Cobb jail returns to ‘strict COVID-19 protocols’ after 51 new cases

Submitted information:Cobb sheriff

As cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant continue to rise, the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office has also seen an increase in positive cases among staff and detainees in the Adult Detention Center. 

After mass polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on July 28th, 51 individuals tested positive for the novel coronavirus; however, the majority are not exhibiting symptoms.

To keep people safe and reduce the spread of the virus, Sheriff Owens has implemented the following measures: 

  • individuals receive a rapid test upon booking in the Adult Detention Center;

  • upon booking, detainees are placed in a separate pod for 14 days; 

  • detainees may request a COVID-19 test at any time;

  • any detainee exhibiting symptoms will receive a test and be placed in a separate pod; and

  • masks are now mandatory, regardless of vaccination status. 

“The data is clear; the Delta variant is especially dangerous for the unvaccinated,” said Sheriff Craig D. Owens, Sr. “I urge our employees and all detainees to take advantage of the free, safe COVID-19 vaccine for their safety and the safety of the general public.” 

The Sheriff’s Office has already vaccinated more than 475 detainees and continues to work with the county judges to vaccinate those with upcoming court trials.

“Unfortunately, misinformation has resulted in vaccine hesitancy within the Adult Detention Center,” the sheriff added. “We are organizing a vaccine education clinic with outside professionals to address detainees’ concerns and encourage full participation in our next vaccine clinic.” 

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to doing everything possible to keep detainees safe during this unprecedented time. 

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Cobb Police to hold ‘National Night Out’ event Aug. 3

Submitted information:

Cobb County Police Department will host a National Night Out celebration 6-9 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 3, at Jim R. Miller Park. This fun event will feature food trucks, live music and a variety of entertainment. Other public safety departments, including Cobb Animal Services, Cobb Fire and Emergency Services, Cobb Sheriff’s Office, Cobb 911 and Cobb Emergency Management Agency.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It also provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Make plans to bring your family out on Aug. 3 to spend a fun-filled evening getting to know one another in a relaxed and celebratory environment with staff from Cobb PD, Cobb Sheriff’s Office, Cobb Fire and Emergency Services, Cobb 911 and Cobb Emergency Management Agency.Cobb Police National Night Out

 

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Motorist killed, 5 injured in I-75 crash between Delk/South Loop

Cobb Police said a motorist was killed and five others were injured early Wednesday morning in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 75, and that the driver of one of those vehicles is being sought.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Cobb Police Sgt. Wayne Delk said in a release that an unidentified adult male driver of one of the vehicles was pronounced dead at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

Four occupants of another vehicle also were taken there with what Delk said were non-life-threatening injuries, and the driver of their car escaped on foot and remains at-large.

Cobb Police said the driver of the third vehicle, Juan Trejo, 56, of Cumming, is at Kennestone with non-life threatening injuries.

Police said that a green 2010 Chevrolet Express van was traveling northbound on I-75 between Delk Road and the South Marietta Loop around 5:21 a.m. when a tire went flat.

When the van attempted to change lanes to the right it was rear-ended by a white 2008 Ford F-150 truck, driven by Trejo. Both vehicles came to a stop in a center lane of the interstate as a result, and then a white 2006 Toyota Scion XB crashed into the rear of the truck, police said.

The Toyota came to a stop in the right lane, according to police, and the driver of that car was seriously injured and later died at the hospital.

Police said the driver of the Chevrolet left the scene on foot before the arrival of first responders, who attended to four injured male occupants of that vehicle, who were taken to the hospital.

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

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Cobb Public Safety to hold fall Citizens Public Safety Academy

Submitted information:

The Cobb County Department of Public Safety (DPS) will host its fall session of the Citizens Public Safety Academy (CPSA) starting Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 6 p.m. The 13-week program provides an opportunity for Cobb County citizens to get an inside look into the many facets of public safety. Participants will learn how Police, Fire, Animal Services, and 911 departments are organized and the important role each one plays to ensure the safety of all the citizens of Cobb County.Cobb public safety appreciation

In order to participate, interested citizens need to be at least 21 years of age and either live in Cobb County, work for Cobb County Government, or work for Cobb County Schools.

