the city, including removing Georgia National Guard troops ordered by Gov. Brian Kemp.

More protests are taking place over the weekend in Cobb County.

On Saturday, several Marietta churches are holding a “Prayer & Peaceful Protest Rally” at 10 a.m at Zion Baptist Church, 165 Lemon Street, near downtown Marietta.

A group called Cobb County BLM Resources said there will be a rally at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lassiter High School, near the Smoothie King.

Cobb commissioners to consider resolution condemning racism

June 7, 2020 12:38 PMJune 4, 2020 2:55 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb commissioners will be asked Tuesday to consider a resolution to condemn racism.

Lisa Cupid, Cobb Board of Commissioners

Commissioner Lisa Cupid, of South Cobb, and the only black member of the five-member board, admitted on Thursday when she posted the proposed resolution on her Facebook page (see below) that “I have been informed that some think this language is too strong, indicates something of the past, and is not reflective of how people feel today or in all districts of the county.”

“It is imperative that we have our citizens weigh in on this else I fear it could not pass or be worded in such a way that loses its intent and purpose.”

She urged citizens to contact their commissioner and let them know their thoughts.

Cupid said an online meeting she organized on Tuesday, entitled “Cobb Forum: Recent Deaths, Race and Response,” attracted more than 600 people, and she invited a number of elected and law enforcement officials and community leaders to participate.

(You can watch here and listen here.)

The Smyrna and Acworth city councils this week approved similar anti-racism resolutions.

At East Cobb rally, ‘honking’ support for Black Lives Matter

June 3, 2020 8:07 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Black Lives Matter rally — *East Cobb resident Alice, at left, joins in asking motorists to honk their horns in support of Black Lives Matter. (ECN photos and videos)*

At one of East Cobb’s busiest intersections, Alice I. found herself in an unusual situation. A local resident who’s a yoga instructor, she said she’s never gotten involved in politics or any kind of demonstration of any kind.

Until now.

She took part in a mostly-white rally of around 30 to 40 people Wednesday in front of Trader Joe’s.

A few dozen others were positioned at all quadrants of the intersection of Roswell Road and Johnson Ferry Road, asking motorists to honk their horns in support of Black Lives Matter.

A good number of them did.

“I’m doing this because I stand with black people,” said Alice, who declined to give her last name.

Black Lives Matter is the activist group that has staged protests around the country after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police last week.

BLM started several years ago and grew around similar deaths, but the Floyd case has caused sustained shock waves around the country.

The officer seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nine minutes has been charged with murder, and three other officers on the scene also have been charged. They were immediately terminated.

But peaceful protests designed to draw attention to police brutality quickly turned violent in Minneapolis, Atlanta and other cities. Many of those incidents are being blamed on outside groups having nothing to do with the initial protestors.

Alice said she abhorred the video she saw of Floyd, who was face-down on the ground and handcuffed in the moments before his death.

“This is about white people no longer being silent,” Alice said. “We have to stand up and say, ‘Enough is enough,’ that we’re coming from a place of love.”

East Cobb Black Lives Matter Rally 2

There have been several protests in Cobb County over the weekend and into the week and expanding into East Cobb.

Alice said she heard from neighbors about Wednesday’s rally and decided to attend. She was also upset that some have confused peaceful protests with looting, burning and property destruction that have prompted arrests and curfews in a number of cities, including Atlanta.

“Everyone’s here wearing a smile, just showing support” for black citizens,” she said, and was hopeful that “African-Americans [will] see how much white people are supporting them.”

Some of the participants Wednesday shouted chants that have been heard frequently at other protests.

“Say his name!” they shouted.

“George Floyd!”

Rallies are scheduled for the same intersection the rest of this week from 5-7 p.m.

Other rallies are taking place from 2-4 p.m. at the intersection of Canton Road and Jamerson Road, and from 7-9 p.m. at the intersection of Sandy Plains Road and East Piedmont Road.

On Saturday morning, several Marietta churches are holding a “Prayer & Peaceful Protest Rally” at 10 a.m at Zion Baptist Church, 165 Lemon Street, near downtown Marietta.

