Top East Cobb stories for 2019: Homeowner charged with murder

Jake Horne, East Cobb shooting victim, East Cobb man indicted murder
Jake Horne was taken off life support after being shot outside an East Cobb home in March; the homeowner, Larry Epstein, was charged with his murder.

A quiet East Cobb neighborhood became the focus of an intense law enforcement presence one afternoon in early March 2019 after two home contractors were shot in what some residents thought was an active shooter situation.

Cobb Police ordered residents to stay inside as they closed off Wellington Lane, off Johnson Ferry Road, and sent in SWAT officers and a mobile command unit.

A nearby resident told East Cobb News she’d never seen so much police concentrated in the area, a situation drawing heavy metro Atlanta media coverage as well.

A resident of Kensington, the neighborhood in question, told East Cobb News that “they have us pretty blocked in but not giving any info. They are in SWAT gear with guns drawn.”

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An hour or so after police came to the scene, the standoff ended peacefully when Larry Epstein, a resident of the Wellington Lane home where the shootings occurred, surrendered.

Two electrical contractors doing work at his home were rushed to WellStar Kennestone Hospital.

One of them, Jake Horne, 21, of Kennesaw, was taken off life support and pronounced dead the following morning after being shot in the head. Gordon Montcalm, 37, of Buchanan, Ga., was listed in serious condition and faced a long recovery.

Epstein, 69, was charged with murder and he remains in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center after being denied bond.

During his probable cause hearing, police said Epstein had accused the workers of killing pet ducks at the home, although there was no evidence of those acts.

The families of the victims were left to scramble to raise funds for medical and funeral expenses, and to comprehend what had happened.

“This is a boy that would give you the shirt off of his back. He had a heart of gold,” said Lisa Godsey, Horne’s aunt, who lives in California. “He thought of everyone else before himself.”

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Cobb Opioid Fatality Review Project completes first review

Cobb Opioids Fatality Review Project

Last fall we reported on some sobering numbers of opioids deaths in Cobb County, which has the highest overdose death rate in the state of Georgia.

A number of initiatives have been begun to address those trends, including the Cobb Opioid Fatality Review Project under the auspices of the Cobb District Attorney’s Office. That project received a nearly $900,000 U.S. Justice Department grant to cover three years.

On Wednesday DA Joyette Holmes sent out the following message about the project’s first review:

In the DA’s Office, Judicial Case Manager Latoya Inzar and Inv. Matthew Mize are dedicated to the Fatality Review Project.

“Cobb County completed its first opioid fatality review (OFR) on Nov. 20, with great participation from stakeholders and the U.S. Department of Justice,” Inzar said. “We were able to review three recent overdose deaths, and recommendations followed to improve policy and practice. As the OFRs are still new to Cobb County and the state of Georgia, our team will continue to improve the process.”

Among the accomplishments, Inzar created a treatment guide and community resource booklet of food, housing, healthcare and other resources available to Cobb residents impacted by the opioid crisis.

Project leaders have attended various trainings, and they participated in Marietta Police Department’s opioid symposium in September. They regularly review findings of the Cobb Medical Examiner on overdose deaths and are engaged in mapping and analyzing individual cases.

Mize, who works to identify the drug dealers behind overdose deaths, said: “The significance of this work is that it will save lives, but more importantly, we aim to transform the lives of those suffering from addiction so that they may reach a sustainable recovery.”

In 2018, Cobb recorded 95 overdose deaths.

Here are more resources collected on the county government’s opioids awareness page, and more background information from the Cobb Community Alliance to Prevent Substance Abuse. The CDC also has more data about opioid deaths in Cobb.

 

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UPDATE: Two men charged in Cumberland Mall shooting

UPDATE, Sunday, 12:45 p.m.

Cobb Police said they’ve arrested Zaire Dhanoolal, 18, of Marietta, on two counts of aggravated assault, and Joweer Ponce, 19, also of Marietta, who’s charged with reckless conduct and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

Cobb Police spokeswoman Officer Sydney Melton said both have been taken to the Cobb Adult Detention Center.

She said the person who was shot, Ethan Green, 18, is being treated at WellStar Kennestone Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Melton said Anthony Ezell, 21, was a victim of aggravated assault because the suspect pointed a gun at him before firing at Green.

