East Cobb Public Safety

Man arrested after trying to purchase a child at an East Cobb Kroger store

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An East Cobb man has been arrested and charged with criminal solicitation of a child after attempting to purchase a 7-year-old girl from an East Cobb Kroger store on Monday, Cobb Police said.Cobb Police

Einodd Samimi, 62 or 63 years old, is in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, charged with felony counts of criminal solicitation and enticing a child, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office information.

Cobb Police said a woman and her granddaughter were at the Kroger store at 2100 Roswell Road, in the Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center, around 7 p.m. Monday, when the grandmother said she noticed a man following them.

She said the man was making “inappropriate comments” and offered to buy the child for $200, police said.

According to Cobb Police, “the grandmother confronted the male when he asked to purchase her granddaughter at the Kroger, and a ‘large crowd’ of shoppers chased the male through the store and to his vehicle.”

Police added that detectives arrested Samimi at his home. The place of arrest noted by the Cobb Sheriff’s Office is on Coventry Township Place, located off Barnes Mill Road, near the Kroger.

Samimi, who was born in Iran, is being held on $20,000 bond, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Police said the grandmother also told them the same man previously had offered her $100 for the child at a Wal-Mart on Cobb Parkway.

Cobb Police said they’re continuing to investigate and anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Crimes Against Children unit at 770-801-3470.

The arrest of Samimi was announced as Cobb Police also said they have arrested a man who allegedly tried to kidnap an 11-year-old girl in a public restroom at Town Center Mall on Tuesday.

Police said the suspect came out of a stall and threatened the girl with a knife while her father waited for her outside the restroom.

Police said the girl screamed and escaped, and the suspect was chased down by mall patrons in a food court before being caught.

Cobb Police say they’re looking for witnesses with information about a female whom they think was involved in the incident, but who got away.

Police say the woman may be of Middle Eastern descent in her 30s. Anyone with information, or who may have taken videos or photos should contact the Crimes Against Children unit at 770-801-3487 or by e-mailing CobbSVU@cobbcounty.org.

Danzel Mitchell, 26, is being held at the Cobb jail without bond, and is charged with aggravated assault, attempted kidnapping, cruelty to children in the first degree and false imprisonment.

 

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Northeast Cobb man sentenced to life in prison for stabbing his wife to death

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A Northeast Cobb man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to killing his wife last year, the Cobb District Attorney’s Office said. Donny Eaton, Northeast Cobb man sentenced

Donny Eaton, 65, entered the plea on Monday, when jury selection for his trial was expected to begin. The negotiated deal was accepted by Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley, who handed down the sentence.

He was charged with malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Eaton was arrested on April 4, 2017 after Roxane Tenore Eaton, 66, was found with what the Cobb DA said were “countless” stab wounds about her face and neck at their home on Liberty Hill Road.

According to the DA’s office, Eaton initially cut her throat with a pocket knife. Tenore Eaton had purchased a home in Florida where she wanted the couple to live to be closer to family, but he was opposed to the move.

After the stabbings, Eaton visited his mother’s grave in Floyd County, and confessed to emergency dispatchers there that he had stabbed his wife, the Cobb DA said. A welfare check was made at the Eaton home, where Tenore Eaton was found, and he turned himself into the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, according to the Cobb DA.

“Donny Eaton took the life of his wife in a gruesome manner, with it appearing that he was attempting to decapitate her, all because she wanted to be closer to her children and grandchildren in Florida to live out the remainder of their lives,” Cobb senior assistant district attorney Patricia Hull said in a statement. “Donny Eaton refused to leave their home in Georgia. If he couldn’t have her here with him in Georgia, he didn’t want her children to have her, either.”

 

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Cobb Police issue Mattie’s Call for man missing from Northeast Cobb group home

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Jaden Thornton, Cobb Police Mattie's Call

Cobb Police have issued a Mattie’s Call for a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome who went missing last week from a group home in the Northeast Cobb area.

His name is Jaden Thornton, and he was last seen on Thursday at 576 Hawkins Store Road, after walking away from a group home, according to Cobb Police.

Police said Thornton is bi-polar and has an IQ between 65-71. Police said he was last seen wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, light grey shorts and brown Adidas shoes.

Cobb Police said if he is located to contact them at 770-499-3911.

