East Cobb Public Safety

First responders treated to appreciation lunch in East Cobb

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East Cobb first responders appreciation lunch

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.

East Cobb first responders appreciation lunch

East Cobb first responders appreciation lunch

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Woman killed in wrong-way crash at I-285/I-75 interchange in Cobb

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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.Cobb Police, Holly Springs Road suspicious person, East Cobb crime forum

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 detective named 2022 public safety employee of the year

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2022 Cobb public safety employee of the year
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 period begins in Cobb; restrictions apply

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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. Cobb Fire Department fireworks safety reminder

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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Pedestrian hit by four vehicles in fatal Roswell Road crash

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Fatal pedestrian crash Roswell Road

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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Congregation Etz Chaim honors Cobb schools resource officers

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Congregation Etz Chaim honors Cobb schools resource officers
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.”

Congregation Etz Chaim honors Cobb schools resource officers

Congregation Etz Chaim honors Cobb schools resource officers

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Funeral arrangements set for slain Cobb Sheriff’s deputies

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Funeral services slain Cobb deputies
Deputy Jonathan Koleski

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
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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2 Cobb Sheriff’s deputies killed; 2 suspects arrested

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UPDATED FRIDAY 2 P.M.:

The Cobb Sheriff’s Office said Friday afternoon that the two men arrested after the shooting deaths of two deputies Thursday night will have first hearings Friday afternoon.Cobb Sheriff's Office

Officer Jeremy Blake identified the suspects as Christopher Cook and Christopher Golden, and said their hearings will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Cobb Magistrate Court.

Golden, 30, has been charged with two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault and is being held without bond, according to the Cobb Sheriff’s Office.

Cook, 32, is being booked on at least eight charges of theft by deception and theft by receiving stolen property and is being held on a bond of $1,320.

Blake said Cobb Sheriff’s Office, Cobb Police and Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials will have a press conference after the hearing to provide more details.

The names of the two deputies have not been made public as of 2 p.m. Friday.

They were shot while serving a warrant at a home on Hampton Glen Court in West Cobb Thursday evening.

Deputies were trying to serve a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of theft by deception, but no one was home, according to the Cobb Sheriff’s Office.

A vehicle then pulled into the driveway and shots were fired, the Sheriff’s Office said. An hours-long standoff ended after midnight Friday as two men peacefully surrendered.

The deputies were only the second and third from Cobb to die in the line of duty.

Cobb tax assessor’s office records show that Cook is the owner of the Hampton Glen Court home. Golden’s home address is listed at the same location, according to jail records.

UPDATED FRIDAY 1:15 A.M.:

Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens said two suspects he said “ambushed” two of his deputies Thursday were taken into custody after an hours-long standoff at a West Cobb home.

The names of the deputies have not been released pending notification of family, and the identities of the suspects also have not been revealed.

Owens said the deputies were trying to serve a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of theft by deception at a residence on Hampton Glen Drive, but no one was home.

A vehicle pulled into the driveway and gunfire ensued, according to Owens, who said the deputies were able to call for help.

One of the suspects was arrested shortly after the shootings, he said, and the other was arrested after a standoff.

Owens held a press conference shortly after midnight Friday at the Cobb Sheriff’s Office headquarters with heads of other law enforcement agencies standing by.

Cobb Police is leading the investigation.

More to come later Friday.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday night that two of its deputies have been killed in the line of duty.

In a social media posting at 9 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office said the deputies were at a residence serving a warrant when they died. The message said a saw suspect is being barricaded and that Cobb Police SWAT and Fugitive Apprehension Support Team personnel are on the scene.

The location is on Hampton Glen Drive, a residential street west of Marietta in the Cheatham Hill area.

It’s off Irwin Road near John Ward Road, and law enforcement from multiple agencies are responding.

“We will release additional information, including the names of the fallen deputies, as it becomes available,” the Sheriff’s Office message said.

According to the Officers Down Memorial Page, the Cobb Sheriff’s Office has had only one officer killed in the line of duty previously. That was Deputy Donald Terry Garrison, who died on Aug. 27, 1990 when his patrol car was struck by a speeding vehicle on Roswell Street in Marietta.

This story will be updated.

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Cobb Police to hold Community and Faith Forum

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Submitted information:Cobb Police Community Faith Forum

The Cobb County Police Department invites you to attend the Community & Faith Forum, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at the Cobb County Public Safety Training Academy, 2435 East-West Connector, Austell.