Police have not indicated a possible motive for the shooting but are continuing to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department Crimes Against Persons Unit at 770-499-3945

ORIGINAL POST:

Cobb Police said one person was shot at the food court at Cumberland Mall Saturday afternoon, prompting a temporary closing of the shopping center while they’re searching for a suspect.

Police said the victim was taken to a hospital but did not identify the person or disclose the severity of the injuries.

Police they were called at 1:18 p.m. and that out of an abundance of caution initial indications were that it was an active shooter situation, police said.

But police said when they arrived on the scene they determined there was no random shooting, which is what usually triggers an active shooter alert, and said that a dispute led to shots being fired.

The suspect fled the scene, and police did not have a description of the suspect or offer other details.

Law enforcement presence around the mall is heavy and motorists in the area are being asked to use alternate roads.

Updates to follow.

Ga. Crossing Guard of the Year is Rocky Mount’s Alice Medlin

Alice Medlin, Georgia crossing guard of the year

Story and photo submitted by Cobb County School District:

Those who drive by Rocky Mount Elementary see Alice Medlin every day, sometimes twice a day. They may even spot her out front of Simpson Middle School or near Lassiter High School. Parents wave. Students smile at the friendly crossing guard that greets them as they walk to school. Some parents stop to chat and laugh with her after walking their students to school.  

What they do not always see are the times when “Ms. Alice” steps in front of a whizzing car to pull a student to safety. They may not see her step off the curb into the path of a speeding car, all to protect a Cobb County student in harm’s way. 

They may not know that some drivers are quite disrespectful as they pass the almost-84 years-young crossing guard. They just see her smile because that’s what she does. She waves to the ill-mannered drivers and returns her attention to the children.  

“I love these children. They are like mine,” gushed the beloved crossing guard.  

For her dedication to student safety, commitment to serving the Cobb Schools community, and consistently doing it all with a positive attitude and a warm smile, “Ms. Alice” was recently named the North Georgia Outstanding Crossing Guard of the Year by the Georgia Safe Routes to School. 

She is one of only four in the entire state of Georgia to receive the title of Crossing Guard of the Year and is the only one in the 39-county area of North Georgia.  

“Ms. Alice” was standing in the crosswalk in front of Rocky Mount Elementary when she learned that she had been named Crossing Guard of the Year, a moment that brought tears to her eyes. Rocky Mount Principal Peggy Fleming, Assistant Principal Dr. Sage Doolittle, and Georgia Safe Routes representative Patti Pittman surprised her during Crossing Guard Appreciation Week.   

Rocky Mount, Simpson, and Lassiter parents pushed for her to win the recognition.  

Here’s what some of them said: 

 “Miss Alice makes sure you always a walk away with a smile. She adores all of her students and their families, and their safety is her top priority always.” 

“She is out there in the rain, wind, snow, and heat at all times to help the walkers cross safely during the busiest times of the day.” 

“We trust her with our kids’ lives.” 

 “Ms. Alice is amazing! She knows the kids by name. She loves and treats them like they are her grandkids.”  

After giving birth to 9 children and loving 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren of her own, “Ms. Alice” has a lifetime of experience with children, and it shows.  

 “Ms. Alice loves giving out special treats for the kids before long weekends and vacations,” one parent wrote in their nomination. “She greets every walker with love and even shares personal stories with us! She has such a big heart for all of the children and sees them as her own grandchildren!” 

Her oldest child, who attended Cobb Schools, is 65. One of her great-grandchildren has already graduated high school. 

I don’t look it and don’t act it, she said as she did a little dance outside Rocky Mount. 

“Ms. Alice” first pulled on the yellow vest of a Cobb Schools crossing guard about 5 years ago when she was a mere 79. She doesn’t plan to retire until she reaches 90.  

Some of the adored crossing guard’s friends ask her why she chooses to wake up early every morning and stand in the bitter cold and show up each afternoon to watch over students in the intense Georgia heat. 

“It makes it worth living to get up and come here every day,” she tells them.  

She stands in the rain, cold, and heat because her job gives her the potential to positively impact someone else’s future. That’s an opportunity she cannot turn down.  