 

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Bells Ferry Road murder suspect arrested; police seeking another man

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Jemarquis Wright, Bells Ferry Road murder suspect
Marietta Police are looking for Je’marquis Wright 

An update to a shooting on Bells Ferry Road last Friday that left a man dead: One suspect has been taken in to custody, and police are looking for another man they’re saying is “wanted for questioning.”

Marietta Police said Thursday afternoon that Mehki Hilali, 18, has been charged with murder, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and aggravated assault with intent to murder.

Tyon Demeko Gorman, 19, was found shot at a small strip shopping center on Bells Ferry near Williams Drive and later died at a hospital, according to police. They said that a white vehicle with a rear spoiler was seen leaving the area after the shooting and was heading north on Bells Ferry Road.

According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, Hilali has a Dallas, Ga., address, and was booked in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center Wednesday night and is being held without bond.

Police also have released the accompanying photo of another man, Je’marquis Wright, 17, (shown above), who is wanted for questioning about the shooting.

Marietta Police said anyone with information is asked to call their detectives line directly at 770-794-6990) or contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS if they wish to remain anonymous.

 

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2 killed in Powers Ferry Road accident Sunday afternoon

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Powers Ferry Road accident, April 29 2018
via OpenStreetMap

The drivers of two vehicles that collided in a Powers Ferry Road accident on Sunday were killed, Cobb Police said.

Ryan Michalski, 31, and Miraylla Sousa, 23, both of East Cobb-area addresses, died after being taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, Cobb Police Officer Sarah O’Hara said.

O’Hara said the crash took place at 4:10 p.m. Sunday on Powers Ferry Road, at Meadowbrook Lane, when a black 2006 Ford Fusion driven by Michalski collided with a white 2013 Kia Optima driven by Sousa.

The intersection is just south of Powers Ferry and the South Marietta Parkway, and just north of Powers Ferry Elementary School.

Police said the Ford was traveling northbound on Powers Ferry when it veered into the southbound lane and into the path of the Kia. O’Hara said witnesses told police the Ford had been speeding and passed other vehicles in the center turn lane before the crash.

The Ford caught fire and was heavily damaged in the collision and landed on a shoulder, while the Kia came to a stop in the intersection, O’Hara said.

She said the accident remains under investigation and that anyone with information should call the Cobb County Police Department’s STEP Unit at 770-499-3987.

 

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Police investigating Bells Ferry Road fatal shooting Friday night

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Bells Ferry Road fatal shooting, Marietta Police
Marietta Police say a 19-year-old man was shot at a gas station and convenience store at 1750 Bells Ferry Road and Williams Drive Friday, and later died. (Marietta Police photo)

UPDATED, Thursday, May 3, 4:30 p.m.: Marietta Police have charged an 18-year-old with murder in this case and are looking for another teenager.

Marietta Police say a Bells Ferry Road shooting on Friday night has left a 19-year-old man dead, and that they’re searching for a vehicle that left the scene.

Tyon Demeko Gorman, 19, died after being transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, police said.

Police said that a white vehicle with a rear spoiler was seen leaving the area and was heading north on Bells Ferry Road.

Police said officers were called to a small strip shopping center at 1750 Bells Ferry Road, just north of Interstate 75, at 6:22 p.m., and found that a black male had suffered at least one gunshot wound.

He was lying on the ground in front of the businesses when police, Marietta Fire and Metro Ambulance units responded, Marietta Police said.

Marietta Police said they had no other details available, but that anyone with information is asked to call contact Detective Mark Erion at 770-794-6990.

 

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Man dies after Bells Ferry Road shooting Friday evening

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Here’s more information about the shooting that left a 19-year-old man dead.

UPDATE, 9:15 P.M.

Police said the male shooting victim has died.

ORIGINAL REPORT, posted at 7:50 p.m.

An unidentified person has been taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital Friday evening after a Bells Ferry Road shooting, according to Marietta Police. Marietta Police, Delk Road motel shooting

Police said officers were called to 1750 Bells Ferry Road, just north of Interstate 75, at 6:22 p.m., and that someone had been rushed to the hospital with a gunshot wound.

Police have not released information about that individual’s condition or more details about the shooting.