The start date is Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 6 p.m. at the Cobb County Public Safety Police Academy located at 2435 East West Connector, Austell Ga, 30106.

All applicants must fill out an application and undergo a background check. The application can be emailed or picked up in person at the Police Academy (2435 East West Connector). Applicants can email Sergeant Verola at Victor.Verola@cobbcounty.org to receive an emailed copy of the application. However, the completed application will need to be taken to the Cobb County Internal Affairs Department located at 545 South Fairground Street, Marietta, Ga, 30060. Applicants will need to bring their driver’s license. The deadline to register is September 1, 2021 at 3 p.m.

The first night of the CPSA will meet at the Cobb County Public Safety Police Academy at 6 p.m. Participants will meet the training staff, receive a brief presentation, and tour the Academy grounds. All subsequent classes will be conducted every Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at other various Cobb County Public Safety locations. Graduation will be on the 13th week of the course.

A few of the planned activities include:

  • Meeting with distinguished member of the Public Safety Department.
  • Touring the 911 Communications Center and the Animal Services facility.
  • Receiving demonstrations from DPS Police Training on firearms safety and defensive tactics.
  • Participating in classes from the Fire Department Special Operations (Hazardous Materials, Heavy Rescue Squad, etc).

The complete schedule will be provided on the first night along with additional information.

If you have any questions about the Cobb County Citizens Public Safety Academy, please contact the Police Academy at 770-499-4100.

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Lassiter graduate killed in motorcycle crash in Kennesaw

For the second time in as many weeks, a member of the Lassiter High School community has died in tragic circumstances.Dylan Nekrasas, Lassiter graduate killed motorcycle crash

Dylan Paul Nekrasas, 19, who graduated from Lassiter in 2020, was killed in a motorcycle crash on Saturday near the Kennesaw State University campus.

Cobb Police said he was riding a motorcycle eastbound on Big Shanty Road at Hidden Forest Court Saturday around 2:30 p.m. when it crashed into a BMW heading northbound on Hidden Forest Court and that was trying to turn left onto Big Shanty.

Nekrasas was thrown from the motorcycle and landed on Big Shanty Road, then was hit by another BMW, according to police.

Police said Nekrasas was given medical attention but was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to police, the driver of the first BMW, Olivia Swanigan, 27, of Tylertown, Miss., was taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital with chest pains and a shortness of breath, and the driver of the other BMW, Walter Leeper, 68, of Acworth, was not injured.

Police said that speed was a factor in the crash and they don’t expect to file charges.

The Lassiter PTSA linked to an online tribute page. Nekrasas was a student at KSU, where, according to a family message, he was studying “to be a marketer just like his dad.

“Dylan was our free spirit and was always up for an adventure,” the message read. “He loved hockey, lacrosse, and the outdoors, and lived his life to the fullest. He was shy yet a deep thinker with a heart of gold. Dylan had a loving heart and would always help a friend in need. His loss is devastating to those who knew and loved him.”

A celebration of life service is scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. at Northside Chapel (12050 Crabapple Road, Roswell).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Arbor Day Foundation. Links and more information can be found on the tribute page.

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Cobb Police: Country club homicide suspect ‘not an active threat to the public’

Cobb Police said Tuesday they’re still seeking a suspect in a triple homicide that took at Pinetree Country Club near Kennesaw on Saturday.Northeast Cobb car crash, Cops on Donut Shops

Sgt. Wayne Delk, a Cobb Police spokesman, said in a release that “current information reveals there is not an active threat to the public at large and there was not a directed threat to residents of the neighborhood.”

He didn’t elaborate further and no description of the unidentified suspect has been provided.

Gene Siller, 46, the golfing director at Pinetree, was found with a shotgun wound to the head on the 10th hole of the course around 2:20 p.m. Saturday afternoon, and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Two other men were found dead in the back of a white Ram 3500 pick-up truck that was also located on the 10th green.

Delk said Tuesday that detectives believe that Siller was caught up in a “crime in progress” involving the suspect and the other two men.

“It does not appear Siller was in any way targeted, but rather was killed because he witnessed an active crime taking place,” Delk said in a Cobb Police statement Tuesday.