When she’s not on the job at a crosswalk near you, she’s kicking up her heels on a dance floor. She goes dancing every Saturday.  

Because so many parents, students and members of the community see her every day, she is a bit famous. People stop her at the grocery store because they recognize her. She has so many fans—parents and students alike—that they often want to continue their crosswalk talks.  

“Ms. Alice is a joy!!! She greets us every day, no matter what the weather, with a smile,” another parent said. “She loves our kids and always makes sure they are safe. My kids love seeing her every morning and afternoon.” 

This parent’s comment may best represent why so many parents nominated her and why she ultimately won Crossing Guard of the Year.  

“She would literally give her life for any of these kids,” one parent declared.  

 

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Man, dog found dead after Northeast Cobb house fire

Northeast Cobb house fire

The Cobb Fire Department said a man and a dog were found dead in a Northeast Cobb home after a fire broke out there on Tuesday morning.

The 46-year-old man has not been identified and the cause of the fire has not been announced. Capt. Joseph Bryant of the Cobb Fire Department said fire and EMS units were called to the home at 2235 Snug Harbor, off Sandy Plains Road, at 8:08 a.m. Tuesday.

That’s in the St. Charles Square subdivision, off Sandy Plains and near Scufflegrit Road.

The man and the dog were found in the master bedroom on the main level of the two-story, home, Bryant said.

He said the cause remains under investigation and foul play is not suspected.

 

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Cobb commissioner Bob Ott podcast series features public safety

Cobb commissioner Bob Ott’s “2Talk” program is now a podcast.Bob Ott, East Cobb Restaurant Row

The District 2 commissioner started the program on the county’s public access television outlet, interviewing county officials and community leaders about a broad range of topics.

The first few “2Talk” podcasts are on the subject of public safety, including a discussion with Cobb Deputy Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer on crime trends, safety trips and how police use technology, including license plate readers and facial recognition tools.

The podcast segments can be heard by clicking here.

 

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Cobb Police issue holiday safety and shopping tips

Cobb Police holiday safety tips

From Cobb Police, some things to keep in mind as a busy holiday and shopping season begins:

Holiday safety tips
The holiday season is always a special time of year. It is also a time when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. We can never be too careful, too prepared, or too aware. Please share this information with family, friends, and neighbors. The Cobb County Police Department wishes you a safe, happy, and peaceful holiday season.

Driving/Parking

  • Avoid driving alone or at night.
  • Keep all car doors locked and windows closed while in or out of your car. Set your alarm or use an anti-theft device.
  • If you must shop at night, park in a well-lit area.
  • Avoid parking next to vans, trucks with camper shells, or cars with tinted windows.
  • Park as close as you can to your destination and take notice of where you parked.

Shopping

  • Shop during daylight hours whenever possible. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.
  • Dress casually and comfortably.
  • Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
  • Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.
  • Always carry your Driver License or Identification Card along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use.

At Home

  • Doorbell cameras are highly recommended. They can serve as a deterrent for criminal activity and/or an investigative tool for detectives should a crime occur.
  • Be cautious of having items delivered to your home. Try to arrange being home when your package is delivered.
  • Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave the house, even for a few minutes.
  • When leaving home for an extended time, have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.
  • Indoor and outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer.

Get more safety tips from Cobb Police.

 

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Pedestrian seriously injured in Terrell Mill Road crash

Terrell Mill Road pedestrian injured

A pedestrian who was hit by a garbage truck near the entrance of an apartment complex on Terrell Mill Road suffered serious injuries Wednesday morning, according to Cobb Police.

Officer Sydney Melton said in a release that Diana A. Ramone, 35, of Marietta, was rushed to WellStar Kennestone Hospital after the incident, which took place at 6:53 a.m.

Melton said Ramone was walking on the northern side of Terrell Mill near the entrance to the Sedona Falls complex, 1717 Waterfall Village Drive, when a blue 2016 Mack MRU600 truck owned by American Disposal Services turned into the apartment community and hit her in the crosswalk.

That’s near the Terrell Mill-Cobb Parkway intersection, and police said a portion of the road was closed for a while as they began investigating.

Police said the driver of the truck, Charles Strong, 45, was not injured.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department at 770-499-3987.