A number of apartment complexes and small business are located around the scene of the shooting, and it’s also near the intersection of Bells Ferry Road and Williams Drive.

 

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Walton graduate named commander of Cobb Police Precinct 4 criminal investigations unit

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Cobb Police Precinct 4 has lost its criminal investigations leader but his successor has local ties.

Lt. Nathan McCreary is the new commander of the East Cobb precinct’s criminal investigations unit. He’s a Walton High School graduate and also attended Dickerson Middle School.Cobb Police, Coffee with a Cop

He succeeds Brian Kitchens, who been promoted from lieutenant to captain and is now the assistant commander in Precinct 2 in South Cobb.

McCreary, an Air Force veteran and graduate of Kennesaw State University, will mark his 20th year as a member of Cobb Police next month.

He has served in a number of capacities with Cobb Police, and for the last two years he has served as the Precinct 4 morning watch commander.

McCreary also spent five years in media relations and is a crisis negotiator.

In February, Kitchens briefed East Cobb business leaders about the number of car break-ins being on the rise in Precinct 4.

In the most recent statistics, a total of 340 break-ins have been reported in the county since March 1, 29 of them in Precinct 4.

Here’s what police are saying about all this, and what break-in thieves are looking for:

“There are two main areas where these entering autos occur. Most occurrences happen at the victim’s residence as the vehicle is parked in a driveway. These cases are usually crimes of opportunity committed by ‘door flippers.’ Basically, a group of criminals enter a subdivision overnight and walk through the neighborhood flipping door handles to see if a vehicle is unlocked. If it is locked, they move on. Of course, if the vehicle is unlocked, the criminals ransack the interior and collect any items of value. These thieves are looking for cash, electronics, credit cards, and guns.

“The other location these entering autos are occurring is fitness centers. Criminals are often savvy and know most people don’t like bringing valuables into a gym for fear of having their valuables lost or stolen. Therefore, many leave their valuables in the cab of their vehicles. This is a prime location for thieves to target. A quick smashed window and the criminals have access to purses, wallets, laptops, etc.”

 

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I-75 Allgood Road accident sends child to hospital, causes traffic backups

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I-75 Allgold Road accident
Marietta Police photo

Marietta Police said this morning that a four-year-old girl is in stable condition after an accident on Interstate 75 near Allgood Road.

Police said the accident was caused by a tire blowing out on a vehicle traveling northbound on the interstate. The vehicle lost control and rolled over, ejecting the child, according to police.

Three right lanes of northbound traffic on I-75 were closed until after 11 a.m., and police said additional closures may be necessary as they continue their investigation into the accident.

 

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Police report missing woman in Delk Road-Bentley Road area

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Hadiya Barr, Marietta Police photo

Marietta Police say a 20-year-old woman living in the Delk Road-Bentley Road area has gone missing from her home.

Shortly after 8 p.m. tonight they issued this photo and the following information about Hadiya Barr, and what do you if you’ve seen her or have information about her whereabouts:

She is 5′ 7″ tall with a slender build. She walked out of the family home near the intersection of Delk Road and Bentley Road yesterday afternoon. When she left, she did not take any belongings and does not have friends in the area she could turn to for help.

Please contact Detective Sheffield if you have any information about her or where she may be staying at: dsheffield@mariettaga.gov or (770) 794-5345.

 

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UPDATE: Motorcyclist dies after Johnson Ferry Road accident

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East Cobb traffic alert, Johnson Ferry Road accident
East Cobb News reader photo from the accident scene on Johnson Ferry Road at Lake Rill Court.

UPDATED, Tuesday, March 27, 11 A.M.: Cobb Police said this morning the motorcyclist in Monday’s Johnson Ferry Road accident has died. He has been identified as Alexander Seidnitzer, age 18, of East Cobb.

Police said Seidnitzer was traveling southbound on Johnson Ferry Road on a gray 2015 Yamaha FZ07 motorcycle when it collided with a lawn service truck at the intersection of Lake Rill Court.

The truck, driven by Joshua Peavy, 27, of Smyrna, was attempting to turn left from Lake Rill Court onto Johnson Ferry Road northbound when the accident occurred, police said.

Seidnitzer died after being transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, according to police, who said Peavy was not injured.

Police said they do not anticipate filing charges in the accident, which is still under investigation.