One of the other men who died was identified as Paul Pierson, 76, of Kansas, whom police said was the registered owner of the pickup truck. The other victim was not identified but police said he’s believed to be Hispanic.

UPDATE: Cobb Police said Wednesday that the other victim in the truck has been identified as Henry Valdez, 46, of California.

Those two men, Delk said, “appear to have no relation to the location at all.” He said that “we are aware that the public has many questions, the most pressing one being why this happened; however, it is too early in the investigation to speculate as to motive.”

Delk said that anyone with information should contact Cobb Police detectives at 770-499-4111 or at cobbpolicecrimetips@cobbcounty.org.

A fundraiser has been established for Siller’s family that’s already raised most of the $500,000 goal.

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When, where and how to use fireworks in Cobb County

After a presentation earlier this week from Cobb Fire & Emergency Services with safety-related tips for handling fireworks, Cobb County government has compiled the following information about when you can use them:Cobb fireworks New Year's Eve

FIREWORKS USE IN COBB COUNTY
Cobb County Code bans the use of fireworks from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. This is spelled out in the county’s code under the noise ordinances. Violations are a misdemeanor offense and you can view the noise ordinances by going here: Cobb County Noise Ordinance

However, the state legislature has spelled out several exemptions to the county code in O.C.G.A. § 25-10-1 et seq. This allows exemptions to county ordinances for use of fireworks on specific dates and times.

  • December 31 (New Year’s Eve) – Fireworks may be discharged until 1 a.m.
  • January 1 (New Year’s Day) – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.
  • The last Saturday and Sunday in May – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.
  • July 3 – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.
  • July 4 – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.
  • The first Monday in September – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.

To view the Georgia code section regarding fireworks visit:  O.C.G.A. § 25-10-2 Fireworks in County Parks — Pyrotechnics are prohibited at ALL county parks per County Ordinance § 90-63. 

Sec. 90-63. – Restricted or Prohibited Uses of Park Facilities

  1. Pyrotechnics prohibited

   It shall be unlawful for any persons to possess, display, use, set off, or ignite any firecracker, fireworks, smoke bombs, rockets, or other pyrotechnics.

We wish you a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday weekend and a glorious summer.  Please be courteous and safe!

 

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Woman arrested after toddler found in Chattahoochee River

Toddler found Chattahoochee River
GBI sketch by Kelly Johnson.

Cobb Police said Friday they’ve arrested a Stone Mountain woman and charged her with concealing the death of another person after a toddler’s body was recovered from the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Cobb County on Thursday.

Sgt. Wayne Delk, a Cobb Police spokesman, said in a release that Breyania Cooper, 27, was booked into the Cobb County Adult Detention Center and is being held without bond.

Police said Cobb Fire and rescue personnel conducting a training session along the Chattahoochee River discovered the body of an unidentified child between the ages of 1 and 3 on Thursday morning in the Palisades Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (3444 Cobb Parkway).

Cobb Police and National Park Service Rangers were called to the scene and the Cobb Police Crimes Against Persons Unit got involved, according to police, who said the child’s body was placed in the custody of the Cobb County Medical Examination.

Police said that they believe that the child’s body was in the water “for more than a day or two” and it’s possible the child could have been missing from a location north of Cobb County.

Police said they are asking for the public’s help in identifying the child, and late Friday afternoon released a Georgia Bureau of Investigation artist’s sketch of the child.

Delk said Friday police have not established a connection between the child and Cooper, but that tips from the public led to identifying her as a suspect.

toddler's body found Chattahoochee River
A toddler’s body was found off Cobb Parkway in the Palisades Unit of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Source: Open Street Map.

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Cobb Fire and Emergency Services demonstrates fireworks safety

Cobb Fireworks safety tips

Before beginning Independence Day weekend festivities, Cobb Fire and Emergency Services is asking that you practice some common-sense safety tips regarding fireworks.

The agency held a press conference and safety demonstration earlier this week, and DO watch to the end of the nearly 10-minute video  below to see what can happen if you don’t take the simplest of precautions.

At the press conference, Cobb Fire officials said there was a related incident that occurred in the county over the weekend. Although they declined to go into too many details, they said the incident included injuries to lower limbs.

The leading fireworks safety statistic, according to the National Fire Professionals Association, is children handling sparklers.

You’re even being advised NOT to use a hand sanitizer before handling fireworks, because that can also produce a dangerous situation.

But the general message is even more adamant—if you’re not a pro at handling fireworks, leave that to the professionals.

More safety-related information can be found by clicking here.

 

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Lassiter student, father killed in crash; family members injured

Lassiter student killed in crash
A fundraising effort identified family members from L-R as Chris Rountree, Libby Rountree, Erica Rountree and Cate Rountree.

The Lassiter High School community is mourning the death of a student in a car crash over the weekend that also killed her father and seriously injured her mother and sister.

That’s according to a fundraiser started for the Rountree family after a Saturday crash in south Georgia.

Libby Rountree, 17, and her father, Chris Rountree, 53, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on U.S. Highway 441 near Dublin on Saturday afternoon, according to a news report in Macon, which also said that two other passengers in their car were injured.

Shaun Cunningham, the organizer for the fundraiser, said Erica Rountree, Chris’ wife, and another daughter, Cate, were also in the car and “sustained serious injuries that have put them both in critical condition.”

Cunningham said Cate Rountree, a 2019 graduate of Mt. Bethel Christian Academy, has undergone two surgeries. In a family update, Erica Rountree wrote that “I’m not sure how we left behind will manage. That is a big question mark with no answer.”

The Rountrees were returning home from a family vacation in Florida when the crash occurred.

The Macon news report said that a Volkswagen Jetta traveling north on U.S. 441 was hit head-on by a GMC Sierra truck that was traveling in the wrong direction around 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Volkwagen was carrying the Rountree family, and the Georgia State Patrol said that the driver of the car (later identified as Chris Rountree) tried to avoid a crash, but could not.

The report said the truck hit the front driver’s side of the Volkswagen. “Chris did his absolute best to swerve out of the way, but the driver was going so fast there wasn’t time and he took the full impact on the driver’s side and Libby was sitting behind him,” Erica Rountree wrote. “His actions saved Cate’s and my lives without a doubt. He has always been our protector and shield and I don’t know what we’ll do without him.”

On Monday, Lassiter principal Chris Richie sent out a message to the school community with the news, saying that “there are no words that could ease the pain that has devastated our Lassiter family and left us heartbroken.”

Libby Rountree was a rising senior and soccer player at Lassiter, and also played in the East Cobb-based NASA Tophat youth soccer program.

“Libby will be remembered as a generous young lady whose smile, infectious laughter, and artistic abilities brought happiness to many students and teachers at Lassiter,” Richie said. “Libby was well-loved by her peers, coaches, and teachers. Libby was a valuable member of the Lassiter community, and we will always remember her for her kindness and loving spirit.”

An evening of prayer has been arranged for the Rountree family Thursday from 5-7 p.m. in the Upper Room of Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church (4385 Lower Roswell Road).

“All are welcome,” Cunningham wrote. “Bring notes, cards, etc. Libby’s soccer team will be there.”

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3 lanes of I-75 north at Roswell Road closed after accident

I-75 NB lanes closed Roswell Road
A Georgia 511 traffic screenshot of the lane closures on I-75 northbound above Roswell Road.

Marietta Police are urging motorists not to use Interstate 75 north at Roswell Road Sunday afternoon after an accident shut down three left lanes.

Police issued an alert around 12:30 p.m. saying the clean-up would take between 5 and 8 hours, and that the lane closures were necessary to make repairs.

“A hole in this overpass has closed the #3 lane from the left wall and will require a detour of traffic” for several hours, the alert read, suggesting use of the North or Marietta Parkway as alternate routes.

Georgia 511 camera footage shows backups on I-75 north to I-285, and even some of the detour routes are starting to back up, including Roswell Road at Cobb Parkway.

I-75 NB at Delk Road
Northhbound traffic on I-75 north at Delk Road is heavily backed up.

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Man dies after East Cobb motorcycle crash on Roswell Road

East Cobb motorcycle crash
A reader-submitted photo of a motorcycle that crashed with a Lincoln at Roswell and Providence roads Thursday night.

A 58-year-old Marietta man was killed Thursday night after his motorcycle crashed with a car on Roswell Road in East Cobb, according to police.

Cobb Police said Casey Sullivan was pronounced dead at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital after being taken there following the crash, which took place on Roswell Road near its eastern intersection with Providence Road.

Sullivan was heading westbound on Roswell on a BMW R1200 RT that collided with a Lincoln MKX driven by Preksha Bhargava, 22, of Marietta, around 6:54 p.m., according to police.

Police said the Lincoln was headed east on Roswell and was attempting a left turn onto Providence Road when the crash occurred.

Sullivan was thrown from his motorcycle on contact and the car Bhargava was driving crashed into a Toyota Tundra waiting at a red traffic light on Providence Road, according to police.

Police said Bhargava was not injured but a 16-year-old male passenger in the Lincoln had minor injuries. The Toyota driver, Alan Dunbar, 56, of Marietta, and three passengers in that vehicle—Karen Dunbar, 56, of Marietta; Elizabeth Dunbar, 56, of Port Saint Lucie, Fla.; Nathan Dunbar, 18, of Marietta—were uninjured, according to police.

Police said the collision remains under investigation and anyone with information should contact Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.

 

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‘Crawling burglar’ suspect charges include Tokyo Valentino theft

Tokyo Valentino East Cobb

An Atlanta man alleged to have crawled his way into numerous Cobb County businesses since last fall by breaking or removing windows is accused of stealing more than $21,000 in money and merchandise from the Tokyo Valentino store in East Cobb.

According to an arrest warrant dated June 1, Aron Jermaine Major, 47, burglarized the adult retail business on Johnson Ferry Road early in the morning of Oct. 20, 2020, taking lingerie, sex enhancement pills, CBD products, sex toys and gift cards.

He’s facing more than a dozen burglary and related charges for a spree that Cobb Police said began last September and continued through mid-March of this year.

A dozen warrants were taken out against Major on June 1 for those and other offenses, following a search warrant at his residence, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office records, which indicate the suspect was taken into custody on that date and remains at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center.

An arrest warrant for Major states that the Tokyo Valentino burglary took place shortly after 6 a.m. on Oct. 20, with a suspect removing a window pane on the side of the store building (1290 Johnson Ferry Road) to gain entry.

The store manager reported to police that 61 lingerie sets were missing, as were 400 male sex enhancement pills, five pairs of high heels, two fetish straps, two doorway sex swings, 25 sex toys, 500 $25 gift cards, 17 bottles of CBD oil and tincture, six tins of Kratom powder and nearly $1,000 in cash.

The warrant further states that when police got a search warrant for Major’s residence on June 1, they found 447 packets of male sex enhancement pills and a door sex swing, items that the Tokyo Valentino manager verified were from the East Cobb store.

The same warrant states that after leaving Tokyo Valentino on Oct. 20, the suspect tried to go inside the Starbuck’s Coffee shop at 2424 Roswell Road, near East Piedmont Road, by removing a glass window pane and leaving it in a dumpster.

That’s in the vicinity of an oil change shop and a restaurant Major is accused of burglarizing on March 3-4, 2021, according to the warrants.

A warrant states that a man broke into the Havoline Express Oil Change (2525 Roswell Road) between 7 p.m. March 3 and 7:30 a.m. March 4 by removing glass in the front of the business, taking money from a register and replacing the window.

At Peace, Love and Pizza (1050 E. Piedmont Road), another glass window was removed, and the suspect was captured by a surveillance video crawling on the floor to reach a register and taking more than $2,000.

“The images seen on CCTV (clothes, height, weight) as well as the modus operandi is that of the said accused and has been seen in burglaries in multiple other burglaries as indicated” in the warrants, that particular warrant states.

The warrants show that on the same day, March 4, Major burglarized two restaurants on Lower Roswell Road, Ming’s Asian Kitchen and Red Curry Thai.

The suspect took cash from Ming’s (4665 Lower Roswell Road) by breaking into a back door by breaking glass around 11 a.m. and taking a register, the warrant states. At Red Curry Thai (4724 Lower Roswell Road), according to the warrant, the suspect removed a glass pane from the front door to gain access and took cash from a register.

Three other East Cobb restaurants were burglarized by Major during his spree, according to the warrants: The Wing Cafe and Tap House and Fuji Hana on Sept. 22, 2020, and a Mellow Mushroom restaurant on March 18, 2021.

