Cops Target ATVs, Find Weapons In Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA — An operation this week targeting people illegally driving ATVs and dirt bikes on Atlanta city streets netted police a whole lot more than just traffic tickets.

A Sunday operation between Atlanta Police and the Georgia State Patrol resulted in 29 traffic stops, 11 arrests, six firearms being recovered and 14 vehicles being impounded. Of the firearms confiscated, two were found to be stolen and three were in the possession of convicted felons, police said.

The use of unlicensed vehicles on city streets has become a problem, particularly during summer months, Atlanta Police Department spokesman Sgt. John Chafee. Sunday's operation targeted several areas where illegal use of vehicles had been identified as a problem in the past.

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The operation resulted in the following arrests and citations:

• Diamon Clay, 32, and Kenneth Blessitt, 30, were charged with being felons in possession of a firearm. The firearm Clay had was found to be stolen, police say.
• Gregory Lewis, 41, was arrested during a traffic stop involving a stalled ATV. He provided a fake driver’s license to police and was found to be a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, police said.
• Javaris Bell, 28, was a passenger in a vehicle who was found to have an active warrant out for his arrest. He was also found to be in possession of a half gram of marijuana, according to police.
• Brandon Miller, 23, and Jessie Brown, 27, were arrested during a traffic stop and, police say, were found to be in possession of firearms and seven grams of marijuana.
• Jakhari Caldwell, 17, and Cedric Brown, 17, were arrested after police say they fled a traffic stop. Caldwell lost control of the vehicle and drove into a wooded area before both started running, according to police. They were caught after a brief chase and police say officers found a stolen firearm and six grams of marijuana in their vehicle. Both are members of the DFW street gang, police say.
• Adrean Hill, 47,– was arrested during a traffic stop and found to be in possession of two grams of marijuana, according to police.
• Jeffrey Zachary, 30, and Henry Rower, 23, were arrested and accused of operating dirt bikes on city streets and sidewalks.
• A 14 year old and a 15 year old were issued citations during a traffic stop of a dirt bike and ATV. Both were released to a guardian.

"We are very pleased with the hard work our officers and the Georgia State Patrol troopers put into this detail and the results are a great example of how important our relationship with the GSP is and an example of the hard work all of these law enforcement officers put in each day," Chafee said. "We know there will be more work needed and we remain committed to our efforts at curbing this illegal and dangerous activity."

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