This is an opportunity to meet CCPD’s new leadership team and hear their vision for the department and the direction they will be taking as they deal with violent crime and the safety of Cobb citizens. The goal is to build trust with our community.

The Community & Faith Forum was created to promote harmony within Cobb County by bringing together different faiths and beliefs to discuss challenging social issues and raise awareness.

This event is free and open to the public.

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Cobb Fire Station 21 crew, 911 operator earn Lifesaver awards

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Cobb Fire 21 crew Lifesaver Award

Members of Cobb Station 21 in East Cobb and a Cobb 911 operator have been recognized for their efforts in helping a parent resuscitate his son during a medical emergency.

The Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services Department announced this the staffers are the recipients of its Lifesaver Award.

Cobb 911 took a call on Jan. 2 from a father whose 13-year-old son had stopped breathing and didn’t have a pulse.

Emergency Communications Officer Emily Mistrella helped the father conduct basic CPR as Company 21, based on Lower Roswell Road, was dispatched to the scene.

Company 21 and MetroAmbulance restarted the boy’s heart with a defibrillation and other measures.

In the photo, from L-R, are Emily Mistretta of Cobb  911 and Company 21 personnel Capt. Tom Covington, Lt. David Hallford, Michal Uszynski, Nathan Ricketts, Timothy Ereddia, Monique Broussard, Edwin Sexton and Damien Whitehead.

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Cobb Police offer back-to-school traffic and safety tips

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Cobb Police back-to-school safety tips
Kindergarteners at Tritt ES get off the school bus during a ride-along event Thursday. Photo: Cobb County School District.

This week the Cobb Police Department has been rolling out safety-related information with another school year about to begin on Monday in the Cobb County School District.

The Cobb school district, which serves nearly 107,000 students at 112 schools, is  unveiling a new school crisis alert system with the 2022-23 school year. In the wake of the school shooting in May in Uvalde, Texas, the district announced that each school will be having at least one Code Red drill.

The Cobb Board of Education also has approved the hiring of non-police-certified armed guards and will permit some non-teaching staff to voluntarily carry weapons on campus.

Cobb also announced this week it has created the position of assistant superintendent for school safety initiatives and hired Osborne High School principal Josh Morreale to take on that role.

In addition to traffic reminders related to bus stops and child pedestrians, police also have provided safety tips for students at school.

On the roads, motorists are required to do the following:

  • Stop for school buses with safety lights activated and storm arms extended;
  • Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing at a crosswalk or intersection;
  • Stop for a crossing guard holding up a stop sign;
  • Never pass another vehicle stopped for pedestrians;
  • Obey all traffic signs posted in and around a traffic zone, including speed and parking restrictions.

It’s a violation of state law to disobey the instructions of a traffic control device unless directed by a law enforcement officer.

Students walking to and from school should observe the following:

  • Never walk while texting; step aside to let others pass by on a sidewalk;
  • Do not cross the street while using an electronic device;
  • Look left, then right, then left again before crossing the street and cross only at crosswalks;
  • Do not wear earbuds or headphones while walking across the street, and stay alert.

Inside the school buildings, police encourage students to take the following measures to protect themselves and their belongings:

  • Always keep lockers locked and don’t preset the combination to the last number for easy entry;
  • Secure belongings inside a locker; do not leave them on top, on benches, or in a classroom or bathroom;
  • Never share a locker combination with anyone;
  • If riding a bike, lock it to a rack or another stationary object;
  • If driving, keep the vehicle locked, windows closed and belongings out of sight;
  • Do not bring certain valuables to school, especially large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry;
  • Do not bring weapons to school, and if you see one, immediately report it to school officials and resource officer;
  • Report suspicious activities to the police, school officials, and your parents;
  • Tell a teacher, parent, or another trusted adult if you feel unsafe or if someone is bullying or threatening you;
  • Say no to adults if they ask you to do something you know is wrong, or if it makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

For more information about school safety, visit the Cobb County School District’s Cobb Shield resource page; more information about school buses can be found by clicking here.

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Power restored at Cobb County Adult Detention Center

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After being out in some areas for more than two days, electrical power has been fully restored at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.Cobb Sheriff's Office

Sgt. Jeremy Blake, the public information officer for the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, said in a release Tuesday morning that electricity was restored at 2:15 a.m. Tuesday.

On Saturday afternoon the Towers, an inmate housing area with around 600 detainees, experienced intermittent power disruptions and electricity was lost to certain areas of the facility.

