5 Teens Charged with Throwing Log at Police Car

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Footsteps in the evening dew led to the arrest of five teenagers who are accused of throwing a log at and striking a Gwinnett Police patrol car Monday night.

The incident happened around 9:30 p.m. Monday on Ronald Reagan Parkway near Webb Gin House Road, according to a news release from Gwinnett Police. The log hit the patrol car on the hood and headlight; the officer was not injured.

The officer was on his way to work for his 10:30 p.m.-to-7:30 a.m. shift when he saw an object hanging across the roadway, according to the news release. As he slowed down, he saw the log coming at the car, but couldn’t avoid being struck. A piece of wood was lodged in a broken headlight.

The officer also found duct tape that was stretched across the center guard rail next to several large pieces of wood.

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Other officers arrived on scene and then followed the sounds of people running toward a nearby neighborhood, the news release stated.

“Dew covered many lawns in the neighborhood that backs up to Ronald Reagan Parkway,” Gwinnett County spokesperson Cpl. Michele Pihera said. “The officers noticed footprints leading to a home in the neighborhood. The officer made contact with a homeowner, who stated that his son had some friends over for the evening.

“The juveniles had the intention of watching as vehicles rolled over duct tape. As the officer was approaching the duct tape, one juvenile picked up a log and threw it at the vehicle.”

Pihera said it wasn’t clear if the car was targetted because it was a police car or whether the log-thrower intended to throw it at any passing car.

All of those charged are 16 years old.

Four juveniles were charged with terroristic threats and acts (a felony) and released to their parents. The fifth juvenile, who allegedly threw the log, was charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats (both felonies) and acts and interference with government property (a misdemeanor). He was booked into the youth detention facility, Pihera said.

Photos: Gwinnett Police PIO