 

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East Cobb man arrested after police raid vaping store

Royal Cigar, East Cobb vaping store arrest
Marietta PD photos

An East Cobb man who owns vaping and tobacco shops at the East Marietta Shopping Center has been arrested and jailed without bond on drug charges after Marietta Police conducted a raid on his businesses Tuesday.

Marietta Police said Wednesday that Billy Scott Christian, 28, was charged with three felony counts related to the possession, sale and distribution of marijuana and another felony count of possession of a firearm during the commission or attempted commission of a crime.

According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, Christian lives at a Yancy Road address, in a neighborhood near Sedalia Park Elementary School.

He is the owner of the Royal Cigar and Tobacco Store at 1514 Roswell Road, and the Endangered Botanicals Shop at 1510 Roswell Road, both in the East Marietta Shopping Center.

Police said during the raid that lab equipment to manufacture gummy edibles and capsules of what may be Kratom (an opiate) were confiscated, along with more than nine pounds of marijuana, multiple scales, baggies and three firearms.

More than 100 pounds of the gummy edibles and possible Kratom capsules were collected at the scene for further testing, according to police. Kratom is a substance with similar effects as heroin.

Marietta Police said in a release that following safety alerts issued by the Centers for Disease Control about deaths relating to vaping and THC oil (the key ingredient in marijuana), they began investigating the sale of hemp and CBD oil in the city.

Samples from Christian’s store were identified by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as containing THC, not hemp, and Marietta Police said they secured search warrants as a result.

The police release said additional charges may be considered regarding the capsules “once the GBI confirms the actual chemicals” they may contain.

East Cobb vaping store arrest

 

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Cobb Police issue Halloween safety tips for kids, parents and drivers

Submitted information from Cobb Police about staying safe for Halloween (keep in mind rainy weather is in the forecast for Thursday as well):

Walk Safely

  • Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
  • Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
  • Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
  • Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
  • Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
    the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
  • Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.

Drive Extra Safe on Halloween
Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully. Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours. 

Always remember to Trick or Treat with an adult!

Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe
Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

Cobb Police Halloween safety tips

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Man gets 20 years for choking woman at her East Cobb home

A man who was convicted of choking the mother of his baby at her East Cobb home last year has been given a 22-year prison sentence, with 20 to serve.Derek Burns, East Cobb woman choked

Derek James Burns, 29, of Carrollton, was sentenced Monday by Cobb Superior Court Judge Adele Grubbs, after a jury convicted him last week of aggravated assault (strangulation), false imprisonment, simple battery and simple assault.

According to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office, Burns, who has been in jail since the April 2018 incident, will get credit for time served.

Prosecutors said at the trial that Burns and the victim were arguing at her home on Bradford Lane, off Barnes Mill Road, on April 19, 2018. According to testimony, Burns put the woman in a chokehold until she lost conscious and control of her bladder.

Prosectors said the woman realized after she regained consciousness that she had been dragged across the floor and placed in a corner, and said that Burns threatened to shoot her if she looked up or raised her head until he was gone, and would “make it look like a suicide.”

Also testifying at the trial was a former girlfriend of Burns, who said he had choked her, also rendering her unconscious, when they were dating.

Grubbs, who said Burns was “vicious and harmful,” also ordered him to serve the final two years of his term on probation.

 

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East Cobb cityhood foes blast financial review as ‘baloney’

East Cobb cityhood financial review
A City of East Cobb fire department “will not have the resources to operate” at a top certified level of protection, according to a group opposing cityhood. (ECN file)

A group opposed to East Cobb cityhood is criticizing an independent financial review that concluded that a proposed city would be fiscally viable.

The five-member Independent Financial Group, consisting of East Cobb residents who are finance and legal experts, volunteered to examine a Georgia State University feasibility study and issued its report in September.

The East Cobb Alliance, which formed over the summer to oppose cityhood, said in a posting on its Facebook page over the weekend that “in the beginning, there were 5 people on the IFG, but the 5th guy resigned when he couldn’t stomach the baloney the other 4 were proposing…and, ‘baloney’ is putting it nicely.”

(Shailesh Bettadapur, a member of the IFG group, resigned two days before the report was released, according to Bill Green, another member of the review group.)