A group called Cobb County BLM Resources said there will be a rally at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lassiter High School, near the Smoothie King.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Cobb Police Chief: ‘No room’ for racism, injustice or brutality

June 3, 2020 8:34 PMJune 2, 2020 9:42 AM by Wendy Parker

The Cobb Police Department issued the following statement Monday night from Chief Tim Cox: Cobb Police Chief Tim Cox

Over the past several days, metro Atlanta residents have seen civil unrest develop despite good citizens attempting to conduct peaceful protests. Due to such, Cobb County residents have expressed a certain level of anxiety due to the reports of violence from nearby areas. With the continued news coverage and numerous social media posts of civil unrest in the area, we understand the concerns being voiced by our residents and business owners. I’d like to take a moment to speak to our citizens and others in the metro area to help allay some fears or anxiety you may have.

The Cobb County Police Department remains committed to the safety and welfare of ALL the citizens it serves. The basic fundamental rights of each individual are at the core of our departmental values. Our Tenets of Conduct lay the foundation of our dedication to everyone we come into contact with on a daily basis. And at the core of all is that we treat all members of the community with respect. As such we have a very real, firm, and utterly unwavering disdain for all racism, injustice, or brutality. There is no room for such in our daily service to the citizens of Cobb and the many visitors we host.

Hand-in-hand with that dedication to respect all individuals is our commitment to protect our residents, business owners, and visitors. Cobb County Police officers are exceptionally well trained and equipped to safeguard the many wonderful people who choose to live, work, and visit this County. In response to current local events, not only have we implemented increased patrols in certain areas of the county, but we have also been in constant contact with city police departments and other law enforcement agencies within the county (as well as many others outside the county). This constant exchange of information has helped us all respond better to incidents quickly, many times before a serious issue can arise. And should the need arise we are prepared to provide mutual aid, sharing resources and manpower with one another.

We have also been in contact with civic leaders on a consistent basis. Long before any of the recent unrest, we worked hand in hand with local civic and community leaders to better our services to all our communities. We continue to do so now and we remain appreciative of all the support and feedback from the communities throughout Cobb County. The open dialogue we long ago established has continued through the current events and our commitment to continue to improve our relationships and services to Cobb County has not wavered.

We have had peaceful protests over the past few days in the County and adjoining cities. We have had open dialogue with organizers and participants. We respect all individuals and vow to protect them and their rights. We also vow to continue to keep the peace and maintain order in the process. I ask that the lines of communication remain open in both directions. If anyone has emergency information, please call 911 immediately. If you have information that is not an immediate emergency, call 770-499-3911. Be it here in Cobb or elsewhere, the safety of everyone is our top priority.

Cobb leaders to hold online forum on policing and racism Tuesday

June 3, 2020 8:34 PMJune 1, 2020 3:09 PM by Wendy Parker

Lisa Cupid, Cobb Board of Commissioners — *Cobb commissioner Lisa Cupid*

Cobb government, business and community leaders and elected officials will be appearing in an online forum Tuesday afternoon to discuss issues of policing and racism in the wake of protests and violence that has broken out around the country in the last week.

The forum is free and is open for the public to view starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, and you can sign up here.

As you’re registering, you can submit questions for the panelists to answer and discuss.

Cobb Police issues joint statement about planned protests

June 3, 2020 8:32 PMMay 30, 2020 10:42 PM by Wendy Parker

The Cobb Police Department issued a statement Saturday night with the Marietta Police Department and the Smyrna Police Department about planned protests in the county stemming from the death of a black man in police custody in Minnesota earlier this week.

The death of George Floyd, who was shown face down on the ground handcuffed, with a white officer kneeling on his neck for nearly 10 minutes, sparked violent protests in several major cities, including Minneapolis, where the incident took place.

Chick-fil-A Sprayberry supports public safety officers

May 12, 2020 7:17 AM by Wendy Parker

Chick-fil-A Sprayberry supports public safety officers

Information and photos from Krista Scott of the Chick-fil-A Sprayberry:

“Our restaurant recently provided nearly 50 boxed lunches to first responders in our local police precinct and firefighter stations. To date, we have donated hundreds of meals collectively to Wellstar Urgent Care Center staff, local Publix stores, and the Heritage Hospice center. This week we plan to take meals to the Marietta 911 Call Center.

