Sandy Springs Blotter: Fugitive Arrested After Police, K-9 Chase

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SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- 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 — not all — of the incidents that occurred March 12-21:

Arrests

• 5855 Riverside Drive, 30328, 3/12: Just after 1 a.m., and officer spotted a truck parked in the parking lot of the church. He checked the driver who was wanted on warrants by Atlanta police and the State Pardons and Parole Board. He was arrested.
• A man was charged with the following offenses committed on his mother: He pushed her five times, threw a pillow at her and a half-full box of pancake mix, striking her in the head. He was arrested.
• On March 12 around noon, cops were called to the leasing office at an apartment complex at 4840 Roswell Road. The complainant (employee) said a man calling himself “Izzel” entered the office and rummaged through it, either spit or spilled malt liquor on the walls in the bathroom, and generally trashed the place. He was in the room when the employee and two clients arrived. “Izzel” asked if he could rent an apartment, then told her he had no weapons. To prove the point, he pulled his pants down exposing his underwear. She ordered him out and he ran from the location. An officer found a man matching the description at the bus stop in front of the complex. The man answered to “Izzel” and said he was in the office but was so because he had to urinate frequently. He was identified by the victim and later arrested.
• 3000 block of River Exchange Drive, 30350, 3/15: Cops were called to meet a cabbie at an apartment complex. The driver said he picked up a man at North Fulton Hospital and took him to the location (Spalding near Holcomb Bridge Road) just before 7 a.m. The fare exited the cab without paying. The officer found him sitting on the stairwell and spoke to him. The man was Russian and spoke only broken English. He said something about the U.S. Marshal’s and showed the officer his ankle monitor. He was later taken to jail on the theft of $50 worth of services.
• 200 block of Windridge Drive, 30350, 3/15: Cops responded to the address around 3 pm and spoke to a 26-year-old man who said his female roommate struck him in the face at least twice during an argument over bills. The roommate admitted to slapping him. She was arrested.
• 227 Sandy Springs Place, 30328, 3/16: The Kroger pharmacy called police after a female presented two prescriptions that were filled and given to the suspect before the staff found that they were fraudulent. She left in a white Nissan. A description was given on the car and locations. A patrol officer spotted a car matching and pulled it over on Hammond Drive near the City Walk area. The female driver matched the description. She told the officer she had just picked up a prescription. She was positively identified by the pharmacy employee and was arrested on forgery in the first degree charges.
• 800 block of Jefferson Drive, 30350, 3/17: Members of the specialized investigation unit located a man in fugitive status who was wanted on several warrants in several jurisdictions. Several members including K-9 located the man outside near his car. They approached him and he immediately tried to find a way to run. He was ordered to the ground and ignored it while trying to find a route of escape. K-9 was deployed and that was that. He was secured by the dog and arrested for warrants including felony forgery warrants and ID fraud warrants in Gwinnett County, forgery warrants in Cobb, felony drug, obstruction, aggravated assault, false name and a Fulton County Jail escape.
• Roswell and Northridge, 30350, 3/18: Cops received a call of a person who appeared to be sick, who was in a 2005 Honda CRV in the left-turn lane on Roswell near Northridge Road. The officer observed the driver who looked like he was asleep with his head tilted back and mouth open (This also looks like he’s dead). The gear was in drive and his foot on the brake. The car was moving slightly so the officer tried to move his car in front to prevent further movement. The man then woke and moved the car over to the side of the road per the officer’s instructions. He said he was tired from partying on St. Patrick’s Day. He looked more than tired so and EMS unit responded. During that time one of the EMS crew spotted what appeared to be narcotics in a cigarette box in the front seat. The driver tried to retain the box but it was taken by the officer and found to contain what appeared to be heroin in the form of a tan/brown powder in a baggie. The driver later confirmed it. He said he last used it three hours prior in the form of snorting it. He also had tracks on his arms. He was given the field sobriety tests, all of which he failed so he was booked on driving while impaired.
• 5610 Roswell Road, 30342, 3/18: Target store employees called police on a shoplifting case, man leaving in a car at the Roswell Road light. He was stopped, identified as the thief who took just over $400 in golf balls. He was taken to jail.
• 5700 block of Roswell Road, 30342, 3/19: An officer observed a man crossing the street, not yielding for traffic. He stopped the man and interviewed him and checked him on the computer. He found the man wanted by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department for failure to appear on an original charge of shoplifting. He was arrested.

Burglary

• 100 block of Legran Court, 30328, 3/13: The resident said someone entered his residence over the weekend by way of a second-story patio door. Missing items include jewelry, an Apple computer, 55-inch Sony flat screen TV, GoPro Camera and a PS game system.
• Landsdowne Drive, 30350, 3/15: Someone entered the residence by forcing a kitchen window. The home was rummaged through but at the time of the report, nothing was reported missing. The resident said this has happened before and he knew of someone who may be a good suspect.
• A resident on Summit Springs Drive (30350) said that sometime during the day, someone entered her apartment and took seven purses valued at $3,000, a $1700 clock and $200 in shoes. No forced entry was found.
• 800 block Brandywine Circle, 30350, 3/16: A man reported that a friend, whom he gave a key to his residence, broke in and took several items around 3 years ago.
• 500 block of Forest Dale Drive, 30342, 3/16: The resident said he was gone from 9:30 a.m. to just after 2 p.m. When he returned, he found that his home had been entered and several items had been stolen. The point of entry has not been determined.
• 100 block of Osner Drive, 30342, 3/21: Someone accessed the home through a forced-open kitchen window. Inside, they looked around the bedroom of the home but took nothing.