Family members said Seidnitzer was aiming to be a chef and attend culinary school (see comments below).

UPDATED, 1:50 P.M. Monday

Officer Wayne Delk of the Cobb County Police Department said a motorcyclist collided with a landscaping truck at the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Lake Rill Court late Monday morning.

The motorcyclist, who was not identified, was taken by ambulance from the accident scene with life-threatening injuries, Delk said. The accident occurred shortly before 10 a.m.

All northbound lanes of Johnson Ferry Road were closed between Roswell Road and Bishop Lake Road while the accident was being investigated, according to police, and only one southbound lane of Johnson Ferry was open during that time. All traffic lanes reopened around 1:40 p.m., Cobb Police said.

Delk said initial information from the accident scene indicates that the motorcyclist may be at fault.

We have received photos from a reader, including above, who was caught in the traffic jam, and who also told us this:

” . . . really sad, it was a young person on the blue motorcycle and the man driving the Arbornomics truck was so distraught and crying by the side of the road.”

We’ve also received dashcam footage from Mohamad Zakaria, who was traveling southbound on Johnson Ferry when the motorcyclist zoomed past him. Zakaria, who was heading to classes at Georgia Perimeter College, was traveling around 45 mph, the posted local speed limit.

ORIGINAL POST, 11:49 A.M. Monday

Cobb DOT is asking motorists to consider an alternative to using Johnson Ferry Road at Lake Rill Court, just north of Roswell Road, due to an accident that’s causing heavy delays.

The accident is affecting traffic in both north and southbound lanes, but that’s all the information that’s available for now.

UPDATED, 1:14 P.M.: Johnson Ferry Road traffic at that intersection is shut down until at least 2 p.m.

Lake Rill Court is the entrance to a neighborhood on the same side of Johnson Ferry as the Sunrise at East Cobb senior living facility, and just a little north of it.

We’ll update this story when we get more information.

 

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Missing autistic East Cobb man found safely three miles from home

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Here’s a missing persons story with a happy ending: Marietta Police put out an alert Sunday afternoon for Angelo Michael Messineo, a 21-year-old man from East Cobb with autism, after he disappeared from his home on Evanston Court, off Scufflegrit Road and near Sandy Plains Road.Angelo Michael Messineo, missing autistic East Cobb man

He’s a mid-to-low functioning adult, and he went missing right as rainy weather approached, and with a wet evening forecast overnight Sunday. A Mattie’s Call was issued and multiple law enforcement agencies were dispatched.

Marietta PD said around 8 a.m. today that Messineo had been found safely at Merritt Park, more than three miles from his home, and he’s been returned to his family.

They got assistance from the Cobb Sheriff’s Office, which used bloodhounds to search, as well as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Also helping in the search were the Marietta Fire Department, Cobb Fire Department, Cobb Police, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol. 

The case was solved by an individual, as Marietta PD posted:

“Special kudos go to the local resident who called 911 this morning and stated they saw someone walking near Merritt Park that resembled Angelo’s description. Had it not been for the way this community worked together, Angelo might still be missing and vulnerable.”

 

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East Cobb man arrested in multi-state child exploitation investigation

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An East Cobb man arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of a child is one of 76 people rounded up in Georgia and seven other Southeastern states this week in a sweeping investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and other state, local and federal agencies.Georgia ICAC, East Cobb man arrested, Operation Southern Impact II

Andrew C. Orr, 34, was arrested by Cobb Police Wednesday and taken to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, according to the Cobb Sheriff’s Office, which listed his address as being on Creekstone Way in Indian Hills.

Orr is identified by the GBI as a part-time freighter.

Cobb Sheriff’s Office records indicate that Orr has been charged with one felony count of sexual exploitation of a child, and one felony count of using a computer service to entice a child to commit an illegal act, and that he was released Thursday after posting a $25,000 bond.

In a press release, the GBI said 13 children were rescued or identified as victims of child exploitation as a result of the investigation.

A warrant was issued for Orr’s arrest as Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces in Georgia and other states conducted “Operation Southern Impact II.” It’s a four-month investigation of allegations of possession and distribution of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children using the Internet.

A total of 34 people were arrested in Georgia, and those charged in all range in age from 17 to 72, the GBI said. Cobb and Marietta police were among the more than 200 law enforcement agencies participating in the investigation in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The GBI said more arrests are likely.