On Sept. 22, shortly after 5 a.m., a warrant states that Major cut away a glass pane at The Wing Cafe (2145 Roswell Road) and pried open a locked door, then attempted to remove a safe. The warrant states that he failed, but managed to open an ATM machine inside the restaurant and took $300 in cash.

Roughly an hour later, the warrant states Major smashed open a pane of glass to enter Fuji Hana (1255 Johnson Ferry Road), and was seen on a video camera stealing a safe and putting it on a rolling cart. The suspect was seen taking cash out of a register and rolling the safe on the cart to the parking lot and leaving with them.

The June 1 search warrant indicated that police discovered business checks from Fuji Hana in Major’s possession.

The last incident that has been connected to Major was a burglary at Mellow Mushroom (2000 Powers Ferry Road) between 5:55 a.m. and 6:18 a.m. on March 18. That warrant states that a male removed a glass panel from the front of the restaurant and crawled inside, looking for cash, alcohol and cigarettes.

Other businesses named in the warrants include restaurants and retail shops in the Town Center, Marietta and Acworth areas.

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GBI identifies suspect killed by Cobb Police in Sunday shooting

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting death of a man Cobb Police said shot at one of their officers before he was killed by police Sunday afternoon in northwest Cobb.GBI drug trafficking arrests NE Cobb home search

The GBI said in a release late Monday morning that Luis Rey Ruiz, 20, died at the scene after being shot by Cobb Police during a manhunt on North Shores Road.

That’s close to the residential address of a 911 call reported to authorities around 3:30 p.m. regarding an alleged domestic dispute, according to the GBI.

GBI spokeswoman Natalie Ammons said that when Cobb Police arrived at a home at 5866 North Shores Road in Acworth, a man later identified as Rey shot at one of the officers.

Ruiz then ran from the scene, and Cobb Police deployed a SWAT unit in pursuit, according to the GBI, which said that officers found him at 5870 North Shores Road. Ammons said that several officers shot at Ruiz and he died on the scene, and police later found a firearm next to him.

She said the Cobb County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy on Ruiz.

The GBI said the officer he is alleged to have shot during the initial call is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover.

As is the case in officer-involved shootings, the GBI will conduct an investigation and turn over its findings to the Cobb District Attorney’s Office.

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East Cobb man indicted for shooting at police in standoff

An East Cobb man charged with shooting at police officers during a standoff at his home last fall has been indicted on 14 felony counts by a Cobb grand jury.East Cobb grandfather sentenced

The Cobb District Attorney’s office said that that Donald Terry Welborn was indicted on Thursday on nine counts of aggravated assault against a police officer, three counts of aggravated assault and two counts of possessing a firearm while committing a felony.

Welborn, 57, was arrested at his home on Kingsley Drive (off Post Oak Tritt Road and near Johnson Ferry Road) on Sept. 22, 2020, hours after neighbors began hearing shots from his residence around 5:30 a.m.

Cobb Police, including a SWAT unit, arrived on the scene, beginning a standoff that closed off the New Castle neighborhood for the rest of the morning.

During the standoff, police said Welborn shot at multiple officers as negotiators tried to get him to come out of the home. According to the indictment, Welborn took aim at nine different officers.

He was taken into custody about six hours later with no injuries and was charged with eight felony counts, police said.

Welborn remains at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center without bond, according to Cobb Sheriff’s Office booking records.

In February, Welborn’s attorney attempted to have his client’s case assigned to a mental health court, but that request was turned down by the Cobb District Attorney’s office.

According to Cobb Superior Court records, assistant district attorney Maurice Brown told Robert Citronberg that “Defendant’s offense does not appear to be sufficiently connected to Defendant’s health diagnosis” but did not elaborate.

According to a criminal warrant taken out against Welborn, he went into a bedroom where Susan Welborn was sleeping, then shot at a ceiling fan.

Cobb court records indicate that she is Welborn’s wife, but they had been separated. Susan Welborn filed for divorce in Cobb Superior Court on the same day of the shootings.

The warrant also states that Welborn was inside his residence when he shot at the homes of two neighbors, one next door and another across the street, striking their homes, before police arrived.