Thefts

• On March 12, Target store staff said a man stole four pairs of Jockey Underwear, got into a car and drove away.
• 795 Hammond Drive, 30328, 3/21: A man rented his condo in what appears to be just for the night. The next day he saw that a locked closet was forced open and some of his jewelry was stolen. Capt. Steve Rose with Sandy Springs police says: Okay, let’s look at this. Rented his condo for the night? Strange. Given this, why would you leave your jewelry in the home? Locked closet? You know what closet door look light right? You can bust right through them. If you decide at some point that renting your home for the night or even two, here is a list of things to remove before hand: jewelry, cash, electronics.
• A woman, hired by a company as a caregiver, was issued a cellphone. She eventually stopped coming to work and will not return the cell phone.
• 6300 block of Barfield Road, 30328, 3/21: A 47-year-old man reported that someone took his wallet from the conference room of his workplace. He said only employees and cleaning staff have access.
• 1000 block of Morgans Landing Drive, 30350, 3/12: A van, belonging to the Seldon Home Services Co. was stolen. It is a 2008 Ford Econoline with HVAC equipment inside.
• 8610 Roswell Road, 30350, 3/13: The employee of the Big-Bang E-Cig Store said several items of display were missing after a previous employee left the store. The video shows the ex-employee taking a bottle of “Fryd-Banana” sampler and place it in her pocket. The woman then hastily left, got into a car and drove away. Rose: I tried to find a photo of “Fryd Banana” E-cigarette thing. Google results yielded me Banana Bash and Banana Lumpia. Sorry.
• 6420 Roswell Road, 30328, 3/13: A man reported the following series of dramatic events: He went to a strip club and paid a dancer $510 for entertainment in a VIP room. He paid $100 for the room, $10 tip for the bartender, and $400 for the dancer to perform. During said performance, he came to the opinion that he was being taken advantage of, and as such, wanted his money back. The “suspect” told him she did not have the money because she gave $10 to the bartender, $100 to the waitress for the use of the room, and $185 to the club manager but did not receive the balance of $215. The club paid back $285 but not the $215 in dispute.
• The manager of the Happy Sumo at 1155 Mt. Vernon Hwy said that on the 14th, two women walked out after ordering and eating $41 in food. They were eating right at closing time. They asked for a to-go box and then exited to the parking lot. The manager followed and informed them they had not yet paid. The two women told him that the server “disrespected” them and they were angry that the lights were cut out while they were still eating. They said they would not pay and quickly got into the car and left. The manager got the tag number which is registered to a person in DeKalb County. The two suspects are described as black females, 18-25 years of age, about 5’-7” and 120-130 pounds, wearing jackets and jeans. One suspect wore glasses.
• 5600 block of Peachtree Dunwoody Road, 30342, 3/15: A man said his tools were stolen from a construction area at St. Joe’s Hospital.
• 2300 block of Monterrey Pkwy, 30350, 3/16: A woman said she left her Mac laptop on the top of her car while she went back in the house to get something and when she returned...guess. Rose: You’re saying that you left your laptop on top of the car and left it to go inside? Why?
• 789 Hammond Drive, 30328, 3/16: A 32-year-old man called police and told them that his former girlfriend came to his apartment to confront him about his new woman. She took his Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses, Apple iPad mini, and Bulova watch, and then left.
• 7855 Roswell Road, 30350, 3/17: An employee of Insurrection said two men came into the store and immediately became unruly to the point she asked them to leave. During this time, one of the men made a purchase and during that purchase, the employee saw the other man stealing the money from the tip jar. They ran to a car outside, then backed from the parking lot so the employee couldn’t see the tag. The witness next door recognized the men who frequent the liquor store and may be able to furnish video showing the tag on the car.
• On March 18 a man said he was at Flashers at 6420 Roswell Road the night before and his cell phone was stolen.
• On March 18 a woman reported that a man, whom she dated off and on for years, was over at her home and at some point stole her company files and possibly and old license plate.
• 6096 Barfield Road, 30328, 3/19: The manager of Hawthorne Suites reported that a guest skipped on a $2,000 bill, leaving the location in a red Chevy S-10 pickup. The man checked in on the 28th of February and was to leave on March 28. The man’s credit card was a no-go to handle the bill, so the staff went to his room to advise him he needed another form of payment. He told the employee he would be down in an hour to handle it. He didn’t show and was seen shortly after leaving the location.
• 1155 Mt. Vernon Hwy, 30328, 3/19 (LA Fitness): theft of personal items while the victim was playing basketball on the court. Items were left courtside. Another one was phoned in from the other LA Fitness at 6690 Roswell Road. The victim was playing racquetball, left his stuff on the floor and it was taken. This was about 30-45 after the other theft and probably the same guy.