 

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Cobb Police release sketch of ‘fake cop’ suspect in Terrell Mill Road rape case

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Late this afternoon Cobb Police released a sketch of a man they say impersonated a law enforcement officer last week and pulled over a female motorist before raping her.

Cobb Police said a white male dressed as an officer and driving a vehicle with a light bar on top stopped another vehicle on Terrell Mill Road near Paper Mill Road early Friday morning. When the suspect asked for the woman’s driver’s license, police said he sexually assaulted her (previous East Cobb News post here).

It is unclear if the suspect is the same man who pulled over a female motorist in the city of Atlanta and raped her a few hours before the Cobb County attack. The sketch below was issued about the same time on Wednesday, around 5 p.m. by Atlanta Police.

Both sketches were created by a sketch artist with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, working off descriptions and information provided by the victims. Atlanta and Cobb Police are continuing to investigate the case jointly.

The suspect is believed to be a white male, around six feet tall, and is around 30 years old. He also is described as wearing clothing and gear similar to law enforcement, but that does not correspond with any local police or public safety agency. Police said the man also was wearing a police duty belt with a gun, Taser and radio.

Police urged motorists, especially female drivers, to exercise caution and safety when being pulled over, including stopping in a public, well-lit area and calling 911 if necessary to verify the identity of the officer.

Cobb Police said anyone with information about the Terrell Mill Road rape case should call the Crimes Against Persons Unit at 770-499-4111 or email: cobbpolicecrimetips@cobbcounty.org.

 

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Cobb Police issue ‘fake cop’ alert for suspect in Terrell Mill Road rape

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The Cobb Police Department says a man impersonating a police officer pulled over a female motorist on Terrell Mill Road early Friday and sexually assaulted her. Cobb Police

According to a release issued by Cobb Police on Friday evening, the victim said she stopped her car on Terrell Mill Road near Paper Mill Road around 4:45 a.m. Friday after being pursued by what she thought was a police officer.

Instead, police said, she was raped by a male who told her he was a police officer and asked for her driver’s license. He began patting her down for her ID, then groped and sexually assaulted her as she sat in her seat, according to police.

Police said the suspect stopped and let her leave the scene, but he was not an officer. Police said they were unsure what kind of vehicle he was driving, but it had a light bar on top, similar to a police car.

The suspect is described as a white man, around six feet tall with an average build. He is approximately 30 years old and is unshaven with short, dark brown hair worn in a buzz cut and has a square-shaped head.

Police said he was wearing a dark jacket with a light blue emblem or something inscribed on it, a black vest with a star-shaped gold blade and three service bars. He also was wearing dark pants, a tan collared uniform shirt with a gold emblem and a white t-shirt under the uniform shirt. Police said this does not fit the uniform description of any Cobb law enforcement agency.

Police said the suspect also was wearing a police duty belt with a gun, Taser and radio.

Cobb Police are asking the public to observe to the following practices when pulled over for a traffic stop:

  • Pull over in a public area;
  • Find a well-lit area so the officer can see the motorist and vice-versa. Turn on hazard lights, slow down, and find the best location available to pull over;
  • Motorists do not have to roll their windows all the way down in order to speak to an officer or give an officer their driver’s licenses and proof of insurance (but the license and proof of insurance are required to be handed over if an officer asks for them);
  • Motorists can call 911 and make sure they are being pulled over by an actual officer (if  they are unsure due to darkness or the car not being easily recognized as a marked patrol vehicle) while driving slowly with hazard lights on;
  • If motorists suspect an individual is not an actual officer, they can call 911 immediately and provide a location and a description of the suspect and suspect vehicle if visible. Stay on the phone with the 911 operator until an officer arrives to assist.

Anyone with information about the Terrell Mill Road incident should call the Cobb Police Crimes Against Persons Unit at 770-499-3945.

 

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Chaotic Delk Road traffic stop leads to high-speed chase with a muddy demise

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Delk Road traffic stop, Marietta Police
Three men were arrested in a muddy area off Delk Road Thursday morning after eluding authorities following a traffic stop. (Marietta Police photo)

An early-morning Delk Road traffic stop Thursday became a rather eventful incident for Marietta Police Officer Bobby Wallace.