“It is truly our pleasure serving our community during this time.”

Send Us Your News!

If you have Coronavirus-related event changes, business openings or closings to share with the public, e-mail us: editor@eastcobbnews.com.

Contact us at the same e-mail address for news about efforts to assist those in need, health care workers, first responders and others on the frontlines of combatting Coronavirus in East Cobb.

Police shoot man who allegedly attacked East Cobb Publix employee, officer

May 11, 2020 7:07 PMMay 10, 2020 2:15 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb Publix, Alabama Road Publix

UPDATED 5:20 P.M., SUNDAY

The GBI identified the suspect as Jeffery Thomas Moore, 22, of Woodstock.

According to a release the agency issued late Sunday afternoon, after the attack on a Publix employee, Moore was found by Cobb Police officers hiding in a yard at a residence on Bedell Road, near the supermarket shopping center.

Officers attempted to take him into custody using a taser after he resisted arrest, according to the GBI, which said that Moore was then shot by an officer.

The GBI said Moore got away from police and was apprehended in a heavily wooded area. The officer who was attacked has been released from the hospital.

Morris was previously taken to Wellstar Kennestone and later was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on a felony charge of willful obstruction of a police officer and two misdemeanor charges each of simple assault and simple battery.

He was being detained on $5,000 bail.

The GBI said once its investigation is complete it will turn over its findings to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.

ORIGINAL REPORT

Cobb Police said an officer shot a man they said was physically attacking employees of an East Cobb Publix store as they arrived for work Sunday morning.

In a release issued by Sgt. Wayne Delk, Cobb Police Public Information Officer, police were called to the scene at the Publix at 4750 Alabama Road around 7 a.m. Sunday. By the time officers arrived, according to Delk, the man had left the scene, but additional calls came from around the area of someone attacking people in nearby parking lots.

Police said officers located the suspect and he attacked them, injuring an officer. The man then fled on foot as they pursued him into a residential neighborhood, according to police.

Delk said there was a second confrontation between officers and the man in the neighbornood, during which an officer shot the man. However, according to police, the man was able to get away.

Delk said that following a search between officers from Cobb Police Precincts 4 and 1, Roswell Police, the Georgia State Patrol and the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, the suspect was taken into custody and sent to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was treated with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound below the waist.

Delk also said the officer who was attacked also was taken to Kennestone for a leg injury.

The suspect was not identified.

The area is near the Cobb-Fulton line, and close to the City of Roswell and the Sandy Plains Village shopping center, between Sandy Plains Road and Mabry Road in Northeast Cobb.

Because this is a officer-involved shooting, Cobb Police are not releasing further details. The case will be investigated by the Georgia Department of Investigation, according to Delk.

The GBI has not yet sent out any further information.

This story will be updated.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

UPDATE: Fundraiser for family of Eastvalley ES student tops $50K

April 23, 2020 1:42 PM by Wendy Parker

Mahoney family

A fundraiser begun by an Eastvalley Elementary School teacher to help the family of one of her students who was tragically killed over the weekend has netted more than $50,000.

A GoFundMe drive created by Jennifer Swafford indicates that a little more than $51,000 of a goal of $55,000 has been pledged thus far to aid the Mahoney family of East Cobb.

Blake Mahoney, age 11 (in the bowtie), died Sunday after a car hit him and the bicycle he was riding near his home on Lucky Drive.

Since then, friends, co-workers, and those who know the family through Eastvalley—where Blake’s mother Dawn is the school nurse—have sent in contributions.

“The generosity of people near and far is mind blowing!,” said Swafford, Blake’s 5th grade teacher this year. “Thank you for your love and support for the Mahoney family!”

One donor who pledged $500 wrote that “I donated because he was my best friend in school and I miss him so much and let him rest in piece. It was good meeting you Blake in this short time God bless you and your family.”