The ECA post further stated that “several members of ECA who have choked their way through reading this document consider it nothing but a bunch of mumbo-jumbo malarkey.”

The East Cobb Alliance took issue with the report above all over fire services. The Committee for Cityhood in East Cobb had state legislation introduced in March that would create a city of East Cobb with police, fire and community development services.

The ECA noted in its posting that in the IFG report, members of the review group and the cityhood group “are concerned the [GSU feasibility] Study may not have included all necessary fire protection expenditures.”

The ECA post continued:

“This is a group of 4 people, NONE of whom have ANY experience in the fire protection services world. No one on the GSU research team had ANY experience in fire protection services. No one on the Pro-Cityhood Committee has ANY clue as to what it takes to operate an effective fire department.

“Our County Fire Department, and our personal lives and property, should NOT be subjected to the whims of fools who have NO IDEA of what it takes to assemble, hire, train, OR operate a world-class Fire Department like we have right now.

“Tell your friends and neighbors about this IDIOCY being pushed upon us.”

The GSU feasibility study estimated an annual fire budget of $5.9 million. According to the IFG report (read it here), a city finance director in a nearby municipality said a City of East Cobb may have relatively lower costs for fire because it “has a low proportion of multi-unit residential housing and fewer tall buildings.”

The IFG, in its report, added $4 million for fire expenses estimates “as a placeholder” pending further budgeting information becoming available.

The East Cobb cityhood bill includes a proposed municipality of around 96,000 people, and five fire stations currently part of the Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services Department.

The ECA in recent days has examined other aspects of the cityhood proposal, including the possible purchase and use of the East Cobb Government Services Center on Lower Roswell Road, and the proposed cost of buying those five fire stations for the new city from the county.

The ECA also claims that a new City of East Cobb fire department “will not have the resources” to provide the top certified level of protection, also known as ISO-1. Cobb is one of around 240 fire departments nationwide to have that status, which is given by the Insurance Services Office, a non-profit that provides insurance information, including for fire and building codes.

“Should we kill a great Fire Department to build a new police department? Seems like kind of a weird trade-off,” the ECA asks.

Another topic covers police and jail services that have been proposed by the cityhood group. The GSU feasibility study suggested a 140-officer East Cobb police force, nearly double the number of officers on patrol in Cobb Police Precinct 4, which covers an area well beyond the proposed city lines. Currently Precinct 4 has a staffing of around 50 response officers, a shortage of less than 20 for what it’s been allocated.

“That just seems very bizarre to us when the land area will be half of their current coverage,” concluded the ECA. “Why should we vote to form a new city to correct a deficiency of 16 people . . . when the coverage territory of a new city will be 50% of the original precinct territory? For all we know, 71 people may be the ideal force for a PCEC.”

The East Cobb Alliance and the East Cobb cityhood group have been invited to a Nov. 12 forum hosted by the East Cobb Business Association.

The day before, on Nov. 11, the cityhood group will hold a town hall meeting at Wheeler High School.

The cityhood group’s public events, which follow town halls in the spring, also tentatively will include more meetings after the first of the year, when the Georgia legislature would take up the East Cobb cityhood bill.

That bill would have to pass the entire General Assembly for a cityhood referendum to take place in 2020.

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Ott critical of Cobb public safety step and grade proposal

Cobb Police Recruiting Graphic
A Cobb Police recruiting graphic drawn up after commissioners approved pay increases for public safety employees for FY 2020. 

After hearing a first draft of a proposed step and grade salary and promotion system for Cobb County public safety employees, commissioner Bob Ott Monday said the plan isn’t any better than what’s in place now.

The proposal calls for a salary increase for police officers, sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and other workers, and in increments with a three-percent raise as they move up in grade.

“I don’t see any difference,” said Ott, who represents District 2, which includes part of East Cobb, at a Monday commissioners’ work session. “There’s just a difference in the numbers.”

Cobb public safety officials worked up the new plan as the next step in a series of salary, retention and promotional incentives after commissioners approved the fiscal year 2020 budget with a seven-percent pay raise for many public safety employees.

They previously received a one-time bonus of $1,450 as a good faith gesture from commissioners during the budget process.