According to police, Wallace pulled over a white Fusion with three male occupants around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Delk and Franklin Gateway. When he approached the vehicle and asked the driver to step out, he smelled marijuana.

Wallace also sensed “odd” body language from the driver as he summoned backup help, according to police. When the additional officer arrived, the driver jumped back inside the car, and the officers tried to remove him, police said.

At that point, police said, Wallace ended up in the Fusion with the three suspects, who had trapped him inside and fled the scene, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase. The other officer, Sgt. Brian Honea, had been knocked down in the chaos.

After weaving through rush-hour traffic, the Fusion ended up in the mud about a mile away from the stop, racing as fast as 71 mph at one point, according to Marietta Police, who said the suspects “wrestled” with the officer during the chase.

According to police, Wallace was able to close a car door during the ordeal to avoid falling out.

One of suspects got out of the car before the chase ended and was arrested on foot with the help of a K-9 team, according to police.

Marietta Police said they got help from Cobb Police and the Georgia State Patrol in apprehending the suspects, who are all from Massachusetts. They are identified as Cory Moody, the driver, and passengers Eyzaiya Moody and Walter Gadson Jr.

Formal charges against them are pending, but in addition to the initial traffic charges they are expected to include assault, obstruction, fleeing and eluding, kidnaping, and a felon in possession of a firearm. They were being booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center late Thursday afternoon, according to the Cobb Sheriff’s Office.

Police said the officers were not injured, and that handguns thrown out of the car during the chase also were recovered.

 

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Members of the ‘Ghostface Gangsters’ face federal, state charges

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Ghostface Gangsters, Cobb Police
Cobb Police Chief Mike Register speaks about the Ghostface Gangster indictments, with U.S. Attorney Byung Pak at far right.

Cobb County Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta announced Tuesday that 23 members of the “Ghostface Gangsters” criminal ring have been indicted on racketeering and other federal, state and local charges, including attempted murder, drug trafficking and wire fraud, as well as attacks on law enforcement.

A 21-count federal grand jury indictment against 23 defendants issued on Feb. 8 was revealed at Cobb Police headquarters in Marietta. Cobb and federal authorities say the Ghostface Gangsters originated in the Cobb County Jail in 2000 and their ranks grew in other state jails and prisons to include several thousand members over the years.

Nine members of the gang were charged with racketeering. Twenty defendants were already in custody when the indictments were announced, and several are from Cobb County.

The wide-ranging criminal activity the defendants are charged with include kidnapping, drug trafficking, attempted murder, witness tampering and a variety of firearms crimes.

“The recent federal indictments of this dangerous gang demonstrates how effective and important interagency collaboration is between federal, state, and local partners, and also demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement entities at every level to keep the communities across this nation as safe as possible,” Cobb police chief Mike Register said at Tuesday’s press briefing.

The racketeering defendants include Jeffrey Alan Bourassa, 35, of Cobb, a founder of the gang, who also is charged with kidnapping and maiming another gang member, as well as Kevin Scott Sosebee, 27, also of Cobb, charged with the attempted murder of a Cobb police officer.

Sosebee is charged with shooting at a Cobb police officer in December in Mableton after a traffic stop, and then fleeing the scene.

Another defendant, Victor Manuel Dejesus, is charged with a violent carjacking and attempted murder of a motorist in Smyrna in July 2016, and in fleeing that crime is alleged to have shot at a Cobb deputy sheriff who was in pursuit.

“The Ghostface Gangsters gang is very violent and their members will not hesitate to shoot at anyone,” said Byung J. “BJay” Pak, the U.S. Attorney in Atlanta. “We are partnering with local and state law enforcement agencies, including the Georgia Department of Corrections, to stop this criminal enterprise. If convicted, the defendants will be removed to federal facilities all across the United States.”

In addition to Cobb Police, Marietta Cobb Smyrna/Cobb Anti-Gang Enforcement (CAGE), the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, the Marietta Police Department and the Cobb District Attorney’s Office have been involved in the investigation, along with law enforcement agencies in north Georgia and Tennessee.