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Update: Suspect in Northeast Cobb home shooting captured

UPDATED Tuesday, May 25, 9:50 p.m.:

Cobb Police said Tuesday night that Cody Demmitt has been captured in Arkansas.

ORIGINAL REPORT:

The Cobb Police Department late Monday afternoon released a photo of a man suspected of injuring one person during a shooting on Sunday at a home in Northeast Cobb.

Cody Demmitt, Northeast Cobb home shooting suspect

Police said they’ve obtained an arrest warrant for Cody Demmitt, who remains at-large and is wanted for aggravated assault.

According to a police release, Demmitt shot multiple rounds at a residence at 3760 Westchase Drive, located in the Canterbury Ridge subdivision off Canton Road and near Hawkins Store Road.

Police said their detectives said were called to the home at 11:30 p.m. Sunday after a shooting had been reported.

Police said they found a male with a gunshot wound to a shoulder, and he was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police said Demmitt is a neighbor of the victim, and had not been allowed to attend a party at the home. Demmitt fired several shots in the house and fled the scene before law enforcement arrived, police said.

Anyone with information about the incident should call Cobb County Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit at 770-499-3945.

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East Cobb apartment fire destroys 1 unit; 2 pets rescued

The Hills at East Cobb, East Cobb apartment fire

Cobb firefighters on Wednesday limited an apartment fire in East Cobb to one unit, and rescued two pets along the way.

One unit was heavily damaged and another sustained water damage at The Hills at East Cobb (1716 Terrell Mill Road), according to a department social media posting Wednesday evening.

Cobb FD said that “12 firefighting apparatus arrived on scene to fight fire, search, provide water, and evacuate residents.”

There were no injuries, and two pets were rescued. A grease fire that started in the kitchen of one of the units threatened up to nine adjacent units and 20 more units in a connecting building, according to Cobb FD.

“Most house fires start in the kitchen. Never leave food unattended and make sure your heating elements are turned off,” the Cobb FD said after the fire had been contained.

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The Hills at East Cobb, East Cobb apartment fire

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Richardson to hold women’s self-defense class at East Cobb Park

Richardson self-defense class

Submitted information:

In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, District Two Commissioner Jerica Richardson is hosting a women’s self-defense class and fundraiser 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, April 24, at East Cobb Park. The class will be taught by A.C.T. Women’s Self-Defense and Chi Budo Kwon Martial Arts. Each participant should complete registration, have a partner (if possible), wear a mask and comfortable clothes and bring water. To register, click here. East Cobb Park is located at 3322 Roswell Road, Marietta.

The Cobb based nonprofit LiveSafe Resources provides help for sexual assault and domestic abuse survivors. To donate to this worthy cause, visit livesaferesources.org/donate.

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Crime Victims’ Rights Week events include Cobb observations

Submitted information:Crime Victims Rights Week

Cobb District Attorney Flynn D. Broady, Jr. announces that several events are planned to mark National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 18-24. This year’s theme is “Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities.”

“Victims suffer emotionally, physically, and financially from the criminal acts committed against them. As a community and as service providers, we have an obligation to recognize the impact of crime on victims and to provide resources and assistance to help victims heal,” said Kim McCoy, Director of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit in the Cobb DA’s Office. “This week of recognition and these planned events reinforce the commitment of this office to serve crime victims with dignity, respect, and honor and to engage community partners in the continuation of victim services, to build trust, and to engage the entire community in these efforts.”

This year marks the 40th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. First designated by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week increases public awareness of, and knowledge about the wide range of rights and services available to people who have been victimized by crime.

Local Crime Victims’ Rights Week events will include:

April 13 – The Cobb Board of Commissioners will present a proclamation to mark Cobb County Crime Victims’ Rights Week during the Commission’s 9 a.m. meeting at 100 Cherokee St. in Marietta. Meetings are shown on cable TV; on the county’s website, www.cobbcounty.org; and on the Cobb County Government YouTube channel.

April 18 – The Crime Victims Advocacy Council and First Baptist Church, Decatur, will host the 31st Annual Homicide Memorial, from 3-5 p.m. outside at the church, 308 Clairemont Ave., Decatur. Please RSVP at www.cvaconline.org. DA Broady will be speaking at this event.

