East Cobb Public Safety

Police arrest Roswell Road-Interstate 75 hit-and-run suspect

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Marietta Police said Wednesday they’ve arrested a motorist they say hit two construction workers on Roswell Road at the Interstate 75 bridge on Sunday morning.Marietta Police

Malik Branch, 31, of Dallas, Ga., is charged with two felony counts each of hit and run and injury by vehicle, as well as misdemeanor charges of DUI, failure to maintain lane, driving on a suspended license, driving on a suspended car registration, driving without insurance, not wearing a seatbelt and driving an unsafe vehicle.

According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office booking reports, Branch is being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

Police said “old school detective work” led to the arrest.

According to an arrest warrant, Branch was seen at the nearby Marietta Sage Lounge (962 Roswell Street) earlier Sunday evening, and “was stumbling and almost falling in the parking lot with a beer bottle in his hand.”

Branch then got into his car, a gray 2019 Volkswagen Jetta, and headed eastbound on Roswell Road, the warrant states, causing the accident.

The workers were preparing for a lane closure at 1:40 a.m. Sunday when they were injured, according to the warrant, which said the Jetta left its lane of traffic and struck construction cones and a traffic message board before hitting the two men.

The warrant said that construction worker Jimmy Varraza suffered a broken right arm, a broken right leg and a broken hip and remains unconscious and in critical condition.

The other worker, Oscar Aguilar, suffered a broken right arm and swelling to his head, according to the warrant. Police said Wednesday he has been released from a hospital.

The warrant also said that the Jetta had two bald front tires, two rear tires with low inflation levels, one of them not the proper size for the vehicle.

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Road workers struck by vehicle at I-75 bridge at Roswell Road

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Marietta Police said that two construction workers sustained life-threatening injuries when they were struck by a vehicle at the Interstate 75 overpass at Roswell Road early Sunday.Marietta Police

In a release, Marietta Police said they’re still looking for the driver of a gray 2019 Volkswagen Jetta that struck Jimmy Varraza, 38, and Oscar Aguilar, 28, both of metro Atlanta, as they were preparing for a lane closure at 1:40 a.m. Sunday.

Police said that the Volkswagen was traveling eastbound on Roswell Road, and that the two workers had gotten out of their vehicle to set up a traffic directional sign.

Police said the driver of the Volkswagen stopped at the scene, then fled on foot before first responders arrived.

The investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to contact Marietta Police Officer K. Bedford at (770) 794-5364.

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Cobb Police shoot motorist with gun on I-75 near Delk Road

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Cobb Police shoot I-75 motorist

UPDATED:

The GBI has identified the suspect as Kenny Ezekiel, 31, of Atlanta, and said he is in stable condition.

According to a GBI release, Ezekiel pulled a gun from his waistband, ignoring the command of an officer who told him not to reach for the weapon.

The officer immediately shot Ezekial, who threw the gun out of the driver’s side window, according to the GBI, which said no officers were injured in the incident.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Cobb Police said that a driver they say reached for a gun as an officer approached during a traffic stop on Interstate 75 Wednesday night near Delk Road was shot and taken to a hospital.

In a release issued Thursday morning, Public Information Officer Shenise Barner said the unidentified driver was pulled over by Precinct 4 officers in a southbound lane of I-75 after 10 p.m. Wednesday,

Police said the officer saw that the driver had a weapon and the motorist “made a movement toward the firearm.”

Barner said the officer commanded the driver to stop, but the driver ignored the order, and was shot by the officer.

Police said officers offered first aid to the driver, who was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital by ambulance.

Barner did not indicate the condition of the driver; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case, as it does with officer-involved shootings, and is expected to release further information.

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Cobb Sheriff’s Office: Jail inmate dies after heroin binge

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The Cobb Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that an inmate has died after overdosing on heroin.Cobb Sheriff's Office

A release sent by the Sheriff’s office said James Martin, 41, of Mableton, died shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday.

He was arrested on Friday for possession of methamphetamine and told deputies that he was a heroin addict who “had just binged the substance,” the release said, adding that he was sent to the jail’s infirmary.

On Wednesday morning, according to the release, Martin told medical staff he wasn’t feeling well and had a seizure.

Life-saving attempts included the use of Narcan, but Martin died in an ambulance en route to a hospital, the Sheriff’s office said.