 

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Cobb schools safety preparations to include unannounced ‘code red’ drills

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Chris Ragsdale, Cobb schools superintendent
Chris Ragsdale, Cobb schools superintendent

The day after a mass shooting at a south Florida high school left at least 17 people dead, Cobb County School District superintendent Chris Ragsdale said the district would be re-evaluating safety protocols and continue plans to better prepare staff and students to respond to emergency situations.

At a Cobb Board of Education work session Thursday, Ragsdale updated board members on those efforts, including what he said would be unannounced code red drills to boost preparedness. He said those drills would be “absolutely uncomfortable” for people at the schools that are selected.

Those drills would serve as preparation for the most severe level of emergencies, including active shooter situations.

“Our student and staff safety is our top priority,” Ragsdale said during the lengthy discussion, which was not initially on the board’s agenda. The topic was added after he received e-mails from parents and students in wake of the Florida tragedy, the third-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

Yesterday a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County walked into the building and began shooting with an AR-15 rifle.

The suspect, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, was taken into custody, and at least 14 other people are hospitalized. Some of the dead include teachers and coaches who shielded students from the gunfire.

Ragsdale said all of Cobb’s 112 schools are required to have at least one code red drill per semester. Principals underwent further training in safety protocols in January.

Ragsdale also said all classroom doors in school buildings are marked from the outside for first responders, and current Cobb Ed-SPLOST V funding has been earmarked to continue efforts to improve access control measures at elementary and middle schools.

“The message to our parents, students, staff, and community is that we are not just saying that safety is our top priority, we mean it,” Ragsdale said.

He later acknowledged that “there’s no way to put parents completely at ease.”

During the presentation, which included questions from board members, Ragsdale showed a video detailing an enhanced security alert system called AlertPoint, which is being demonstrated at two schools this year, including Bells Ferry Elementary School.

That system allows teachers and staff to trigger an alert for emergencies, similar to fire alarms.

Ragsdale said high schools pose the most challenging safety issues because they have multiple points of entry. Several Cobb high schools have “buzz in” requirements, already in place in elementary and middle schools but he did not identify those high schools.

After schools have code red drills, the district’s public safety department conducts an evaluation to provide feedback. Another new “suspicious persons” measure would have plain-clothes staffers from the Cobb schools police department enter a school and see how far they can go before being noticed.

Ragsdale said Cobb schools “are doing more” than any other school district in the state to improve safety.

While it’s “impossible” to completely prevent someone from coming in a school with an attack in mind, he said that “what we have to be able to answer is: Do we have in place all the options that we can possibly have to ensure the safety and security of our staff and students?”

 

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East Cobb crime statistics: Car break-ins, thefts on rise since 2012

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East Cobb crime statistics
Cobb Police Precinct 4 officers say parking lots at gyms and fitness centers remain among the leading venues for car break-ins. (East Cobb News photos by Wendy Parker)

Before doing a deep dive into East Cobb crime statistics, a Cobb Police captain reminded local business leaders this week of a simple preventive measure that’s not being taken enough to address a spike in one of the community’s recurring crime issues.

“People aren’t locking their doors.”

Not just their car doors, but also garage doors and residential entrances, leading to easy opportunities for burglary, theft and other offenses, according to Capt. Everett Cebula, the deputy commander of Precinct 4 in East Cobb.

On Tuesday, Cebula told attendees at an East Cobb Business Association breakfast that car break-ins—referred to on crime reports as “entering auto”—have gone up quite a bit in Precinct 4 since 2012, in residential communities, commercial areas and public venues like parks.

In 2012, there were 392 reported car break-ins in Precinct 4. That number jumped to 597 in 2016 and fell slightly slightly last year to 567 (see table at bottom).

Cebula said gym and fitness center parking lots are prime territory for thieves looking to plunder goods from vehicles, since patrons often leave valuables inside the car and in open view while they’re working out.

In a refrain to messages police routinely give during the holiday shopping season, he urged gym-goers to secure items even before they pull up into the parking lot.

“Take those items and put them in the trunk before you go into the gym,” he said.

Thefts also have gone up in Precinct 4 in the 2012-2017 reporting period. Burglaries—both residential and non-residential—also have gradually dropped since 2012, and more violent crimes, such as murder, rape, aggravated assault and robbery, are fairly low in East Cobb compared to the rest of the county.