Blake said maintenance crews said the outage was caused by a water leak that had damaged a power line, preventing emergency generators from providing power to the affected areas.

He said contractors and jail maintenance staff worked over the weekend and into early Tuesday to get the parts and make repairs.

During the outage, Blake said, additional law enforcement was called to the scene. Inmates “were provided with continuous ice and water and deputies increased the frequency of safety and security checks. Extra medical staff were on standby in the towers in case of a medical emergency,” Blake said.

A number of buildings at the jail complex, which opened in 1989, are currently or will be getting overhauled. The detention center is located at 1825 County Services Parkway in Marietta.

“I would like to publicly recognize the efforts by our staff over the last 36 hours,” Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens said in the release. “Our staff came in early and stayed late to make sure every detainee was safe and taken care of. Even simple tasks like delivering three meals a day required a team effort to complete. Our staff had to carry everything up and down multiple flights of stairs to make sure everyone’s needs were met.”

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3 teens charged with arson for Chimney Lakes gazebo fire

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Cobb Fire investigators say three 14-year-old boys have been charged with third-degree arson in connection with a fire that was set to the gazebo of the Chimney Lakes subdivision in East Cobb. Cobb Fire Department fireworks safety reminder

Chief investigator Brian Beaty said in a release Thursday that delinquency complaints were filed with the Juvenile Court of Cobb County on Wednesday.

He said that Cobb Fire and Emergency crews responded to an outdoor fire on July 7 around 5:38 p.m. at a residential address on Johnson Ferry Road near Chimney Lake Drive.

According to fire investigators, Cobb Fire staffers found the lakeside gazebo “involved by fire” and that preliminary findings indicated that the three males deliberately set the structure on fire.

Beaty said that anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Cobb Fire and Emergency Services at 770-499-3869.

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Construction costs ‘elevated’ for new Cobb Police Precinct 6

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Cobb Police Precinct 6

Cobb County officials will be asking commissioners Tuesday to set what they’re calling a “Guaranteed Maximum Price” to complete the building of the new Cobb Police Precinct 6 in Northeast Cobb.

According to an agenda item, the new station to be located next to the Mountain View Aquatic Center was earmarked with $5 million in funding from the 2016 Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax.

But the estimated price tag for the facility has grown to more than $5.5 million, according to the agenda item, which is recommending a build-out in stages.

“Due to currently elevated construction costs, budgeted funding is insufficient to complete build-out of the entire facility as designed,” states the agenda item.

The initial phase would include the construction of the exterior, front office spaces and a community room area, and provide space for on-site equipment access.

“When additional funding is identified, continuation of the project will be revisited at that time,” according to the budget item.

County officials are requesting $536,973 from county reserve funding to complete the project.

The new precinct initially will not have a patrol zone and instead will house police specialty units. Groundbreaking was held last November, after commissioners approved a two-phase contract with the Batson-Cook Company.

The first phase costs are $723,980 for design and other work. In the agenda item for Tuesday, the proposed Maximum Guaranteed Price for construction is $4,736,378, bringing the overall costs to $5,460,358.

Most of the East Cobb area is currently covered by Cobb Police Precinct 4, located on Lower Roswell Road.

That precinct runs from the Powers Ferry Road area to the east side of Canton Road.

Commissioners also will be asked on Tuesday to formally accept $73,824,239, the second of two lump sums from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Those funds are designated for state, local and other governments as part of the continuing response to COVID-19 and can be used for infrastructure upgrades, rental and small business assistance and support for essential workers.

There also will be a public hearing at the start of the meeting for the initial draft of Cobb County’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan 5-Year Update.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Cobb government building (100 Cherokee St., downtown Marietta).

The full agenda can be found here; there are two public comment sessions at the start and near the end of the meeting.

The meeting also will be live-streamed on the county’s website, cable TV channel (Channel 24 on Comcast) and Youtube page. Visit cobbcounty.org/CobbTV for other streaming options.

 

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Teenage motorcyclist killed in crash on Piedmont Road

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A 17-year-old riding a motorcycle was killed Friday after a crash with a car on Piedmont Road.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Cobb Police said Gabriel McLachlan of Kennesaw was pronounced dead on the scene. The crash closed traffic in both directions on Piedmont Road.

Sgt. Wayne Delk said in a release that McLachlan was driving gray a 2022 Kawasaki EX400 motorcycle eastbound on Piedmont Road at 11:26 a.m. Friday as it approached Bob Bettis Road.