Also contributing were those who know the Mahoneys through the East Marietta National Little League, where Blake played baseball.

On Wednesday a memorial sign was set up at the entrance of Sewell Park, with flowers being left behind.

“If your child learned something from Blake as his teammate we would love to hear about that as well,” the youth baseball organization said in a Facebook post. “The loss is immeasurable but so is the love left behind. Today let’s celebrate our love!”

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb boy, 11, killed after bicycle crashes into car

April 21, 2020 2:24 PMApril 20, 2020 11:23 AM by Wendy Parker

Blake Mahoney, East Cobb boy killed — *Photo: Blake Mahoney Memorial Fund GoFundMe page*

An 11-year-old boy riding his bicycle in his East Cobb neighborhood died Sunday afternoon after crashing into a car, according to Cobb Police.

Cobb Police Sgt. Wayne Delk said in a statement Monday morning that the crash happened at 5:06 p.m. on Lucky Drive, off Lower Roswell Road and between Holt Road and Old Sewell Road.

Delk said David Mondecar, 65, a Lucky Drive resident, was driving a red 2005 Volvo XC90 and was approaching a sharp left curve on that street when the boy was making a sharp right curve as he rode from the other direction.

Police said the crash happened when the front of Mondecar’s car collided with the bike.

The boy was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m. Sunday after being taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, Delk said, adding that Mondecar was not injured.

Police did not identify the victim, but social media postings in the community were mourning Blake Mahoney, whose family lives on Lucky Drive. He played in the East Marietta National Little League and was a student at Eastvalley Elementary School, where his mother is the school nurse.

A fund has been started in the school community to provide food for the family.

A GoFundMe also has been established by Jennifer Swafford, Blake’s 5th grade teacher at Eastvalley. The Blake Mahoney Memorial Fund also will help the family.

Blake was to have begun attending East Cobb Middle School this fall. His older brother Will is a student at Wheeler High School.

Delk said Cobb Police are continuing to investigate the crash and anyone with information should call 770-499-3987.

East Cobb boy killed

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb outdoor burn ban to start April 10 due to shelter-in-place

April 4, 2020 2:15 PMApril 4, 2020 9:07 AM by Wendy Parker

The Cobb outdoor burn ban that runs from May 1-Sept. 30.each year has been moved up due to the statewide shelter-in-place order. The ban now will start next Friday, April 10.

Here’s more from the county:

Leaves, pine straw, and other yard debris may NOT be burned starting that date, and the Fire Marshal’s Office will also stop the issuance of Large Yard Waste and Bonfire permits during this time. Please note there is no ban on fire bowls, chimineas, or similar devices as long as clean wood (not pressure treated, and no varnish) is being burned.

More about outdoor burning from the Cobb Fire Marshal’s Office.

Cobb Police limiting certain call responses; closing some offices

March 18, 2020 7:00 PM by Wendy Parker

Cobb Police said Wednesday that they’re making some policy changes as county government goes into “limited operations status” due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

A release issued by Cobb Police said that while they’ll still respond to calls from the public that require the presence of officers, those that don’t will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

“In such cases residents may, after making an initial 911 call, get a call back from a police supervisor or an officer to make a report over the phone,” Cobb Police spokesman Sgt. Wayne Delk said in the release.

He also said the police department’s record’s office will be open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at headquarters (140 North Marietta Parkway, Marietta).

The lobby also will stay open, but citizens are asked that if they need to get copies of accident or incident reports to use the department’s website or call 770-499-3900 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The department’s permit office is closed until further notice, and anyone wishing to or eligible to obtain an employment permit cannot get one until it reopens. Information is available by clicking here or by calling 770-499-3932 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Also closed is the Cobb Police evidence unit, which will reopen on April 7. For any items that may be needed due to an emergency (medication, currency, house/car keys, etc.) the number to call is 770-499-4128 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In Precinct 4, two Cobb Police Coffee With a Cop sessions have been cancelled: Thursday at the Janice Overbeck Real Estate office, and on March 26 at The Art Place.