East Cobb crime statistics, Precinct 4
From left, Cobb Precinct 4 Capt. Everett Cebula, Lt. Brian Kitchens and Maj. Brian Batterton, the incoming commander. (East Cobb News photo by Wendy Parker)

One measure police have been taking in recent years to crack down on car break-ins is the use of racketeering laws. That’s because they’ve noticed that these incidents are more frequently connected to larger criminal rings, or repeated activity by solo criminals.

If police can establish a criminal enterprise, they can go outside the county and track down break-in suspects and bring their activity into one case.

Lt. Brian Kitchens, the head of Precinct 4’s criminal investigations, said that last summer his unit was able to use what’s known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law—or RICO—to pull together more than a dozen cases for landscaping theft. The suspect in those incidents, he said, is still in jail.

He said “RICO goes a step further” and enables the judicial system to toughen punishments for repeated crimes.

He said another suspect was getting probation for car break-ins committed in various jurisdictions, but the use of RICO revealed that he had 55 such arrests, and a few more cases have been added. That suspect, Kitchens said, was offered a 20-year sentence, with 13 to serve.

Kitchens, who headed up the creation of a car break-in task force by Cobb Police in 2015, said RICO can be used to address other crimes.

He said police are getting more reports of break-ins at businesses like eyeglass stores, women’s clothing boutiques and specialty shops.

“We can expand this to protecting your business,” Kitchens told the ECBA attendees.

The table below has been compiled from Cobb Police data. The first figure in each box is for Precinct 4, and figures in parenthesis are from all of Cobb County.

Precinct 4 includes most of East Cobb, ranging from the eastern side of Canton Road to the Windy Hill Road area in the Powers Ferry corridor.

Part 1 crimes are the most serious and violent offenses against people and property, according to federal Uniform Crime Reports guidelines. They include homicide, rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, theft, auto theft and arson.

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Part 1 Crimes 1306 (8800) 1335 (8506) 1196 (8261) 1245 (8695) 1281 (8615) 1264 (8204)
Crimes Against Persons 78 (581) 59 (526) 72 (535) 102 (658) 99 (718) 74 (638)
Crimes Against Property 1228 (8219) 1276 (7980) 1124 (7726) 1143 (8037) 1182 (7897) 1190 (7566)
Homicide 2 (14) 4 (20) 3 (16) 3 (17) 2 (17) 2 (24)
Rape 19 (142) 14 (114) 16 (108) 23 (140) 21 (132) 20 (137)
Robbery 39 (405) 31 (409) 43 (392) 50 (428) 40 (449) 35 (397)
Agg. Assault 57 (425) 41 (392) 53 (411) 76 (501) 76 (569) 52 (480)
Res. Burglary 325 (2334) 365 (1992) 237 (1708) 209 (1694) 240 (1438) 226 (1176)
Non-Res. Burglary 127 (733) 113 (652) 105 (692) 118 (732) 87 (764) 90 (685)
Entering Auto 392 (2512) 422 (2723) 477 (3059) 279 (4062) 597 (3864) 567 (4070)
Theft 647 (3950) 665 (4100) 652 (3992) 659 (4216) 696 (4276) 730 (4359)
Vehicle Theft 90 (797) 102 (827) 87 (942) 107 967) 119 (970) 109 (949)

 

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Police seeking suspect in Delk Road traffic accident

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A motorist has been hospitalized after a collision at Delk Road and Franklin Gateway Wednesday afternoon, and police are searching for the driver they say caused the accident.

The victim’s name has not been released by Marietta Police, who said that a male driver slammed into two vehicles at the intersection around 12:45 p.m. after being pursued in a traffic stop. Marietta Police, Delk Road motel shooting

Police said a gray 1997 Mercury Cougar was heading north on Franklin Gateway when a uniform officer noticed the car wasn’t displaying a proper license plate.

When the officer tried to initiate the traffic stop, the Cougar turned left into a filling station, then sped away and ran a red light at the intersection, hitting two vehicles, police said.

The driver of the first vehicle that was hit was trapped inside and later taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, according to police, who did not indicate the victim’s condition.

Police said the suspect fled on foot. He is described as a black male, with a medium skin tone and dreadlocks. He was last seen wearing a striped shirt, blue jeans and khaki colored boots.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact Officer Parker at the Marietta Police Department. The main number is 770-794-5300.

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