The additional funding came after months of public lobbying from public safety employees and citizens to pay public safety employees better, provide more recruiting incentives, and increase morale. Cobb public safety has significant staffing shortages, especially with police and the Sheriff’s Office.

Cobb Police, which has a shortage of around 80 officers, has been actively sending out recruiting messages on social media, posting signs around the county (including at the entrance to East Cobb Park) and conducting job fairs in north Georgia.

Step and grade is similar to what Cobb County School District employees receive—annual, incremental raises based on a combination of factors, including years of service, promotions and performance reviews.

The Cobb public safety step and grade draft would boost the starting salary for an entry-level police officer from around $41,000 a year to $45,776 annually.

Cobb interim public safety director Randy Crider said under the proposal, an officer making $54,000 at Grade 16 and Step 6 could earn $54,976 instead under a “blue” plan that would take effect in March 2020.

Under an alternate “yellow” plan, that same officer would make $56,818 a year, with the new pay scale starting with the fiscal 2021 budget next fall.

Cobb public safety step and grade

Crider said his numbers were figured with current budgeting numbers in mind, and he told Ott that “this is to give you a structure to approve.”

The problem, as Ott saw it, was that under the draft proposal, raises would come to commissioners each year for approval. “That’s not step and grade,” he said.

Most step and grade plans, including that for Cobb schools, have automatic increases factored into budgets.

Cobb commission chairman Mike Boyce said the current “pay and class” system was meant to be a one-time solution. With step and grade, “the anticipation is that we’ll do this annually.”

He said it was important for the county to “continue to provide incentives” to attract police officers and firefighters for years to come. “This won’t be a one and done.

“We don’t fix this overnight. We fix it over time.”

Ott countered by saying that in a “true step and grade, you get a raise every year. And you get another raise and you get promoted.”

The proposal brought before commissioners, he insisted, means that “each year, it requires the board to make the same decisions we’re making today.”

Public safety officials had scheduled individual meetings with commissioners after Monday’s work session.

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East Cobb man indicted for vehicular homicide in I-20 crash

A man living on Terrell Mill Road and who was charged with the death of a motorist in a fatal crash on I-20 in July has been indicted on three counts of vehicular homicide.

The Cobb District Attorney’s Office said Mark Steven Ridling, 29, of 1550 Terrell Mill Road, was indicted by a Cobb Superior Court grand jury on Oct. 3.

According to the indictment, Ridling was driving a Hyundai Azera in Interstate 20 near Factory Shoals Road in South Cobb after 2 a.m. on July 7 when his vehicle, which was traveling well in excess of the posted 70 mph speed limits, changed lanes. The Hyundai then struck a Toyota Corolla driven by Brian Betts, 47, of Atlanta, who later died at Grady Memorial Hospital as a result of the crash.

The indictment also said Ridling was driving while under the influence, and that he was driving “in a reckless manner on reckless disregard of the safety of persons and property.” Betts’ car overturned and Ridling’s Hyundai struck a barrier on the interstate.

Ridling suffered minor injuries and also was taken to Grady. He was arrested the same day and remains in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records.

 

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3 East Cobb parks to have license plate readers installed

Cobb parks license plate reader devices, East Cobb Park

After a couple months’ delay, three East Cobb parks will be among 13 in the county that will be getting electronic license plate readers.

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to spend $182,000 for the devices, which are designed to help cut down on crime and improve public safety at the parks.

East Cobb Park, Fullers Park and Terrell Mill Park are on the list for getting the readers, which are being purchased from a private vendor and will monitored by the Cobb Police Department.

The measure was tabled in August at the behest of East Cobb commissioner Bob Ott, who said he had privacy concerns with the proposal.

The revised request includes a provision that only police will receive the data coming from the devices, and that they will employ their existing policies about restricting use of the data.

No other county employees will have access to that information.

South Cobb commissioner Lisa Cupid thanked Ott “for letting us digest” the need to address privacy concerns.

“This was a sensitive issue,” said Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce, who thanked the police and parks and recreation staff for working out a solution.

Cobb will purchase a total of 26 devices from Flock Group, Inc., which has sold cameras to the county for use by other departments. The funding for the park devices is in the 2016 Cobb SPLOST.

The solar-powered readers at the parks will collect data that includes time of arrival and departure as well as license plate and vehicle characteristics.