“Heroin, meth, fentanyl, and other opioids have tragically taken so many lives in Cobb County, causing irreparable harm to families,” Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens said in the release.

The Sheriff’s Office said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will be conducting an investigation of Martin’s death.

Martin is the first Cobb inmate to die this year and the seventh since Owens took office in 2021.

Three inmates died in May 2022, the last a woman who had been on suicide watch. Three other inmates died in 2021.

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Police: Suspect made false report in East Cobb bomb threat

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East Cobb shopping center evacuated
A Marietta Police photo of the truck at that contained a device that was investigated by bomb technicians. The driver has been charged with making a false report of a crime.

Marietta Police on Monday provided some more information about a bomb threat Saturday that forced the evacuation of an East Cobb shopping center for several hours.

What they haven’t established yet is a reason why the owner of a pickup truck drove from his hometown in Alabama to a retail parking lot in Marietta and made the threat.

Robert Andrew Devlin, 37, of Lincoln, Ala., remains in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on a $60,000 bond for what police said were making false reports of a pipe bomb in a truck he drove to the parking lot at East Gate Shopping Center (1808 Lower Roswell Road).

An arrest warrant for Devlin said he’s charged with a felony count of making a false report of a crime and two misdemeanor counts of making a false alarm and having a hoax device.

The warrant states that Devlin drove from his hometown to the shopping center and shortly after 8 a.m. called 911, which dispatched officers to the scene.

Marietta Police said that based on information Devlin provided to them, “officers determined the threat to be credible and immediately began evacuating the area” around the shopping center.

Other law enforcement was called, including Cobb Police and its bomb squad. Devlin was interviewed by Marietta Police and was charged as that was going on.

“Around noon, a device resembling a pipe bomb was removed from the truck and secured by the CCPD bomb technicians. The rest of the vehicle was methodically searched via robot” and the area was reopened to the public around 3 p.m., police said Monday.

The FBI and ATF were also called to the scene, and it was determined that while the device “did contain some explosive elements, it lacked other components necessary for it to be considered a fully assembled explosive device.”

Marietta Police said they’re continuing to investigate and anyone with information is asked to call Det. Robert Bollinger at 770-794-5345.

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East Cobb shopping center evacuated due to possible bomb

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East Cobb shopping center evacuated
The East Gate Shopping Center entrance at Hamby Drive. East Cobb News photo.

UPDATED, SUNDAY, FEB. 26, 12:41 P.M.:

The area that had been evacuated was reopened later Saturday without incident.

Marietta Police have charged Robert Andrew Devlin, 37, of Lincoln, Ala., on a felony count of a false public alarm and misdemeanor counts of false report of a crime and reporting a device that turned out to be a hoax.

According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, Devlin was arrested at 11 a.m. Saturday and later booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, where he is being held on a $60,000 bond.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

Police have blocked off access around a shopping center in East Cobb Saturday after receiving a tip about a vehicle parked there that may have contained an explosive device.

Marietta Police said Saturday afternoon that several law enforcement agencies are on the scene at the East Gate Shopping Center.

Police are blocking off the area around the shopping center, located at the Marietta Parkway and Lower Roswell Road.

There is no access for motorists on Lower Roswell between the Marietta Parkway and Scott Drive and on Hamby Drive between Lower Roswell and Hazelwood Drive.

East Cobb shopping center evacuated
A Marietta Police photo of the truck that contained a device secured by Cobb Police bomb technicians. The driver was taken into custody.

Marietta Police said in a social media message that a 911 call at 8:13 a.m. Saturday said a pickup truck parked near the shopping center “may have some sort of a bomb or explosive device in the back.”

According to police, officers called to the scene made contact with the truck owner and “determined the threat to be serious.”

That individual, who was not identified, was taken into custody, police said, and the area was evacuated as the Cobb Police bomb squad was called to the scene.

Police said a device was removed from the truck but “it is not yet known if that device is real.”

They said they believe the area is safe but were keeping the evacuation in place as they continued to search the truck.

Cobb Police, Cobb Sheriff’s Office, Marietta Fire, Cobb Fire, the FBI and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco also were on the scene.

This story will be updated.

