Masked Armed Robber Targets Convenience Store: Blotter

Editor's note: the following incidents were taken from the Sandy Springs Police Department's Weekly Wrap Up compiled by Capt. Steve Rose, which contains some of the incidents that occurred Dec. 6-13:

Robbery

• 700 block Stratford Court, 30350, 12/11: The resident drove to an ATM on Chamblee Dunwoody Road and then returned to his residence, which is off Pitts Road. Apparently, three suspects in a burgundy SUV followed him from the ATM and as he walked to the mailbox after parking, they approached him and pulled weapons. They demanded money and the Apple phone info, but he did not or was not able to provide it. They took his wallet and 2014 Lexus and fled. After SSPD posted lookouts, Dunwoody PD spotted a car matching the suspects. The suspects fled for a short time, first in the SUV, then on foot. The driver fled, leaving behind a 16-year old female who was taken into custody. Dunwoody requested SSPD K-9 assistance. Two were dispatched to the area, which was across from Perimeter Mall on Ashford Dunwoody Road. Capt. Steve Rose says: Long story short, the suspect on foot managed to avoid the officers for a while but was eventually spotted. The K-9 officer picked up the track and the suspect was arrested in a parking deck nearby after being chased down, but not bitten, by K-9 Renzo. The suspect’s SUV was stolen from Sandy Springs. The victim’s Lexus was later recovered in Dunwoody. Inside the stolen SUV were items taken earlier from at least two burglaries in the Sandy Springs area. About 8-10 officers from Dunwoody and two SSPD’s K-9 officers were very diligent in tracking the suspect who absconded after the car jacking. The third suspect who took the Lexus has been subsequently identified.
• 5700 Roswell Road, 30342, 12/9 (Shell Station): The employee of the Shell said that just before 11 p.m., a black male with a thin build and about 6’5” with a dark hoodie, black gloves and red mask, entered the store and pointed a gun at the clerk. The suspect then took an undisclosed amount of cash from the register and then ran in the direction of Northwood Drive.

Burglary

• 8000 block of Adair Lane, 30350, 12/6: This was a maintenance-shed burglary. A backpack blower was taken.
• 2600 block of Spalding Drive, 30350, 12/6: The resident said that around 7:30 p.m., she arrived home and found her front door broken. Inside, she discovered evidence of ransacking. She backed out and called the police. Missing items include a Toshiba TV, Asus Laptop, iPad, jewelry and a purse. Several prints were lifted from the area.
• 7900 block Innsbruck Drive, 30350, 12/6: The resident reported that someone entered by forcing a French door and then went through the home, ransacking each room. Later than night (with the above information), officers items found on the suspects and from the vehicle, indicated it is possibly connected to this burglary.
• 8100 block of Colquitt Road, 30350, 12/6: The complainant said she returned to her apartment to find that her 60-inch flat screen TV was missing along with her HP laptop and iPad. In the bedroom, several pieces of girl’s clothing were spread out. Capt. Rose: This too appears connected with the arrest on the above car jacking. The TV was found in the SUV.
• 7500 block of Spalding Drive, 30350, 12/6: The complainant said he heard a noise from the upstairs bedroom area of his home. When he investigated, he saw a man with a gun, with “several” other men behind the suspect. All fled down the stairs when they saw the complainant. The neighbor’s video camera showed an SUV in the driveway backed in, and a black male approaching the home. This was just before 9 p.m. Four additional males exited and all entered the home. Fortunately, no one was hurt and nothing taken.
• 400 block of North Harbor Drive, 30328, 12/10: The resident said they were inside the dining room when they heard a noise (dish fall) and at that time saw a young black male, about 14 to 17 years old, dark clothes, jeans, with a “surprised” look on his face. The suspect was inside the back door near the kitchen counter. The suspect fled, getting into a dark blue Mazda CX-9. The tag number was obtained by the witness. The complainant believes since the garage doors were closed and most lights not visible, the suspects assumed no one was home. The Mazda CX-9 description was also obtained on another burglary on Wesley Oak Road (listed below).
• 700 block of Wesley Oak Road, 30328, 12/10: The residents reported their alarm company notified them the alarm activated at the home around 5 p.m. Force and several items taken including Apple phones, unused and wiped clean entered the home. The officer took prints and photos from footprints in the snow. A neighbor told the officer that someone knocked on his door and when a family member approached to answer it, the person fled in a car similar to the Mazda CX-9 listed above. The suspect was described as a black male.
• 5675 Roswell Road, 30342, 12/11: The resident said she left her residence on Dec. 8, locked and secured. She returned on Dec. 11 to find that someone took a 42-inch TV, Samsung 54-inch TV, and an Apple MacBook. The apartment doors and windows showed no signs of forced entry.
• 5450 Glenridge Drive, 30342, 12/11: At about midnight, SSPD received a call of a theft in progress at the above apartment complex. Officers arrived quickly and jumped four suspects, who then fled. Two were snatched up quickly and a third was located near the pool area a short time later. One still remained in the general area. Since the apartment complex is off Glenridge, officers guessed the suspect would try and infiltrate the nearby residential area. An officer and K-9 Igor checked the area near Benton Woods Drive. A short time later, Igor located the fourth suspect, lying on the ground, covered in leaves. Capt. Rose: As he stared at Igor’s shiny white teeth, he asked to surrender and did so -- to the dismay of Igor, who left without a bite. All subjects were arrested and charged with four attempted thefts from the complex.