Police said a black 2016 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by 25-year-old Graham Dobbs of Rockmart, was heading north on Bob Bettis and preparing to make a left turn onto Piedmont.

As Dobbs made the turn, he entered the path of the motorcycle, which struck the front of the Volkwagen, according to police.

Police said McLachlan was thrown from his bike and landed on the westbound lanes of Piedmont Road. He was pronounced dead on the scene by the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office and his next of kin was notified, police said.

Dobbs was not injured, according to police, who said the crash remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call 770-499-3987.

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Motorcyclist killed in East Cobb crash on Alabama Road

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Motorcyclist killed Old Alabama Road crash

A Woodstock man was killed Saturday when his motorcycle crashed with another vehicle at an intersection in Northeast Cobb.

Cobb Police Sgt. Wayne Delk identified the victim as Jason Williams, 51.

Delk said that a white and red 2004 Sprinter 2500 van driven by Steve Folds, 75, of Woodstock, was in an eastbound lane of Alabama Road (Highway 92) around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, ready to turn left at the intersection of Old Mountain Park Road.

As the van made the left turn, it was hit on the right side by a blue 2016 Yamaha FJR motorcycle driven by Williams, according to police.

Delk said Williams was ejected from the bike and was pronounced dead on the scene, and his next of kin was notified.

(A reader who passed by the scene took the above and other photos as police arrived.)

Folds was not injured, according to police, who said the crash investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.

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Sheriff’s Office: Cobb jail inmate on suicide watch dies

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The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday that a female inmate who had been on suicide watch at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center died of an apparent suicide.Cobb sheriff

Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Jeremy Blake said in a release that Nicole Smith of Atlanta was pronounced dead at 7:54 a.m. Thursday, after being taken to a hospital.

It’s the third death of a Cobb jail detainee this month, and is the second involving possible mental health issues.

Blake said Smith had been on active suicide watch and had tried to take her own life during mandatory welfare checks conducted by Sheriff’s Office personnel around the clock every 15 minutes.

He said that staffers began life-saving procedures when Smith was discovered Thursday, but he didn’t elaborate.

Blake said Smith had been receiving professional mental health support as part of a suicide prevention program at the jail.

The Sheriff’s Office is conducting an internal investigation and has asked for assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Blake said.

On May 12, Eva Kanja of Smyrna, who had been booked in late April for misdemeanor battery, died at the jail while undergoing a mental health evaluation.

On May 3, Joshua Capes of Kennesaw died at a hospital after being found unresponsive in his cell at the jail.

The causes of those death have not been revealed.

Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens began a detainee mental health program last fall. There were three jail inmate deaths in 2021, Owens’ first year in office, and he asked the GBI to conduct external probes of detainee deaths.

The first of those, in April 2021, was a man who died after attempting suicide.

“Unfortunately, our detention center—and thousands of detention centers across the country—have become de facto mental health hospitals,” Owens said in the release. “I will be convening local leaders, including those who just toured the facility, to help identify solutions and hopefully find treatment options outside of incarceration.”

The Cobb Sheriff’s Office had come under fire previously for a number of jail inmate deaths, prompting former Cobb District Attorney Joyette Holmes to call for an independent probe.

Among those were Kevil Wingo, who begged for medical help from jail staff and died in custody in September 2019.

The Wingo family filed a federal lawsuit against Wellstar Health system, six nurses and three sheriff’s deputies.

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Motorcyclist killed in crash at Terrell Mill Road and I-75 express lanes

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Cobb Police said a Smyrna man died Tuesday night after he was thrown from his motorcycle in a crash on Terrell Mill Road and the express lanes at Interstate 75.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Sgt. Wayne Delk said in a release that Harry A. Edwards, 42, was pronounced dead at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Delk said the crash took place at 8:32 p.m. when Edwards, riding a dark gray 2003 Honda CBR motorcycle heading westbound on Terrell Mill Road, was approaching the north express lanes.

Police said a white 2020 Honda CR-V, driven by Robin J. Tawzer, 58, of Canton, was traveling east on Terrell Mill, in a left turn lane to get on the north express lanes.

As the Honda made the turn, police said the motorcycle crashed into the right side of the vehicle, and Edwards was ejected.

Police said he landed on the road, and was taken to the hospital.

Police said Tawzer was not injured and a passenger in the Honda, Randall R. Tawzer, 52, also of Canton, complained of injuries but refused treatment at the scene.

This crash remains under investigation police said anyone with information is asked to contact the Cobb County Police Department’s STEP unit at 770-499-3987.