Driver in fatal East Cobb crash charged with vehicular homicide

March 5, 2020 12:25 PM by Wendy Parker

Alabama Road crash kills motorcyclist

UPDATE to the fatal crash involving a motorcyclist on Feb. 22 on Alabama Road in Northeast Cobb: The driver of the car who hit the bike turned herself in Wednesday after being charged with vehicular homicide.

Cobb Police Sgt. Wayne Delk said Thursday that Genesis Lugo, 21, of Woodstock, also has been charged with a failure to yield.

They’re both second-degree misdemeanor charges, and Lugo was released from the Cobb County Adult Detention Center after paying a $2,970 bail, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records.

According to those records, Lugo was booked shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday and was released around 11:30 p.m.

Police said that at 4:25 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 18-year-old Cameron S. Clason, of Woodstock was heading west on Alabama Road when his black 2009 Suzuki SV650 motorcycle collided with a gray 2001 Nissan Altima making a left turn from eastbound Alabama Road to Old Mountain Park Road, according to police.

Clason was later pronounced dead at North Fulton Hospital. Lugo, the driver of the Nissan, not did not require medical attention at the scene.

The crash was the second of three in as many days that took the lives of motorists in East Cobb, following a Feb. 21 incident at Johnson Ferry Road and Powers Drive that killed a nearby resident.

On Feb. 23, a 91-year-old man died after he was trying to turn left on Davis Road from Sandy Plains Road southbound.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Cobb public health officials issue coronavirus statement

March 16, 2020 7:44 PMMarch 3, 2020 7:04 PM by Wendy Parker

As the first cases of coronavirus in Georgia were revealed, the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department has issued a statement about the outbreak. Cobb coronavirus statement

The alert was issued prior to a late-night press conference Monday by Gov. Brian Kemp confirming two cases of COVID-19 in Fulton County.

They’re a father and son, and one of them had traveled back recently from Milan, Italy, which is experiencing an outbreak of the virus.

During the press conference, state health officials said the two individuals were in home quarantine and in communication with their doctor.

More than 90,000 people have contracted coronavirus, a highly contagious illness, in nearly 80 countries around the world. More than 3,000 deaths have been reported, mostly in China.

The only deaths thus far in the U.S. have been in Washington State, where on Tuesday a ninth fatality was confirmed.

The Cobb/Douglas statement contains a basic explanation of the virus, along with preventative measures, such as thorough hand-washing, and that all testing is being done by the state at this time.

The statement said coronavirus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and that symptoms appear between two and 14 days after exposure. They include:

runny nose
headache
cough
shortness of breath
fever
a general feeling of being unwell.

Here’s more about the local response, as the number of cases is expected to grow:

Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) is preparing internally, as well as with the state and the CDC to slow or prevent community spread. We are working with our partners, including the local governments, healthcare organizations, businesses, first responders, and local school districts to ensure our community is prepared for a potential COVID-19 outbreak.
We are reaching out to our county Boards of Health, emergency management agencies, chambers of commerce, and other partners who may need our guidance and are sending them guidance on how to prepare their organizations.
CDPH staff receive frequent updates from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health. These updates include information on the current situation abroad and in the U.S., testing, surveillance, quarantine, and more. This helps shape our local response.
CDPH has a previously-developed pandemic influenza plan that can serve as a template for responding to other outbreaks of severe respiratory disease, like COVID-19. We are reviewing our plan and are also prepared to implement specific COVID-19 guidance from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the CDC as the situation evolves.

The Cobb County School District last week sent out a notice about the coronavirus, including a statement from the Georgia Department of Public Health, as well as an updated FAQ Tuesday following the confirmation of the Georgia cases:

The District will continue to stay in constant communication with Georgia Department of Health officials and will follow their guidance every step of the way in order to keep our students and staff safe. Our schools continue to remind students and staff on how to prevent the spread of illness including hand washing, covering mouths when they cough, and keeping their hands away from their face. Parents are urged to keep students at home if they have any symptoms of sickness.

Should a staff member or student become ill, Cobb Schools already has a reporting protocol in place regarding infectious diseases, which is part of the District’s Infectious Disease Response Plan. The District will use guidance from public health officials to update and apply the plan to respond to COVID-19.

