The following statement was released by the Cobb County Police Department Crimes Against Property Unit, Precinct 4, regarding an incident near Pope High School this week: 

I am aware that several emails and texts are circulating regarding the following incident that took place on Hembree Road. This incident is being followed up on by the Crimes Against Children’s Unit as a matter of precaution due to the complainant’s age.

On Monday, May 6, 2013, a teenage female was walking home from school on Hembree Road. A male in a yellow van stopped and offered her a ride which she declined. The male drove off and returned a short time later. He inquired about her age and complimented her appearance. He then provided a business card to the female and asked her to call him sometime.

The male did not make any threatening actions toward her nor did he attempt to forcibly get her into the van. It does not appear at this time that any criminal act occurred.

While understandably, any type of incident involving a young person causes alarm, I would ask that you do not forward any emails or texts other than this official version of the incident.

This incident provides an opportunity to remind your children and teenagers that they should never engage in conversation nor accept anything offered by someone in a situation such as this. Should they feel threatened, they should run to a nearby house or business or flag down passing motorists to draw attention to themselves and the situation. Police should then be notified as quickly as practical so that officers can check the area and attempt to identify the individual.

(Source: Cobb County Police Department) 

The Cobb County Police Department, a nationally-accredited law enforcement agency, is seeking ambitious men and women for police officer positions. Currently certified officers, as well as officer candidates with no previous law enforcement experience, are welcome to apply. Successful candidates will patrol the county and respond to calls for service, investigate crimes and render assistance to residents as necessary.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or GED, be a United States citizen and have an honorable discharge if they served in the military. Applicants will be subject to a physical fitness test, pre-placement medical examination, drug screening, polygraph test, oral interviews and a comprehensive background investigation. Work shifts are varied and include evenings, weekends and holidays. The starting salary for police officer candidates is $38,355 per year.

Benefits:
Generous benefits package including health, dental and life insurance, retirement plan, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts Program and paid leave and holidays.

Application Process:
Entry level tests will be administered April through November and applicants must submit an application on the first Monday of every month prior to the test. Online applications are available at:  hr.cobbcountyga.gov/.

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On February 27th, 2013 at 6:45 pm, a white male followed an elderly female to her vehicle from the Kroger at 2100 Roswell Rd and snatched her purse from the cart while she unloaded her groceries. He then fled on foot toward Roswell Road.

He is described as 20-25 years of age with short brown hair and no facial hair.

If you recognize this individual or the emblem on the sweatshirt he is wearing, please contact Detective Ponte at 770 499-3945.

(Source: Cobb County Police Department Crimes Against Persons/Robbery Unit)

The Cobb County Police Department is looking into an armed robbery that took place just before 10 p.m. Thursday at a gas station off Johnson Ferry Road in east Cobb.

According to a release from Cobb Police, investigators said a suspect entered the BP Connect in the 500 block of Johnson Ferry Road, pulled out a small caliber revolver and took an “undisclosed” amount of cash before leaving the scene in an unknown direction.

No one was injured.

The suspect is described as a black male, who was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black pants.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (770) 499-3945

(Reprinted from the Marietta Daily Journal, February 8, 2013. Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal – Police investigating an armed robbery at east Cobb convenience store)

Four people were arrested this week in connection with stealing dozens of valuables, including a $35,000 Gucci crocodile purse, from more than 15 homes in the east Cobb in late January.

Lt. Destiny Davidson, a criminal detective with Precinct 4 in east Cobb, said Jontavius Dearra Clark, 26, of Austell; Jaquori Harris, 20, of College Park; and 48-year-old Malloy Bernard Brooks and 64-year-old Richard Lee Burgess, both of Atlanta, were charged with felony burglary and entering an automobile.

Clark, Harris and Brooks, who remain in the Cobb County Jail without bond, were arrested Monday during a traffic stop near Lower Roswell and Johnson Ferry roads.

Burgess, who remains in the Fulton County Jail without bond, was arrested Wednesday at an apartment on Martin Luther King Junior Drive in Atlanta while executing a search warrant. A woman was also arrested but on an outstanding warrant not related to the burglaries.

Stolen items were recovered from both the car on Monday and apartment on Wednesday.

The arrests were made with help from the Clayton County, City of Atlanta, City of Roswell and City of Smyrna police departments, Davidson said.

The four are accused of entering 15 to 17 homes off Lower Roswell Road just east of Johnson Ferry Road between Jan. 17 and 26 and stealing purses, cell phones, wallets, iPads and credit cards, values unknown, while residents were home and usually asleep.