East Cobb shopping center evacuated
A Cobb Sheriff’s vehicle blocking motorists on Lower Roswell Road at Scott Drive. East Cobb News photo.
East Cobb shopping center evacuated
Vehicles attempting to cross the Marietta Parkway on Lower Roswell Road westbound were forced to detour. East Cobb News photo.

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Cobb Police: Motorcyclist killed in Canton Road crash

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A 20-year-old Woodstock man died late Wednesday night after a motorcycle he was riding on Canton Road crashed with a car, Cobb Police said. Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Public Information Officer Joseph Wilson identified the victim as Daniel Kansky and said the driver of the car, Angela Jackson, 48, of Marietta, was not injured.

Wilson said the crash took place shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday night. Jackson was driving a white 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan northbound on Canton Road, and made a left turn onto Chase Corner.

As she made the turn, Wilson said, the Volkswagen “entered the path of the Honda,” a reference to a black 2008 Honda CBR60 driven by Kansky, who was traveling south on Canton Road.

Wilson said the investigation is continuing and anyone with information is asked to call Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.

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Police: Motorist killed in I-75 crash at Terrell Mill Road

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Cobb Police said Monday a motorist was killed Saturday night in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 at Terrell Mill Road.Cobb Police, Holly Springs Road suspicious person, East Cobb crime forum

Sgt. Wayne Delk said in a release that the male victim, who has not been identified pending notification of next of kin, was the driver of a gray 2012 Nissan Maxima that was stopped in a southbound lane of I-75 at 6:18 p.m. Saturday.

The Nissan was struck by a silver 2008 Toyota Tacoma from behind, and both vehicles were pushed to the left shoulder, according to police.

Police said the driver of the Nissan was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital and died of injuries. No information on the status of the other driver was provided by police in the release.

Cobb Police said an investigation into the crash is ongoing and that anyone with information should call 770-499-3987.

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Two men arrested for armed robberies at NE Cobb gas stations

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East Cobb man arrested gas station robberies
Cobb Police said $15,000 was stolen from a BP station on Canton Road in a Jan. 29 armed robbery.

Two men have been arrested for what Cobb Police said were two gas station armed robberies in the Northeast Cobb area in late January.

According to an arrest warrant, Shawn Jason Glover, 29, of Kennesaw, drove a getaway vehicle in both incidents, on Jan. 25 at a Shell Station on Ernest Barrett Parkway and on Jan. 29 at a BP station on Canton Road.

Glover was arrested Wednesday on two counts of armed robbery and two counts of aggravated assault and is being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records.

His warrant states that at 7:23 a.m. on Jan. 25, Glover was behind the wheel of a black 2010 Hyundai Tucson with another passenger in the vehicle, Larry Daniels, 34, of Acworth, who went inside the convenience store at the Shell station at 465 Ernest Barrett Parkway.

Police said in the warrant that Daniels was wearing black clothing, a dark mask and black face paint when he approached a store employee, then aimed a handgun and demanded money.

According to police, Daniels received $4,860 in cash, then left with Glover as they drove away from the scene.

That process was repeated on Jan. 29 at 7:18 p.m. at the BP station at 3190 Canton Road, police said. Daniels left the Tucson with Glover behind the wheel, entered the convenience store with dark clothing and a dark mask, the warrant states, then threatened an employee with a gun and demanded money.

The warrant said Daniels left the store with $15,000 in cash and returned to the Tucson, with Glover driving them away.

Booking reports indicate that Daniels was arrested on Jan. 31 and he is being held without bond, also at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

He also was charged with two felony counts each of armed robbery and aggravated assault and is facing additional charges from last year, including theft by taking and identity theft fraud, according to jail records.

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Three men charged with home burglary off Paper Mill Road

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Lutheran Church of the Resurrection burglary arrests
Police made the arrests at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Saturday night, according to warrants.

Two men whom Cobb Police said burglarized a home off Paper Mill Road Saturday night have been arrested, along with the driver of a vehicle who allegedly took them to the scene of the crime.

According to arrest warrants, Alfredo Gallardo and Carlos Arenas broke into a home on Gateside Lane Saturday night shortly after 8 p.m. and stole jewelry and other items.

The home is near the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (4814 Paper Mill Road), where police on patrol became suspicious after noticing a sole vehicle, a van, in a parking lot, according to one of the warrants.

According to a warrant for the man behind the wheel, Jose Castro, “There did not appear to be any church activities happening at the time officers approached.”

The warrant said Castro produced for an officer an Argentinian identification that he later admitted had a false name and birthdate.

His warrant said Castro provided the other men transportation to the church, then to the victim’s residence.

Warrants for Gallardo and Arenas said that officers went to the home, and two men fled the scene, ignoring commands to stop.

Their warrants said that Arenas left a bag of tools in the residence on the victim’s couch and was found with “a window-breaking tool” when he was arrested. Gallardo was found with a bag of pry bars, according to his warrant.

All three men were charged with first-degree burglary.

Gallardo, 32, of Los Angeles, and Arenas, 32, who is listed as homeless, also were charged with possessing tools of a crime and obstruction of a police officer.

Castro, 19, also listed as homeless, was further charged with giving a false name to law enforcement and loiter prowl.

All three were in custody Monday afternoon at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center on $22,220 bond each, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, which state that they are being held on an immigration detainer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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Man charged with sexual assault of girl, 12, at Shaw Park

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Cobb Police have charged a transient man with the rape of a 12-year-old girl at Shaw Park last weekend.Cobb Police, Holly Springs Road suspicious person, East Cobb crime forum

Douglas Darch, 62, was taken into custody on Jan. 22 and remains at the Cobb Adult Detention Center without bond, according to booking reports.

Police said in a warrant that he approached the girl the day before as she was walking in a wooded area of the park shortly before 6 p.m. He offered her a water bottle, and after she drank from it, she began to feel dizzy, according to police.

The warrant said the suspect then took out a knife and threatened her to do what he told her.

According to the warrant, she was forced to provide oral sex, and the suspect also ordered her to remove her clothing, then touched her genitalia.

The victim further stated in the warrant that she “was in fear for her life or bodily harm.”

Darch is facing felony charges of aggravated child molestation, child molestation, aggravated assault, cruelty to children and making terroristic threats.

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Human trafficking forum scheduled for East Cobb Middle School

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The Marietta-Roswell chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is organizing a human trafficking forum Jan. 28 at East Cobb Middle School ((825 Terrell Mill Road).

“An Eye-Opening Experience on Human Trafficking” takes place during Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and the forum will include a simulation experience, a panel discussion that includes the Cobb Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit and youth creating awareness posters.

The forum is next Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you can register by clicking here.

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Cobb creates online reporting tool for Thursday storm damage

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Cobb storm damage
Cobb County Government

East Cobb was spared the worst of Thursday’s thunderstorms and high winds, as the South Cobb area around Austell sustained heavy damage.

No serious injuries were reported around the county during the Thursday afternoon storms. A tornado watch was in effect as well as a wind advisory.

Cobb government said Thursday evening that Cobb DOT cleared 25 roads and helped clear 11 flooded roads.

County officials have set up a self-reporting tool for citizens, business owners and others whose homes or facilities were damaged by the storms.

You can click here to provide your information in a damage assessment field report and map your location.

One side of a truck parts warehouse on Oak Ridge Parkway in Austell (above) caved in when high winds swept through, according to a Cobb government release Thursday evening.

Since there wasn’t a tornado warning in effect, no outdoor warning signs were activated.

Firefighters also found 18 homes with damage in a neighborhood in Austell, going street-by-street to inspect, with 14 of those homes damaged enough that the affected residents will be assisted by the Red Cross.

The worst of the weather damage in Georgia was south of Atlanta. A 5-year-old boy died in Butts County due to a tree falling on a vehicle in which he was a passenger.

Around a dozen tornadoes were reported in Georgia Thursday afternoon, after storms swept through Selma and extreme northern parts of Alabama, where six people have been confirmed dead.

Cobb storm damage
A home on Ivy Log Drive in Austell was damaged by a falling tree., but no injuries were reported. Cobb Fire & Emergency Services.

 

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Technology and safety town hall scheduled for Tim D. Lee Senior Center

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Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell will be holding a town hall meeting this month to explain how technology is being used for public safety purposes.Stuart VanHoozer, Cobb Police Chief

Cobb Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer and other department officials will be presenting information at the Tim D. Lee Senior Center (3332 Sandy Plains Road) on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 6-8 p.m.

The meeting comes after commissioners approved an extension of a contract with a facial recognition technology company to assist law enforcement in identifying suspects in criminal investigations.

Despite some citizen protests, VanHoozer said that the AI platform being used isn’t used for broad surveillance.

“What this product does for the most part is take a photograph of a known offender and compare that to a database that has images that are legally obtained and publicly available so that we can identify that individual,” VanHoozer told commissioners last month, before they voted to continue the contract.

He has said the policies surrounding the use of the facial recognition technology are being crafted carefully and with strict provisions so that citizen concerns “are strongly mitigated.”

Critics said the vendor, Clearview AI, has been hacked and sued multiple times over privacy concerns and has been fined in some European countries.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Clearview AI contract, and the Cobb Police Department’s policy is being finalized.

For information about the town hall, contact Kimberly Jorgensen at Kimberly.Jorgensen@cobbcounty.org or call 770-528-3317.

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Cobb Fire: Teenage boy dies after falling into freezing lake

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Cobb Fire and Emergency Rescue Services officials said Thursday that one of two boys who fell into a partially frozen lake in Kennesaw on Wednesday has died.Cobb Fire Department fireworks safety reminder

Cobb Fire Public Information Officer Nicolas Danz did not identify the victim, except to say that he was 16 years old and was pronounced dead at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

One of the rescue workers responding to the incident also was hospitalized for hypothermia treatment, Danz said.

Danz said the victim and another 16-year-old boy had fallen into a lake off Ellison Lakes Drive on Wednesday afternoon. Cobb Police and Fire were called to the scene at 5:15 p.m, after Kennesaw Police and Cobb Police had rescued the surviving teen from the icy waters, Danz said.

He said recorded surface water temperatures on the lake were as low as 28 degrees.

Three Cobb Fire response vehicles searched for the second boy, and Cobb Police provided drone search support, according to Danz.

He said the boy was found at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday and was pulled to an embankment and rescue workers began resuscitation efforts.

The boy was taken to the hospital by Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service and two Cobb Fire personnel, according to Cobb Fire.

Danz said four rescue personnel were treated for extensive cold exposure after being in the water for up to an hour and 20 minutes.

The hospitalized rescue worker was later released, and another was treated for abrasions suffered during the rescue, according to Danz.

Danz said no further information would be provided about the identities of the boys or medical conditions “of any of the parties involved.”

 

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Man charged with kidnapping at Delk-Powers Ferry grocery store

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Man charged Delk Powers-Ferry grocery kidnapping

Marietta Police said license-plate reader technology helped identify the suspect of a kidnapping and carjacking last week at a grocery store in the Delk-Powers Ferry area of East Cobb.

Randy Harmon, 34, of Meadowlawn Lane off Powers Ferry Road, was arrested Dec. 6 after police said he used a gun to force a woman into her vehicle shortly after 9 a.m. that day at the Kroger at 1120 Powers Ferry Road after she had been shopping there.

According to an arrest warrant, Harmon pushed Tomeka Harris into the front passenger seat of her Nissan Sentra. She fought him for the gun as he tried to speed away from the Kroger, driving her car.

The warrant said that Harris then managed to open the passenger door and was thrown from the car, suffering injuries to both of her knees.

Police began searching for the stolen vehicle, and Cobb officers later found the Sentra parked in a subdivision with Harris’ belongings still inside, according to a statement Wednesday issued by Marietta Police.

(The Kroger, which will be replaced by a Kroger Superstore at the MarketPlace at Terrell Mill center, is located in Marietta city limits.)

A few hours later on Dec. 6, at around 2:30 p.m., Cobb officers found another stolen vehicle in the Cumberland Mall area and arrested the driver, identified as Harmon, for possession of a stolen vehicle and other traffic offenses, according to a separate warrant.

According to his booking report at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, Harmon was arrested at 3101 Cobb Parkway SE. The arrest warrant said the vehicle he was driving, a 2016 Hyundai Accent, was the same vehicle he drove to the Kroger store that morning.

He has been charged with kidnapping, hijacking a motor vehicle, aggravated assault and for firearms violations, as well as for driving without a license or insurance.

Harmon also is facing charges of receiving stolen property, financial transaction card theft and failure to appear in court.

He is being held without bond, according to the booking report.

Marietta Police Chief Martin Ferrell praised Harris “for her determination, courage, and resilience in the face of danger” and said he was grateful she’s safe and that her property was recovered.

“The interagency collaboration as well as investment the city and surrounding jurisdictions have made in LPR cameras definitely aided in our ability to hold this criminal accountable!” he said.

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Cobb approves facial recognition contract for public safety

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Cobb approves police facial recognition contract
Cobb Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer

Over the protests of some citizens, the Cobb Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract for Cobb Police to use facial recognition technology for criminal investigations.

The department has been part of a complimentary pilot program with Clearview AI, one of the leading facial recognition platforms. The three-year contract comes with a cost of $17,995 a year.

During a lengthy and often impassioned presentation, Cobb Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer said the Clearview algorithm is ranked the best in the industry, and that he and his staff have been meeting with commissioners and members of the community to develop a draft policy to guide how the technology will be used.

VanHoozer repeatedly defended Clearview AI, which is used by more than 3,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide.

The platform uses artificial intelligence to find online photos from publicly available sources to find matches of criminal suspects. VanHoozer said the Cobb Police policy for using Clearview AI has taken long to develop due to concerns about how it might be used.

“There are some large misconceptions about this product and our intent,” VanHoozer said during the presentation (you can watch it in its entirety below). “I’d be happy to speak with those have been speaking up on this subject” because some of the information, he added “is inaccurate.”

One of the citizens opposed to the contract is Robin Moody of East Cobb, who mentioned during a public comment period before VanHoozer’s presentation the fines and other penalties racked up by Clearview AI for privacy rights violations in Europe, including collecting images of the faces of people without their consent.

She also said that AI hasn’t eased concerns about racial profiling.

Another citizen, during the same public comment period, said that “I don’t give you permission to use my face.”

VanHoozer said Cobb will not use Clearview AI to scan people in crowds or at public gatherings, and use of the technology will be limited to authorized investigators who must log in and provide a case number.

He said Clearview AI is just another tool to help police investigate possible suspects in crimes, and nothing more.

“Emerging technology often collides with privacy concerns,” he said. “Sometimes it takes some time to work those things out.”

But the value of the technology to Cobb Police during the pilot program has been invaluable, he said.

The Clearview AI tool helped police identify a cold-case homicide suspect and also identified the ringleader of a violent home invasion that included children being kidnapped, among other investigations.

VanHoozer said that his department governs itself with an “even stricter policy” so that citizen concerns “are strongly mitigated.”

He said Clearview AI does not do broad public surveillance, such as at public meetings and sporting events, nor does it take footage from doorbell cameras and streetlights.

“What this product does for the most part is take a photograph of a known offender and compare that to a database that has images that are legally obtained and publicly available so that we can identify that individual,” VanHoozer said.

He said the effort to craft the policy and to educate the public about how Clearview AI will be used has been complicated by what he said is information that’s “consistently” being reported incorrectly in the news media.

“We get that nobody wants to live in a police state, including me,” he said. “We would not ever do the things that have been alleged here today. I feel strongly that this is the right thing to do.”

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Cobb Police establish e-commerce safety zones for holiday shopping

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The Cobb Police Department once again is implementing what it calls e-commerce safety zones for members of the public to conduct online holiday shopping in secure fashion.Cobb Police e-commerce safe zones

The signs are located at all five Cobb Police precinct locations as well as headquarters (see addresses below) and are in well-lit areas monitored by video surveillance.

  • Precinct One: 2380 N. Cobb Parkway Kennesaw, GA 30152
  • Precinct Two: 4700 Austell Rd Austell, GA 30106
  • Precinct Three: 1901 Cumberland Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339
  • Precinct Four: 4400 Lower Roswell Rd Marietta, GA 30067
  • Precinct Five: 4640 Dallas Highway Powder Springs, GA 30127
  • Headquarters: 545 Fairground St SE Suite 101 Marietta, GA 30060

The holiday shopping season also comes with a rise in entering auto and package theft crimes.

Among the recent trends in the Cobb area are daytime vehicle break-ins at public parks, gyms and especially shopping center parking lots.

Police say that if you’ve had a financial transaction card that’s been stolen to report it immediately to your institution to have it frozen since thieves tend to go to local stores and spend as much money as they can.

