Category: Public Safety

Buckhead kidnapping-robbery suspect may have committed Sandy Springs crime; police release sketch

Buckhead kidnapping-robbery suspect may have committed Sandy Springs crime; police release sketch

by | Oct 21, 2020 | , , , | 0

The Atlanta Police Department has issued a sketch of a suspect in two Buckhead kidnappings and robberies who may also be responsible for a similar incident in Sandy Springs. Two women were kidnapped and robbed in Buckhead last month in separate crimes that may have been committed by the same suspect — a man who entered their vehicles, forced them to withdraw cash from a bank, and threatened their lives if they called police. The Sandy Springs Police Department is “investigating a kidnapping with a very similar m.o.,” said SSPD spokesperson Sgt. Salvador Ortega. “Our detectives are working with...

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Atlanta City Council to consider short-term rental registration; passes ‘party house’ ban

Atlanta City Council to consider short-term rental registration; passes ‘party house’ ban

by | Oct 21, 2020 | , , , | 0

The Atlanta City Council will consider establishing a system to register and tax short-term home rentals via legislation filed Oct. 19, the same day the council approved a ban on “party house” operations in residential areas. The flurry of short-term rental legislation after years of stalled proposals follows yet another idea still in council committee consideration. Last month, City Councilmember Howard Shook of Buckhead’s District 7 filed legislation seeking to ban short-term rentals in all single-family neighborhoods, a proposal that seems unlikely to pass but has sparked discussions. Shook — who is a neighbor of one of Buckhead’s currently...

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Oct. 20 Atlanta/Sandy Springs COVID-19 report: 295 more diagnoses; 14-day trend rises

Oct. 20 Atlanta/Sandy Springs COVID-19 report: 295 more diagnoses; 14-day trend rises

by | Oct 20, 2020 | , , , , | 0

The cities of Atlanta and Sandy Springs together saw 295 new COVID-19 diagnoses between Oct. 16 and Oct. 20 update reports from the Fulton County Board of Health. The number of cases increased in all of the main local ZIP codes. The 14-day trend increased in both cities and in all but one of the ZIP codes. As of Oct. 20, the part of Atlanta within Fulton County had 13,215 COVID-19 diagnoses, up from 12,955 on Oct. 16. Sandy Springs had 2,730 diagnoses, up from 2,695. Atlanta remained the number one city in the county for COVID-19 diagnoses at...

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Police seek suspect in Buckhead kidnappings-robberies

Police seek suspect in Buckhead kidnappings-robberies

by | Oct 19, 2020 | , , | 0

Two women were kidnapped and robbed in Buckhead last month in separate crimes that may have been committed by the same suspect — a man who entered their cars, forced them to withdraw cash from a bank, and threatened their lives if they called police. The Atlanta Police Department is seeking the suspect, who is described as a Black man with an Afro and shown in surveillance video as wearing a T-shirt, pants and ball cap, all dark in color. He gave his name as “Robert” to one victim. Both crimes happened within several hundred feet of each other...

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Brookhaven Police receive $108K in state road safety grants

Brookhaven Police receive $108K in state road safety grants

by | Oct 18, 2020 | , | 0

The Brookhaven Police Department has received a total of $108,000 in state grants to improve road safety and reduce car crashes. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety awarded BPD a $47,000 Pedestrian Safety grant and a $59,000 High Visibility Enforcement grant, according to a BPD press release. “The Brookhaven Police Department is proud of our efforts to work collaboratively with our community and to use innovative tools and techniques to ensure that pedestrian and vehicular traffic moves safely through our city,” Police Chief Gary Yandura said in the release. The pedestrian safety grant aims to reduce pedestrian-related crashes in...

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Sandy Springs closes on $10.9M purchase of future Municipal Court and police headquarters

Sandy Springs closes on $10.9M purchase of future Municipal Court and police headquarters

by | Oct 18, 2020 | , | 0

The city of Sandy Springs has closed on the office building property at 620 Morgan Falls Road in a $10.9 million purchase for the new home to the police department and Municipal Court, officials announced on Oct. 6. The city is in the process of developing a timeline for moving into the building. The next step is the design, said spokesperson Sharon Kraun, and a request for proposals will be issued to secure that service. The four-story, 109,000-square-foot building dates to 1990. It sits on a 12.3-acre property with parking for more than 750 vehicles. The building’s most recent...

