Vintage Car, School Violence Arrests: Top 2017 Stories (ICYMI)

PAULDING COUNTY, GA — Police and firemen in Paulding County stepped up to solve crimes and respond to concerns in their communities in ways big and small in 2017. Patch was there to chronicle some of the above-and-beyond steps the departments took this year, in which there was a vintage car theft arrest, an arrest in a string of school violence threats, police opened their new rifle range and firefighters raised a record amount in their boot drive.
Here are the top Patch stories of police officers and firefighters protecting and serving in 2017:
Social Media Tips Lead to Paulding Vintage Car Theft Arrest
Paulding County authorities were thanking their social media followers in March after online tips helped lead to an arrest in the theft of a vintage car and other items. Just week before, the Paulding sheriff's office took to Facebook and other social media to report a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle and a 1970s-era Honda motorcycle had gone missing.
Arrest Made In String Of Paulding School Violence Threats
At least one person had been arrested in May after a week in which threats of violence were made at three different Paulding County high schools. In a letter to parents, Paulding County High School Principal Craig Wilcox said an arrest was made after school officials notified the sheriff's office about a social media post saying there would be shootings at the school on May 9 and May 12.

At Least 66 Vehicles Damaged in Paulding County Spree
Someone in Paulding County went on a spree of damaging vehicles in March according to the sheriff's office.
In multiple incidents, a person or persons threw rocks at vehicles or smashed vehicle windows with a baseball bat. The incidents were reported all over the county, the sheriff's office said in a social media post.
In all, there were at least 66 incidents reported, including one in which a sheriff's office patrol car was damaged. The suspects can be seen in the attacked video.
Sheriff's Sniper, Rifle Range Complete In Paulding
Paulding County's sheriff's deputies have a new place to hone their skills, thanks, in part, to donations from businesses and individuals in the community. A new sniper and rifle-training range has been completed at the sheriff's office training facility on Dallas Industrial Drive in Dallas.
Paulding Firefighters' Boot Drive Raises Record Amount

If you dropped a couple of bucks into a firefighter's boot during the month of May, you helped raise a record amount of money for burn victims. As part of the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation's "Give Burns the Boot" drive, Paulding County Fire & Rescue raised $17,334.82. That was the most ever raised in the county during the drive, which raises money for burn prevention as well as treatment and care for burn victims.
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