DPH has also issued guidance about the coronavirus, which was first diagnosed in December in Wuhan, China.

The federal Centers for Disease Control has issued its highest alerts for China and Iran, recommending against non-essential travel there, and that entry by foreign nationals from those countries has been suspended.

U.S. travelers are being advised against non-essential trips to South Korea and Italy, and older adults or those with chronic medical conditions not visit Japan.

More CDC coronavirus information can be found here.

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

91-year-old man dies after Sunday crash on Sandy Plains Road

February 24, 2020 12:05 PM by Wendy Parker

Sandy Plains Road crash

Cobb Police said a 91-year-old man died Sunday after his car crashed with another on Sandy Plains Road, near the entrance of Mountain View Elementary School.

John A. Spadafora, of Marietta, was pronounced dead at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, according to a release from Cobb Police Monday.

Police said Spadafora was driving a black Mazda truck south on Sandy Plains Road at 5:38 p.m. Sunday, attempting to make a left turn onto Davis Road, when it collided with a gray Infiniti.

Sgt. Wayne Delk, a Cobb Police spokesman, said Spadafora was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but that his condition worsened and he died Sunday night.

The driver of the Infiniti, John Hamm, 42, of Roswell, also was hospitalized at Kennestone but does not have life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Cobb Police said the crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.

The incident was the third fatal crash of the weekend in East Cobb.

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

18-year-old motorcyclist killed following Alabama Road crash

February 23, 2020 4:50 PM by Wendy Parker

Alabama Road crash kills motorcyclist

Cobb Police said an 18-year-old motorcyclist was killed Saturday after he was hit by a car on Alabama Road near the Fulton County line in Northeast Cobb.

Sgt. Wayne Delk of Cobb Police said in a release Sunday that Cameron S. Clason, of Woodstock, was pronounced dead after being taken to North Fulton Hospital.

Clason was heading westbound on Alabama Road at 4:25 p.m. Saturday when his black 2009 Suzuki SV650 motorcycle collided with a gray 2001 Nissan Altima making a left turn from eastbound Alabama Road to Old Mountain Park Road, according to police.

Police said Genesis L. Lugo, 21, of Woodstock, the driver of the Nissan, not did not require medical attention at the scene.

Delk said the crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.

The incident was the second fatal crash of the weekend in East Cobb. On Friday night, a 61-year-old man, Robert Higginbotham, was killed when his car was struck by another at the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Powers Road (click link below).

East Cobb man killed in crash at Johnson Ferry/Powers Road

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

East Cobb man killed in crash at Johnson Ferry/Powers Road

February 23, 2020 4:53 PMFebruary 23, 2020 3:08 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb man killed Johnson Ferry crash

An East Cobb man was killed after a late Friday car crash at the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Powers Road that also injured another person.

Cobb Police said Rob Higginbotham, 61, of a nearby East Cobb address, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The collision took place at 11:19 p.m. on Friday and involved two white Mercedes Benz cars, police said.

A Mercedes SL550 driven by Higginbotham was attempting a left turn onto Powers from a northbound Johnson Ferry lane, when it was struck by a Mercedes C300, traveling south on Johnson Ferry, police said.

Police said Higginbotham was ejected from his car and that Colin W. Outz, 19, of Marietta, the driver of the other car, was taken to WellStone Kennestone Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident was first reported by WSB-TV, which talked to eyewitnesses who said that stretch of Johnson Ferry—between Lower Roswell Road and Paper Mill Road—has had numerous high-speed crashes.

Cobb Police said the crash remains under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.

The incident was the second fatal crash of the weekend in East Cobb. On Saturday afternoon, an 18-year-old motorcyclist died after he was hit by a car at the intersection of Alabama Road and Old Mountain Park Road, near the Cobb-Fulton line (see link below).

Motorcyclist, 18, dies after crash on Alabama Road

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!

Related content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Send Us Your News!

Related Content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related Content

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related stories

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!

Share this post:

Like this:

Related story

Share this post:

Like this:

Related story

Share this post:

Like this:

Related story

Share this post:

Like this: