Cobb Police said Monday a motorist was killed Saturday night in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 75 at Terrell Mill Road.
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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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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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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Cobb Police have charged a transient man with the rape of a 12-year-old girl at Shaw Park last weekend.
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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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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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.
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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Cobb commissioner JoAnn Birrell will be holding a town hall meeting this month to explain how technology is being used for public safety purposes.
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 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 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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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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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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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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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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.
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 Stuart VanHoozer is the featured speaker at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s East Cobb Area Council breakfast next Thursday.
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.
This event is sponsored by Series Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, and Program Sponsor, Cobb EMC.
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The East Cobb-based Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team once again held an appreciation barbecue lunch to honor local police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and military veterans.
Wednesday’s lunch included the Capital City Home Loans grilling from a food truck and serving burgers and hotdogs with a variety of sides sponsored by Arrow Exterminators.
Additional sponsors for the event included American Home Shield Warranty, Amerispec Home Inspection, and Chick-Fil-A East Lake.
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Cobb Police said a woman from Mableton was.killed early Friday when the car she was driving in the wrong direction at I-285 and I-75 in Cobb County collided with another vehicle.
Officer Joseph Wilson said in a release that Chassity Hogan, 30, was was behind the wheel of a white 2014 Hyundai Elantra around 2:50 a.m. Friday, heading southbound on I-75 in the northbound lanes just below Windy Hill Road.
Police said the Hyundai veered into another northbound line while traveling South when it collided with a blue 2017 Volvo tractor-trailer driven by Jose Henriquez, 38, of Orlando, Fla.
According to police, the impact of the collision forced the Hyundai into a guardrail after the vehicle spun around. Police said Hogan was pronounced dead on the scene by the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office and that her next of kin has been notified; Henriquez was not injured.
The crash remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.
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Cobb Police Det. Zachary Stannard. Photo: Karl L. Moore/Mooreshots LLC, courtesy Cobb Chamber of Commerce
A Cobb Police detective who linked a double murder to the stabbing of a police officer, leading to the apprehension of the suspect, was named the 2022 public safety employee of the year Monday by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
The award, according to a Cobb Chamber release, “is given to an employee who has performed his or her job with exceptional skill, exhibited leadership and critical incident management and a devotion to their responsibilities.
Det. Zachary Stannard was called to investigate the double murder of a Cherokee firefighter and his wife in November in a north Cobb home, the day before a Sandy Springs police officer was stabbed in the face and neck.
Initially the cases were not connected, but Matthew Lanz, 22, of Acworth was taken into custody two days later and charged in both incidents.
He was indicted on 13 counts by a Cobb grand jury in April, including malice murder in the slayings of Timothy and Amber Hicks.
Lanz also has been indicted on 35 counts in Fulton County, including attempted murder.
“Detective Stannard worked for days without rest to deliver justice for the family of the deceased,” the Cobb Chamber release states, including keeping “the family updated throughout his investigation and even attended the funeral of the victims.
Earlier last year, Stannard responded to the murder of a father who was shot while driving with his daughter in their car. The detective eventually identified the vehicles of the suspects and tracked them several hundred miles away.
“Detective Stannard maintains a fierce devotion to aid the citizens of Cobb County. Long hours and stressful cases can certainly demoralize many in the law enforcement profession. However, he has shown his ongoing desire to serve as the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves, and he provides closure for the families of his victims. Detective Stannard’s dedication, exceptional skill and expertise are what make him the incredible public servant he is to Cobb.”
The Award of Merit was given to the Cobb Fire and Emergency Service’s Squad 7 and Rescue 23 for their lifesaving actions during a house fire.
Cobb Emergency Communications Officer Theresa Carcioppolo was named the recipient of the Outstanding Community Contribution Award for her work educating children and adults about the 911 industry.
The Cobb Chamber luncheon on Monday included a tribute to the two Cobb Sheriff’s deputies who were killed last month in the line of duty. You can see that presentation below.
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Outdoor burning is allowed in Cobb County from Oct. 1 to April 30, enabling citizens to burn limited yard debris such as leaves, pine straw, and small limbs from growth on their property.
However, there are some restrictions, as explained by the Cobb Fire and Emergency Services Department:
Burning is allowed between the hours of 10 a.m. and one hour before sunset (no smoldering or hot coals remaining). Yard waste fires must be completely extinguished one hour prior to sunset.
No burning is allowed on windy days (10 mph or higher) or on days when the atmospheric conditions (cloudy, overcast, or raining) would cause the smoke to remain low to the ground.
Burning must be attended by an adult who must be watching the fire at all times. Never leave a fire unattended.
A water hose long enough to reach the fire must be on hand and ready for use.
Fires may not be started with petroleum-based products.
Only clean wood may be burned. Clean wood means natural wood which has not been painted, varnished, or coated with a similar material; has not been pressure treated with preservatives; and does not contain resins or glues as in plywood or other composite wood products.
Yard waste (small) fire must be at least 50 feet from all structures, including fences of combustible material, limbs no larger than 6” diameter, pile no greater than 6’ x 6’, at least 25’ from roads with speed limits greater than 35 mph.
Yard waste fires larger than 6’x6’ require a Yard Waste (large) permit.
Burning in a barrel is prohibited.
Burning of garbage is prohibited. Garbage is any waste material that includes but is not limited to plastic products, Styrofoam, fiberglass, recycling wire (burned to access metal), tires, clothing, furniture, mattresses, boxes, papers, stumps, root balls, and kudzu vines.
Any yard debris that is moved from one property to another cannot be burned. For information regarding alternative methods to dispose of yard waste, contact the Georgia Environmental Protection Division at (404) 362-2537.
Even if all guidelines for burning are followed, you may be required to extinguish the fire if it adversely interferes with another’s enjoyment of life, use of property, or if someone with a health problem is affected.
The Cobb Fire Marshal’s Office has prepared a complete guide to outdoor burning that can be found by clicking here and here.
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A man who crossed Roswell Road near Powers Ferry Road Saturday night was struck by four vehicles and was killed, according to Marietta Police.
Police said in a message Monday afternoon that the victim’s name has not been released because next-of-kin are still being notified.
He was identified by police as a 38-year-old Hispanic male who exited the parking lot at the Mi Rancho restaurant (1495 Roswell Road) around 9:15 p.m. Saturday.
That’s near Williamson Bros. BBQ in the location of a former McDonald’s.
UPDATED:
Marietta Police said the victim was Ismael Bernardo Morales.
Police said the man crossed Roswell Road outside of a crosswalk and was struck by four vehicles. He was pronounced dead on the scene, according to police, who said all four motorists stayed on the scene and are cooperating with police.
Marietta Police are continuing to investigate the crash and are asking anyone with information to call Investigator Bedford at 770-794-5364.
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Cobb County School District resource officers Kevin Brunson, William Duling and Jerry Quan hold plaques given them by teens at Congregation Etz Chaim. Photos: Jewish National Fund-USA.
Congregation Etz Chaim of East Cobb this week marked the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks by honoring Cobb County School District resource officers.
Their presentation on Wednesday to resource officers Jerry Quan, William Marshall Duling and Kevin Brunson, thanking them for their service, was conducted in partnership with the Jewish National Fund-USA.
Teens from the synagogue’s youth group presented plaques to the officers.
“I felt inspired seeing the people who keep me safe at the synagogue I grew up in,” said Etz Chaim teen Mia Kleinman.
Said Tamar Oren, a senior at Sprayberry High School: “The officers are like our dads at school. They talk to us in the hall and are people we go to for absolutely anything. I know they have risked their lives and for that I am forever grateful.”
Etz Chaim Rabbi Daniel Dorsch said that “we continue to be grateful for our community’s partnership with Jewish National Fund-USA that enabled us to honor our law enforcement personnel in such a special and meaningful way.”
According to a release by JNF, the plaque features the JNF’s 9/11 Living Memorial in Jerusalem, which is “the only commemorative site of its type outside of the U.S. that lists all the names of those who were killed on 9/11.
“It represents the firefighters, paramedics, and police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and worked tirelessly to save countless lives on that infamous day, and honors first responders who risk it all to protect and serve. Established in 2009, the monument is a testament to the deep connection between the State of Israel and the U.S., and our countries’ shared values of peace, religious tolerance, democracy, and fighting terrorism.”
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Funeral services will be held this week for the two Cobb Sheriff’s deputies who were killed Thursday in the line of duty.
Cobb government sent out a message Sunday night saying that the funeral service for Deputy Jonathan Koleski will take place Wednesday at North Star Church (3413 Blue Springs Road Kennesaw) at 12 p.m.
A visitation is from 9-11 a.m. at the church and burial will take place starting at 2:30 p.m. at the Georgia National Cemetery (1080 Veterans Cemetery Road
Canton).
Koleski, 42, had been with the Cobb Sheriff’s Office since 2007 and is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
The funeral for Deputy Marshall Ervin is scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m. at West Ridge Church (3522 Hiram Acworth Highway, Dallas), with visitation from 12—2 p.m.
Erwin, 38, had been a deputy for the last seven years.
The Cobb Sheriff’s Office said it would be releasing information about the routes of the funeral processions for members of the public who wish to pay their respects.
Deputy Marshall Ervin
On Thursday night, Koleski and Ervin were attempting to take into custody a man who was wanted for a failure to appear on a theft by deception charge.
Another man came out of the house and into the driveway with a weapon and ignored the deputies’ demands to drop it, according to Cobb Police, who said gunfire ensued.
The deputies were both shot and died, and the two suspects eventually surrendered. On Friday they were denied bond by a Cobb Magistrate judge.
Christopher Golden, 30, has been charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
Christopher Cook, 32, the subject of the warrant, has been charged with eight counts of theft in charges stemming from this spring.
The Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation, a non-profit organization founded last year that serves Sheriff’s Office personnel and their families, has set up a donate button for its Fallen Officer Fund on its website for the families of Koleski and Ervin.
The Sheriff’s Office has set up a memorial to the slain deputies at its headquarters visitation center at 1877 County Services Parkway, Marietta.
Koleski and Ervin also were honored with a moment of silence Sunday afternoon at Mercedes Benz Stadium during the Atlanta Falcons game with the New Orleans Saints.
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