Two devices will be installed at each of the 13 parks, which Cobb Parks and Recreation Director Jimmy Gisi said were chosen “based on experience and data obtained from the police department records of the number and type of citizen requested dispatch calls.”

The other parks include Noonday Park and Skip Wells Park in Northeast Cobb; Lost Mountain Park, Oregon Park and Fair Oaks Park in West and North Cobb; and Wallace Park, Hurt Road Park, Tramore Park and Wild Horse Creek Park in South Cobb.

 

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Motorcyclist seriously injured in Lower Roswell Road crash

Lower Roswell Road crash

A Roswell woman was ejected from her motorcycle and landed on a guardrail after her vehicle crashed into a concrete curb on Lower Roswell Road Friday afternoon, Cobb Police said.

Carolyn C. Keelaghan, 57, was taken by ambulance to WellStar Kennestone Hospital with what a police spokeswoman said are serious but not believed to be life-threatening injuries.

Officer Sydney Melton said Keelaghan was riding a Harley Davidson XL883 motorcycle northbound on Lower Roswell, between Asheforde Drive and Timber Ridge Road, at 5:54 p.m. Friday.

The motorcyclist was making a sharp turn to her left, but failed to maintain her lane and the bike crashed into a concrete curb, Melton said. The motorcycle overturned and Keelaghan was thrown into a guardrail, according to police, who said the incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department at 770-499-3987.

 

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Cobb Sheriff’s Office holding women’s self-defense classes

During the month of October the Cobb Sheriff’s Office will hold self-defense classes for women, with the holiday season in mind.Cobb sheriff

Two of the three sessions are in East Cobb. They’re classroom-only seminars and will last 90 minutes each. Here’s the schedule:

  • 6:30-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1
    Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, 955 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta
  • 6:30-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 15
    South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road, Mableton
  • 6:30-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29
    Mt. Zion Methodist Church, 1770 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta

As for everyday crime prevention tips, at home and when you’re out and about, Cobb Police have been sending out the following information recently:

Never advertise you are leaving town: Don’t broadcast that you and your family will be away. Wait until after your trip to share updates and photos on social media. Remind your children not to Facebook, blog, or tweet your family’s absence from home.
• Create the illusion of occupancy: While away cancel delivery of mail and newspaper or arrange for a neighbor to pick them up.
• Lights: Put inside and outside lights on a timer to establish a look of occupancy. Adding a timer on your TV so it’s on when you’d normally be watching TV is also a good idea.
• Lock all windows and doors: Keep valuables away from windows, lower blinds, and close curtains so passers-by can’t view these items. Remember, a significant amount of crime can be deterred if home owners do not create easy opportunities for the criminal element.
• Garage: Keep your car locked and the windows up even if its parked in the garage and take your keys with you. If your house is broken into, there is no need to provide the thief with a car. You may also want to unplug your garage door opener and lock the garage door while out of town.
• Trust a Neighbor: Make sure a dependable neighbor watches your house, has a house key, and has your cell number in case of any home emergency. Also make sure your neighbor has a way to shut off any alarms.
• Utilities: It’s always a good idea to turn back the temperature of your water heater and shut off the water to your washing machine (washing machine hose breaks are at the top of the list when it comes to home damage costs).

And for preventing specific types of crimes:

Burglary Prevention

  • Lock your doors, including the one from the garage
  • Keep garage doors closed-check before bed every night
  • Motion sensor activated lighting
  • Surveillance cameras

Entering Auto Prevention

  • Lock your vehicles and remove items of value and items that appear to contain valuables.
  • If you can’t keep them with you, secure your valuables in the trunk before reaching your location.
  • Keep your vehicle locked and your purse or wallet on your person while fueling at the gas station.

Postal Theft

  • Anti-Theft mailboxes with a special locking system
  • Security Cameras
  • Do not raise the mail flag
  • Do not send cash, checks, or anything that has credit card information

Remember to CALL 911 to report any suspicious persons or activity. If you see something, say something!

 

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East Cobb public safety dinner fundraising drive continues

Precinct 4 officers honored at the East Cobb Business Association’s Public Safety Appreciation Dinner.