Motorists are encouraged to remove all valuables, especially weapons, from view every time you park and leave your vehicle. Make sure that all doors are locked.

If you see someone breaking into a vehicle do not confront but call 911 from a safe place.

Here’s more from Cobb Police about how to minimize package theft during the holidays:

Package Thefts – What You Can Do

  1. Ship it to work. Keep your package off the porch in the first place. If your company allows, consider shipping your packages to your workplace instead of your home.
  2. Enlist a neighbor’s help. Do you have a neighbor or a friend that’s usually home? If so, see if they can wait for your package or keep an eye out for it.
  3. Require a signature. Consider requesting a signature for your package to be dropped off. That way, your package won’t be left on your porch exposed to potential thieves.
  4. Take advantage of alternative delivery options and alerts. FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service and UPS all have alternative pickup and delivery options available. Visit their websites to explore your options and update your delivery preferences. You can also sign up for delivery alerts to track your package and stay up to date on delivery times.
  5. Get technical. Doorbell cameras and other security cameras can be a deterrent to would be thieves and the recorded footage provides suspect and possibly their vehicle descriptions that can be used in developing investigative leads for police if a theft occurs.
  6. Keep your porch clear and visible. It may seem counter-intuitive, but if a thief has no place to hide, they’re less likely to take the risk of going up to your porch in the first place.
  7. Ask for your box to be nondescript. Ordering from a high-end store? Consider marking the “gift” checkbox when you purchase so the package comes in a plain box. You can also request this of friends and family so your box doesn’t grab attention.
  8. Find strength in numbers. Neighborhood groups on social media or community apps like Next door can provide your neighborhood a system for reporting suspicious activity to each other.

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Smyrna murder suspect arrested in Delk-Powers Ferry area

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A man wanted for the July murder of another man at a Smyrna apartment complex was arrested Wednesday in the Delk-Powers Ferry Road area.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Cobb Police said in a statement that they were acting on a tip from the Cobb Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Task Force when Tavis Crankfield, 20, of Decatur, was located around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Crankfield is a suspect in the July 17 shooting death of Jason Escoffrey at a swimming pool at the Village West Apartments in Smyrna.

The statement said that Crankfield was apprehended after a brief foot chase.

He was charged with two counts of felony murder, one count of malice murder, one count of aggravated assault and other felony charges and is being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office booking reports.

Smyrna police have been asking for the public’s help in finding the suspect in Escoffrey’s killing. Escoffrey, 21, who had been living in Opelika, Ala., was found shot multiple times, police said.

According to police, Crankfield left the scene at the Smyrna apartment complex after law enforcement arrived, and Escoffrey died after being taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Police said that witness statements and Crime Stopper tips identified Crankfield as the suspect.

Jail booking reports indicate that in addition to the murder warrant, three other warrants were taken out against Crankfield on Wednesday, including obstructing a law enforcement officer, a probation violation and failure to appear.

Crankfield also is wanted in Forsyth County for an April 2020 police chase in which he was one of four teens arrested for speeding on Georgia 400 to elude a traffic stop.

In October of last year, Crankfield was sentenced to five years probation after being found guilty of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act for a June 2019 incident.

Police said he was one of several members of the Mucho Gang, based in the South Cobb area, who attacked two people attending a birthday party in Smyrna. Crankfield also was charged with misdemeanor battery but that was dropped, according to court records.

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Cobb police chief to speak to East Cobb Area Chamber Council

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Cobb Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer is the featured speaker at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s East Cobb Area Council breakfast next Thursday.Stuart VanHoozer, Cobb Police Chief

A 32-year department veteran, VanHoozer was appointed in May. He will provide updates about the department, including the construction of a new precinct in East Cobb, as well as policing issues that include gang activities in schools.

The Council meeting begins at 7:30 a.m. next Thursday, Nov. 10, at the Indian Hills Country Club (4001 Clubland Drive).

The event also includes the announcement of the 2022 East Cobb Citizen of the Year.

Tickets are $25 for Cobb Chamber members and $35 for general admission. Registration closes and refunds will no longer be available after November 8. Walk-up admissions and payment cannot be granted.

For information and to register, click here.

This event is sponsored by Series Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, and Program Sponsor, Cobb EMC.

 

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