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East Cobb suspect arrested following wave of home burglaries

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Cobb Police have arrested a man they say committed a home burglary in an affluent neighborhood in East Cobb last week, and as they and Marietta Police continue to investigate similar incidents.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Armando Casa-Rojas, of Argentina, has been charged with first-degree burglary following a burglary at a home off Old Canton Road near Roswell Road last Friday, according to an arrest warrant.

The warrant states that last Friday, May 6, around 9:30 p.m., Casa-Rojas broke into a home by breaking a window in the back, then locating and breaking open a safe.

The warrant also said that the suspect had four pry bars, a flashlight, a head lamp, a window punch and a pair of gloves inside a back pack.

Police were called to the scene and Casa-Rojas tried to get away, but he was apprehended by the police, according to the warrant.

He also has been charged with felony possession of tools for the commission of a crime and willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

According to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, Casa-Rojas was booked in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center and remains there without bond.

Police have said they are investigating seven other similar burglaries, where homes are broken into at night and with no one home, targeting expensive homes and seeking items in safes, cash, jewelry and weapons.

They’ve said an organized, sophisticated burglary crew or crews have been operating in metro Atlanta in recent months. No other arrests have been made.

The arrest warrant for Casa-Rojas doesn’t state what items were taken from the home in East Cobb.

Cobb Police are encouraging homeowners to observe the following safety tips:

  • Lock your doors, including the one from the garage into the home.
  • Keep garage doors closed.
  • Use motion-sensor-activated exterior lighting.
  • Use surveillance cameras (they can be registered with the Cobb Police camera registry.
  • Turn on your audible alarm system if you have one.
  • Report suspicious persons and vehicles in your neighborhood.
Precinct 4 in East Cobb has a criminal investigations unit that investigates thefts and burglaries. For information call 770-499-4184.

New Cobb Police Chief ‘humbled, but burdened’ by appointment

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Cobb Police Chief VanHoozer

When he was hired as a Cobb Police officer in 1990, Stuart VanHoozer said he never thought he would move up the ranks to chief.

It wasn’t something a young man without a military or higher education background ever thought about, living in a basement in Mableton as he took on his first assignment as an officer on a beat, making $5.25 an hour.

“From there I fell in love with this job,” VanHoozer said Tuesday as he was introduced as the new Cobb Police Chief.

After a varied 32-year career in which he served as a patrol officer, heading up narcotics and internal affairs units, a commander at three precincts and most recently, as a deputy chief and interim co-chief, VanHoozer’s appointment was approved in a 5-0 vote of the Cobb Board of Commissioners.

He succeeds Tim Cox, who retired at the end of 2021.

“I came from pretty much nothing,” VanHoozer said in a press conference after the meeting. “All you have to do is be willing to do something great for your community.”

VanHoozer was one of four candidates formally interviewed from an initial applicant pool of 50, and his name was on a final list of three submitted to Cobb commissioners.

County Manager Jackie McMorris recommended him as the sole finalist.

VanHoozer said he was “humbled, but burdened” by his new role, and pledged that “nobody will work harder.”

VanHoozer and his fellow deputy chief Scott Hamilton have been juggling co-interim chief duties since January.

Since 2018, VanHoozer has been a deputy chief, in charge of implementing technology such as facial recognition and license-plate readers.

But intangible qualities were referenced by county leaders who spoke at the introduction.

“One of the things that captivated us was just his general empathy for everyone,” said Cobb Commission Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who referenced her relationship with him when she represented District 4 in South Cobb.

“He cares about those he serves with and the badge that he wears.”

During heartfelt remarks after his introduction, VanHoozer talked about regular visits he would make to a child care center in South Cobb during his time as the Precinct 2 commander.

The child care center, located across the street from a shopping center known for criminal activity, especially drug-dealing, had been struck by stray bullets.

VanHoozer said he would hug some of the students and look at the bullet holes.

“All I could think about [when] I was commander of that precinct was that nothing can happen to those children while I am here,” he said.

VanHoozer touted his officers, who do what they do “without a whole lot of recognition in most areas,” noting activities behind the scenes, such as buying bicycles for kids and presenting Christmas gifts to children in need.

He also commended community leaders, including some from Austell who recognized police and law enforcement officers earlier in Tuesday’s meeting.

“We need help,” VanHoozer said, referring to open positions for officers. “We want people who are willing to bring their brains and minds together to make Cobb County safer, and to make Cobb County better.”

You can watch the full introductory press conference below.

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