The fourth annual East Cobb public safety dinner is set to take place in early November, and organizers are seeking donations from the public.

The dinner treats Cobb Police Precinct 4 officers, staff and their spouses to a night out, with dinner, gift certificates, door prizes and entertainment.

Susan Hampton of East Cobb, one of the event’s organizers, said the dinner “has become a big deal” in the local law enforcement community, with around 97 percent participation.

The East Cobb Business Association has been behind the dinner since its inception, and Hampton continues to lead the effort as a member of the new Cobb County Public Safety Foundation.

The ECBA organizes a similar dinner for the full Cobb Fire and Emergency Services department in the spring.

Hampton said door prizes, which are donated by local businesses, are especially popular. The suggested individual donations are $25, $50 and $100 in the “Thank A Hero” category. The donor’s name is listed on the event program.

Sponsorship levels are $250, $500, $1,000 and $2,500. According to the donation form:

“We are blessed to live, work and raise our families in this wonderful community. We appreciate the continued support of our co-host organizations, the East Cobb Business Association, the Cobb Chamber’s East Cobb Area Council and the Cobb County Public Safety Foundation. These organizations are represented on the event committee, which also includes individuals from East Cobb civic clubs, representatives from the police and fire departments and past East Cobb Citizen of the Year recipients.”

For information and to donate visit the ECBA website, or the Cobb County Public Safety Foundation website.

 

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Cobb public libraries to hold medical emergency training

Submitted information:Cobb Fire Department fireworks safety reminder

Cobb Fire and Emergency Services staff will host seven basic medical emergency training programs at Cobb County public libraries in late September through October. This free training is designed to help residents be prepared and confident to handle medical emergencies.
 
There will be two segments of about 90 minutes each. The first session, Family and Friends CPR, will cover hands-only CPR, how to occlude severed arteries, using AEDs and basic first aid. The second session, Stop the Bleed, will teach how to save lives in emergencies involving uncontrolled bleeding.
 
Space is limited and registration for the training sessions is required whether you are attending one or both segments.

The training sessions will be held as follows:

  • 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24
    Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta
    To register, call 770-509-2725 or click here.
  • 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 30
    Kemp Memorial Library, 4029 Due West Road NW, Marietta
    To register, call 770-528-2527.
  • 10 a.m, Tuesday, Oct. 8
    Sibley Library, 1539 South Cobb Drive, Marietta
    To register, call 770-528-2520.
  • 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 14
    Gritters Library, 880 Shaw Park Road, Marietta
    To register, call 770-528-2524.
  • 10 a.m., Friday, Oct 18
    Vinings Library, 4290 Paces Ferry Road SE, Atlanta
    To register, call 770-801-5330.
  • 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 24
    Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center, 2051 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta
    To register, call 770-509-2711.
  • 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30
    East Cobb Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road, Suite 510-B, Marietta
    To register, call 770-509-2730.
For more information on programs at Cobb libraries, visit cobbcat.org or call 770-528-2320. For information on Cobb County EMS, visit cobbcounty.org/public-safety/fire.

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Cobb Fire competing in ‘Close Before You Doze’ video contest

Cobb Fire Close Before You Doze

Thanks to Aaron Salkill, a firefighter with the Cobb Fire and Emergency Services Department, for passing along the following information and educational video you can watch below that’s part of a nationwide contest about closing your door before going to bed.

He and his Dalmatian Cinder are taking part in the “Close Before You Doze” video contest, which will award the winner a $25,000 grant for fire safety education programs.

The video contest is in conjunction with UL Firefighter Safety Research, and the videos are designed “to help educate people about the critical impact that closing your bedroom door can have in stopping the spread of a fire and ultimately saving lives.”

The winnings, according to Cobb Fire, would be contributed to the Cobb County Safety Village.

The eight videos with the most votes move on to the next round where a panel of UL representatives will rank the finalists. They will receive a donation in their name to a fire department of their choosing.

The grand prize donation is $25,000, the runner-up and second runner-up will receive $15,000 and $10,000, respectively, and five additional winners will be recognized with a $5,000 donation and honorable mention.

You can click on to the video link here between now and Sept. 15 to cast your vote for Aaron and Cinder and possibly benefit the Cobb Safety Village.

 

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