Thefts from vehicles

• 7700 Roswell Road, 30328, 3/12: Tires and rims valued at $4,500
• 1900 blk Jefferson Drive, 30350, 3/12: Tires and rims
• 6450 Powers Ferry Road, 30327, 3/12: Personal items and laptop
• 800 Hammond Drive (x2), 30328, 3/13: Canon EOS-5 camera
• 6300 block of PDR, 30328, 3/13: Container and envelopes
• 6100 block of PDR, 30328, 3/13: Nothing missing
• 901 Abernathy Road, 30328, 3/13: Items not listed
• 4300 block of The Valley, 30328, 3/14: Items not listed
• 8000 blk Roswell Road, 30350, 3/14: Purse and contents
• Spalding Trail, 30350, 3/15: Tag
• 6300 block Roswell Road, 30328, 3/15: Laptop and Toshiba Tablet (x2)
• 1155 Perimeter Center W, 30328, 3/16: Nothing missing
• 471 Mt. Vernon Hwy, 30328, 3/16: Purse and contents (debit card later used)
• 5501 Glenridge Drive, 30342, 3/17: Not listed
• 7171 Glenridge Drive, 30328, 3/17: Wallet and contents in handbag
• 200 block of Grapevine Run, 30350, 3/17: Four backpack blowers and a hedge pruner

Assault

• 300 block of Northridge Road, 30350, 3/12: A 25-year-old man said that he was walking on Northridge Road around 6 p.m. when he was shot in the leg. He called a friend who took him to Northside Hospital with a non life-threatening wound. He said he was walking along Northridge when he heard four shots and was hit. The story is under investigation and a good deal of scrutiny.
• 227 Sandy Springs Place, 30328, 3/17: Cops were called to the Kroger store around 6:30 p.m. regarding a disturbance. The manager said he was dealing with an angry customer who wanted to pick up cash from the Western Union location. Due to the guy’s behavior, the manager said he couldn’t help him until he cooled off. The man of course got madder and threw a pen, hitting the manager in the face (not hurt). The man left before officers arrived. He was described as a black male, 6’ feet tall, stocky, short hair and beard wearing a purple t-shirt with sleeves cut off. He left on foot.

Other things

• Officers stopped a car after running the tag and getting a return that the car was stolen in the city of Atlanta and reported to Atlanta police. The driver was removed from the car and placed in handcuffs. He told the officers, and later showed, that he was the registered owner of the car. He told them he reported the car stolen in November but then found that the car had been towed for insurance issues. He said he called APD and informed the detective of the circumstances. He received a call back and then assumed the theft report was a dead deal. The car was never taken off the GCIC/NCIC computer so it showed active when the SSPD officer ran the tag. Rose: Here is a good piece of advice: If you should ever have to report your car or other vehicle or even item stolen, and later it is recovered or otherwise found, be sure to follow up with the officer or detective and get confirmation that the item/car is removed from GCIC. From time to time, mistakes are made leaving items listed as stolen when they are not—especially in the case of cars. That could be very dangerous for all involved during a traffic stop. GCIC is the Georgia Crime Information Center.
• A man said that on the 19th, just after 6 p.m., two cars passed him northbound at a high rate of speed, weaving in and out of the lanes. He pulled up to the car moments later. A woman in the car looked at him and then stuck her tongue out before driving away.
• 227 Sandy Springs Place, 30328, 3/19: A security officer at the Kroger said that just before 10:30 p.m., a group of females came in and wanted to return items to the service desk, which closed at 10 pm. They were informed, they got mad, and “voiced their displeasure.” One of the women said she was going to get her mother. An older woman entered the store, probably mom, and went off on the staff members resulting in their ejection from the store. The report said the woman was being held back by the others, telling the staff she would “kick your a--!” They got into a Dodge Charger and left.

Fraud

• A check-cashing store at 8725 Roswell Road reported a man came in and cashed a payroll check from Race-Trac Stores for just over $600. The check was later found to be fake.
• A 21-year-old woman reported she was contacted by someone on the phone who identified herself as an IRS agent trying to collect a debt of over $7,000. She said the woman had a Caribbean accent (clue). The woman asked her a series of questions, convincing the victim this was legit so in the course of the conversation the woman gave her SSN to the caller and then went to a store on Northwood Drive, one on Delk Road, and a final stop on Spring Road in Smyrna, making three Moneygram payments covering over $8,000 in all. Of course she later got another call requesting $12,000 before she realized she had been scammed. Rose: Folks I’m a really nice shade of blue in the face having talked about this for years, how we are easily duped when the clues are all around us. IRS doesn’t want your payments via Moneygrams. INS won't deport you unless you wire them money via Moneygram. Learn to be politely skeptical on anything that involves you giving away money in circumstances you are not familiar with. Simply start asking questions and you’ll soon see these folks scamming you won’t pass the smell test.

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Image via Sandy Springs police