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Gunshots fired inside Buckhead’s Lenox Square mall during robbery attempt; suspects and victim arrested

Gunshots fired inside Buckhead’s Lenox Square mall during robbery attempt; suspects and victim arrested

by | Oct 17, 2020 | , , | 0

The victim of an alleged attempted robbery inside Buckhead’s Lenox Square mall Oct. 16 fired a gun at his attackers, then was arrested himself on a warrant and other charges, according to the Atlanta Police Department. Two robbery suspects also were arrested. According to APD, the incident happened around 4:45 p.m. within the Neiman Marcus department store in the mall at 3393 Peachtree Road. Treonta Deon Williams, 30, told officers that, as he was checking out at a cash register, four males attacked him and attempted to steal his bag. Williams drew a firearm and fired shots at the...

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Oct. 16 Atlanta/Sandy Springs COVID-19 report: 202 more diagnoses; 14-day trend rises

Oct. 16 Atlanta/Sandy Springs COVID-19 report: 202 more diagnoses; 14-day trend rises

by | Oct 16, 2020 | , , , , | 0

The cities of Atlanta and Sandy Springs together saw 202 new COVID-19 diagnoses between Oct. 13 and Oct. 16 update reports from the Fulton County Board of Health. The number of cases increased in all of the main local ZIP codes. The 14-day trend increased in both cities and in all but one of the ZIP codes. As of Oct. 16, the part of Atlanta within Fulton County had 12,955 COVID-19 diagnoses, up from 12,795 on Oct. 13. Sandy Springs had 2,695 diagnoses, up from 2,653. Atlanta remained the number one city in the county for COVID-19 diagnoses at...

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Dunwoody spends $152K on legal defense for police complaints, may pay over $50K more

Dunwoody spends $152K on legal defense for police complaints, may pay over $50K more

by | Oct 16, 2020 | , , | 0

The city of Dunwoody has spent nearly $153,000 this year to defend against one lawsuit and three other complaints alleging sexual harassment and other issues in the police department. And it is prepared to spend another $50,000 or more in a contract approved by the City Council Oct. 12. City spokesperson Jennifer Boettcher said the city may be able to get the legal expenses reimbursed by insurance. Attorney R. Read Gignilliat of the Atlanta firm Elarbee, Thompson, Sapp and Wilson is representing the city. As of Oct. 16, the city this year had already paid the firm $152,832, according...

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Sandy Springs officer receives minor injuries in patrol car accident

Sandy Springs officer receives minor injuries in patrol car accident

by | Oct 16, 2020 | , | 0

A Sandy Springs Police officer received minor injuries and his patrol car was heavily damaged in an Oct. 15 accident. The accident happened at 6 p.m. at the intersection of Abernathy and Johnson Ferry roads, said Sgt. Salvador Ortega, a spokesperson for the Sandy Springs Police Department. The officer was driving east on Abernathy when a 2002 Ford F-150 pickup truck turned left in front of the patrol car, according to Ortega. The officer had the green light and was not at fault, Ortega said. The pickup truck driver was cited for failure to yield, Ortega said. The officer...

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Gov. Kemp extends state COVID-19 restrictions through Halloween

Gov. Kemp extends state COVID-19 restrictions through Halloween

by | Oct 15, 2020 | , , , , , , , | 0

Gov. Brian Kemp has extended COVID-19 restrictions for the State of Georgia through Oct. 31. The extension of his executive order makes no significant changes to previous orders, which requires social distancing; bans gatherings of more than 50 people unless there is six feet between each person; specific rules for restaurants, salons and other businesses; and requires sheltering in place for those in long-term care facilities and the medically fragile.  The public health emergency remains in place until Nov. 9. The governor’s executive orders are available to be...

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Public concern over street racing continues as police step up enforcement

Public concern over street racing continues as police step up enforcement

by | Oct 15, 2020 | , , | 0

Street racing continues to plague neighborhoods despite the Atlanta Police Department’s efforts to crack down on illegal activity. On Oct. 12, the City Council’s Public Safety/Legal Administration committee listened to nearly two hours of comments phoned in by angry and upset residents demanding that measures be taken to curb street racing. Residents complained about sleepless nights, safety fears and concerns over property values, and offered tips to the police on how to track street racers who organize events via social media. Other callers demanded more action from Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, while some said they were considering moving out...

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