Davidson said these suspects are possibly connected with a total of 30 burglaries in all throughout the metro Atlanta area.

She described the burglaries as a “crime of opportunity,” meaning that the homeowners had each left their garage doors up, cars unlocked and possibly the doors into their homes in the garage unlocked.

“It was brazen,” she asked about the burglaries. “Normally residential burglaries happen during the daytime hours when the thieves believe that people are at work or at home.

“We became particularly concerned when we saw the trend present that they were entering the homes at night when people were asleep and that is why we increased the patrols in the area, brought in other units from our department and got the information out to the public as soon as possible.”

(Reprinted from the Marietta Daily Journal. Written by Lindsay Field, February 07, 2013. Read more: The Marietta Daily Journal – Four arrested in a string of east Cobb burglaries)

The Fourth of July weekend is just around the corner and I’m sure many of you are already making plans to celebrate with friends and family. If your plans include a fireworks display, it is always recommended that you attend one of the many licensed venues around Metro Atlanta. If you plan to celebrate with fireworks at home please review the legal requirements and safety tips listed below.

Georgia State Law permits use of the following by unlicensed individuals:

• Wire or wood sparklers of not more than 100 grams of mixture per item

• Other sparkling items which are non-explosive and non-aerial and contain 75 grams or less of chemical compound per tube or a total of 200 grams or less for multiple tubes

• Snake and glow worms; trick noise makers which include paper streamers, party poppers, string poppers, snappers, and drop pops each consisting of 0.25 grains or less of explosive mixture

Standard safety practices as recommended by the U. S. Fire Administration and other related organizations include the following:

• Do not let young children play with sparklers. These can reach temperatures as high as 1200 degrees and cause third degree burns. Older children should be closely supervised.

• Light fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from houses, dry leaves or grass, and flammable materials and hose down the area you intend to use before you begin.

• Keep a bucket of water or hose nearby for emergencies and to pour on fireworks that do not ignite. Be sure to water down spent fireworks before placing them in the trash.

• Never have any portion of your body directly over a firework while lighting and keep hair pulled back.

• Never ignite fireworks in a container especially glass or metal.

• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption when handling fireworks.

If you plan to celebrate at the lake and you have young children, I would encourage you to make them wear a flotation device anytime they are in or near the water. It is easy for parents to become distracted when spending time with friends and family and even more so when adult beverages are being enjoyed. A young child can step off the shore and disappear under the murky water in mere seconds.

(Source: Cobb County Police Department) 

The following information was provided by the Cobb County Police Department: 

An observant citizen noticed a white male attempting to enter several cars parked in the area of Gant Quarters Drive / Millbrook Farm. She called 911 and kept an eye on the male until officers arrived. After an investigation the male was arrested for loitering and prowling. The citizen’s actions prevented any property from being stolen.

Officers were dispatched to a person armed with a gun call on Meadow Lane. Three juvenile males went to a residence to fight another male. One of the juveniles pulled out a gun and struck the victim several times in the face. The three males then fled on foot and threw the gun into the bushes where it was later located. Responding officers located all three males and charged them with Aggravated Assault.

The following information was provided by the Cobb County Department of Public Safety: 

• On May 8, at around 4 am, officers were checking the area of Forest Brooke Court in response to a citizen’s report of mailboxes being damaged. The officers got out on foot and canvassed the area. One male was located and arrested and the investigation is ongoing for additional suspects.

• On April 18, a residential burglary occurred at a residence on Burtz Drive while the victim was at home. The suspect entered through a rear door and stole the victim’s purse and contents. Prior to exiting the residence he was confronted by the victim who called 911. The suspect was located a short time later and following a foot pursuit he was taken into custody. He was also charged with Entering Auto at the homes of two of the victim’s neighbors.

• On April 18, at approximately 11:27 am, a home invasion occurred at 272 Lamplighter Lane. During the incident two of the residents received minor gunshot wounds. Within approximately three minutes, a Cobb County officer spotted the suspect vehicle on Lower Roswell Road. Two suspects were detained immediately and a third was apprehended following a brief pursuit. The three males were charged with Armed Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and multiple other charges.

In addition to the incidents noted above, the officers in Precinct 4 made approximately 100 arrests in April for a variety of offenses that include DUI, possession of drugs, including heroin and marijuana, and numerous traffic related charges. They also located several individuals with outstanding warrants. Each of these arrests goes a long way toward keeping East Cobb a safe place to live and work.