April 22, 1 p.m. – Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and partner agencies will host a virtual ceremony. Visit Georgia.cjcc.gov by April 15 to register. 

April 24 – Premiere of “Run for Justice,” a virtual 5K run/walk fund-raiser to benefit liveSAFE Resources, Inc. and SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center. This year, participation is limited to our office and partner agencies, though our goal is to make this is annual public event beginning in 2022.

In addition, Cobb recently embarked on a multi-year project to establish a Family Justice Center to better serve victims of domestic and interpersonal family violence, child and elder abuse, and human trafficking. Project partners will attend the 21st Annual International Family Justice Center Conference, hosted by the Alliance for Hope.

Cobb’s FJC Site Coordinator TaNesha McAuley is also conducting several Listening Tours with community partners to learn about the services they provide to victims, and providing education on the FJC model.

The Listening Tour will ultimately expand into our Cobb communities as residents are invited to be part of the planning, development, and implementation of Cobb’s FJC. For FJC updates, visit www.cobbda.com or email fjccobb@cobbcounty.org.

Residents can stay informed about events, and look for a series of brief videos for Crime Victims’ Rights Week, on Facebook, @cobbda.

For information about national efforts to promote 2021 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, visit the Office for Victims of Crime website at www.ovc.gov and the National Organization for Victim Assistance at www.trynova.org/ncvrw.

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East Cobb man gets life sentence for killing home contractor

Larry Epstein, East Cobb man gets life sentence
Larry Epstein has been in custody since the March 6, 2019 shootings at his home on Wellington Lane.

An East Cobb homeowner set to go on trial next month for shooting a home contractor to death and seriously wounding another has been sentenced to life in prison.

During a plea hearing in Cobb Superior Court on Tuesday, Larry Epstein, 70, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon while committing a felony, according to the Cobb District Attorney’s office.

He has been in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center since March 2019 for shooting Jake Horne, then 21, and Gordon Montcalm, then 38, who were leaving his home after doing some electrical contracting work.

Horne was sitting in a van outside Epstein’s home on Wellington Lane off Johnson Ferry Road on March 6, 2019 when he was shot execution-style in the head with a .22-caliber handgun with a suppressor, according to the Cobb DA’s office.

According to statements at Tuesday’s hearing, Montcalm was getting ready to leave in another vehicle and tried to get away, but Epstein fired his gun at him several times.

According to testimony offered at Tuesday’s hearing, Epstein’s wife arrived at the home just before police arrived, and Montcalm screamed at her that Epstein had shot him and Horne.

The Cobb DA’s office said Montcalm escaped to a neighboring home and wounds to his face, back and arms were treated by a nurse living at that home and who called 911.

Horne was taken off life support the following day at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where Montcalm was hospitalized with long recovery.

“Epstein executed Jake, robbing him of life’s most precious experiences—owning a home, getting married, having children—at the young age of 21. And even though Montcalm survived, he is forever scarred, both physically and emotionally,” said Jesse Evans, the Cobb deputy chief assistant district attorney.

Horne’s uncle John Savell told the court the loss of his nephew leaves an “unfillable void,” according to the Cobb DA’s office, which said Montcalm did not attend the hearing but supported the case being resolved without a trial.

Cobb jury trials are set to resume in April after nearly a year of backlogs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this month Epstein’s attorney tried to delay the trial until August, saying that his client wanted to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before having a trial. Cobb Superior Court Judge Ann Harris also had ordered a psychiatric evaluation of Epstein, whose attorney has said in court filings suffers from mental illness.

At Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors said that after officers arrived at the Epstein home, they discovered a surveillance camera video that showed part of the murder.

Police blocked off the street, and the Cobb DA’s office said that after Epstein surrendered peacefully, he waived his Miranda rights.

Testimony introduced at the hearing said during a search warrant at Epstein’s home, officers found firearms, including the murder weapon and the suppressor hidden in the garage.

Prosecutors aid the handgun was “positively linked by ballistics testing to the shootings of Horne and Montcalm.”

The day after Epstein’s arrest, his wife filed for divorce.

Harris called the incident an “irreparable tragedy” as she issued the life sentence.

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