Thefts

• 300 block of Winding River, 30350,m, 12/6 Caller said this was a domestic
• 5400 block of Glenridge Dr, 30342, 12/6: Victim’s Xanax pills, mailed earlier from doctor's office, never made it. USPS employee told her a postal worker probably took it.
• 993 Johnson Ferry Road, 30342, 12/6: Wallet stolen from St. Joe’s Hospital
• 5400 block of Meridian Mark, 30342, 12/6: Credit cards and DL taken from purse
• 5800 block of Meridian Mark, 30342, 12/6: Two credit cards and $350 cash taken
• 1100 block of Perimeter Center West, 30328, 12/6: Theft from car, MacBook Pro, iPad taken
• 200 block of River Valley Road, 30328, 12/6: 4 Amazon boxes found open, were addressed to several Sandy Springs addresses.
• 7200 block of Spalding Forest Ct, 30328, 12/6: 2005 Toyota Corolla Stolen. Spare keys were in the console.
• 1165 Perimeter Center West, 30328, 12/7: Victim left her purse in La Madeline Restaurant, returned 45 min later. Employee was seen with the purse but disposition of it is unknown — other than its still gone.
• 8300 block of Roswell Road, 30350, 12/9: 2015 Big Tex, Gooseneck trailer with Florida tag.
• 8725 Roswell Road, 30350, 12/9: a man grabbed a cellphone and ran from the Metro PCS store. Said his nickname was “Electric Man.”
• 500 block of Johnson Ferry, 30328, 12/9: motor vehicle theft
• 1155 Mt. Vernon Hwy, 30328, 12/9 (Regal Theater): Theft from car, Ruger .380 gun taken
• 8300 block of Roswell Road, 30350, 12/10: Stolen Ford Focus from Roswell, 3 suspects ran from SSPD officer, one caught, charged with motor vehicle theft.
• 1160 Hammond Drive, 30328, 12/10: Storage unit, 46-inch TV, desktop computer and Bose speakers taken
• 5675 Roswell Road, 30342, 12/11: motor vehicle theft
• 600 block of Esfun Trace, 30328, 12/11: $16,000 in watches and $300 cash taken
• 4500 block of Spring Creek Lane, 30350, 12/12: Tag
• 7555 Roswell Road, 30350, 12/13: motor vehicle theft from Nalley Ford
• Okay, here is the scoop. A male reported that he had an “acquaintance” over at this residence on the morning of Dec. 7 and she departed later that morning about 7 a.m., meaning this was apparently a no-sleep night. About 45 minutes after she left, he noticed two very expensive watches were missing as well as $300 cash. As for the name of his acquaintance, he knew her only as the name she goes by, which is Deena. She is a young black woman in her 20’s.

Thefts From Vehicles

• 200 Franklin Road, 30342, 12/6
• 100 block of Abington Drive, 30328, 12/7
• 400 block of Hunters Crossing Drive, 30328, 12/7
• 1900 block of Island Ford Pkwy, 30350, 12/9
• 1155 Mt. Vernon Hwy, 30328, 12/9
• 1155 Mt. Vernon Hwy, 30328, 12/11
• 6100 block of Roswell Road, 30328, 12/11
• 5450 Glenridge Drive, 30342, 12/12

Assault

• 8300 block of Roswell Road, 30350, 12/6: The caller said she was walking her dog when she saw the suspect, who was apparently moving out of her residence. She apparently didn’t like her due to previous disputes. During this particular dispute, the suspect became entangled in the leash of the woman’s dog and as a result, apparently hit her on the head with a lamp. She retreated to her residence and called the police. A witness said he observed the two arguing but did not witness any physical assault.

Arrests

• I-285 west and Roswell Road, 30328, 12/11: Around 5:30 p.m., 9-1-1 received several calls that a man, described as a black male, pointed a gun at a female in a car. At first, the call sounded like a car-jacking but this turned out to be a road rage incident. A responding officer located the suspect and his car, and two males were removed from the car. A third male reportedly ran from the location, reported by a witness, and was at a nearby Jiffy Lube Store. That suspect was rounded up quickly and a gun, later found to be stolen, was located by K-9 “Renzo” near a storm drain (turns out the suspect missed the throw to the storm drain). The victim said she was driving on I-285 and cut off a car. The car followed and eventually three men exited and began banging on her window. One suspect pulled a gun (see failed throw to storm drain) and pointed it at the woman. She hit the accelerator in an effort to get out of harm’s way. One of the arrested suspects had an outstanding warrant.

Image via Sandy Springs police