View from the cop: Crime & punishment
View from the Cop is moving to a new site on Wordpress. Blogger Steve Rose of the Sandy Springs Police Department gives his take on crime, offers safety tips and give his weekly picks from the police blotter. Follow Steve Rose to the new blog site.
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August 2008
Crime & punishment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some reports filed recently with Sandy Springs Police:
That’s what 911 is for…
A woman who lives on Northland Drive was backing her car down the driveway when she saw a man standing there. She asked him what he was doing. He said he was walking up her driveway to “stretch his legs.” She told him to leave her property and then she went to the store.
Later, on the way home, she saw the same man walking on Windsor Parkway. When she got home she noticed her back carport door was unlocked.
She found a jewelry box sitting on a chair in the living room. The box, previously left on the bedroom dresser, was empty of the jewelry. The victim in this case is an 86-year old woman and this is a sad story because the man in the driveway giving such a lame excuse “stretching my legs” would surely cause the victim to stay home and call the police, which would have at least kept the burglary from happening.
Well, just like my daughter once said “Sometimes even the blind squirrel finds his nuts,” and just like on Adam-12, another officer, checking the area after the lookout was given, spotted a man walking along the road. The man fit the lookout so the officer stopped him and questioned the man. Turns out the man had her jewelry in his pocket and after he and the jewelry were identified by the woman, the 41-year-old man was arrested for burglary.
Robbery
Two men recently stopped to use an ATM machine at a Wachovia bank on Roswell Road around 10 p.m. As the driver placed his ATM card in the machine, two men in gray hoodies approached from each side of the window and pulled weapons. They ordered the driver to withdraw money from the ATM but he said he did not have any funds. They took the two victim’s wallets, cell phones and a check made to one of the victims. Both victims received injuries to the face from being struck with the guns. This is a good example of why you do NOT need to conduct ATM transactions after dark, folks.
Thefts A woman reported that someone entered her office on Roswell Road and took her wallet. She had about $43 cash and credit cards. The card was later used at Macy’s for $78, $313, and $375, and then later at an Apple Store for over $300.
A man on Roberts Landing Cove said someone stole his $200 trash can.
A woman reported she spilled her drink on the floor at the Kroger located at 4920 Roswell Road. She placed her wallet on the counter as she leaned down to clean the drink. She walked away for a few moments and when she returned the wallet and credit cards were gone. A credit card was later used for just under $500 at some unknown location. This is also a great example of how thefts never happen as you imagine or see on TV. It always happens much FASTER than you expect. In public places, don’t leave your valuable unattended even for seconds. Keep them in your pockets or on you.
More shopping disasters: A woman reported that while she was shopping at Publix, someone took her wallet from her purse located in the “steal me” position in the shopping cart.
A woman in the 200 block of Garden Court said someone stole her mail and then later had a new Citi-Bank credit card made. Two purchases for just under $7,000 were later made on the card. Later still, she found that a $5,000 purchase was made at Best Buy and another $9,600 charge was made to a contractor.
A woman on North Devereux reported someone stolen her mail and checks used to pay bills. Two checks were later forged and written for just over $1,800.
Lesson learned: DO NOT put checks in your mailbox to be picked up by the postal service. Drop them off at a USPS secured mailbox.
Burglary
Someone broke into a vacant home on Windsor Parkway and took a stove from the house.
5700 blk of Northside Drive 30327 8/26 The homeowner in the 5700 block of Northside Drive reported that a number of items have been taken from her home during a time when she was having extensive renovations done. She said there were many workers unsupervised who could have had access.
Arrests
A patrol officer noted a tag on a car that appeared to be expired. He ran the tag and it came back expired. The driver pulled into the Chevron Station in the 5300 block of Roswell Road, got out of the car and then ran off. The officer placed the man’s lookout on the radio. When he checked the car, he found I.D. that matched what the man looked like. The officer ran the license and it showed the man was wanted in Fulton County for Failure to Appear. Meanwhile, another officer located the driver and took him into custody. He was later taken to Fulton County Jail.
Around 2:30 a.m. an officer, responding to an alarm on Northridge Road, found a car with a driver inside. The driver appeared to be asleep. The officer knocked on the window several times to wake the driver. When the driver woke, he saw the officer and attempted to start the car. In the process, the driver activated the windshield wipers, hood release, horn, radio, trunk, and just about everything else but the ignition. Giving up, he finally opened the door which omitted a strong odor of alcohol. He was arrested for Public Intoxication.
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Wearing a helmet can save a life - yours!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It has been 34 years since I was on a motorcycle. I was working for a bread company after getting out of the military and I bought the bike and used it for the three-mile ride to work each morning. Early one morning, and when I say early I mean 4:30 a.m., and if you deliver bread you’re feeling me.
I came around the corner over near Pleasantdale Road and lost control of the bike in the curve and down I went. I had a busted collarbone but that was all. I got the bike fixed and then sold it. I really liked the bike but I had a feeling that it wasn’t for me.
Back on August 7th, Sammy “The Worm” was responding to a help call put out by one of our detectives who had stumbled onto a bad guy. Sammy was on a Harley going north in the 6500 block of Roswell Road. He was running blue lights and siren but right as he passed the Sandy Springs Toyota, a car pulled out and Sammy hit it. He saw it coming and was in the process of trying to slow the bike. He said later that he knew he was going to hit but thought he could at least slow it down some before impact.
Sammy hit the car and then traveled the next 25 feet in the air, landing on the pavement.
From the very beginning, the radio traffic sounded bad. A passerby got on Sammy’s radio and told the 911 center that he was hurt bad.
This was not good.
When I got there, the scene was crowded, full of police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and now a crowd of people. Roswell Road was sealed off. As much as I hated to, I walked over and looked over the shoulder of the EMS personnel who were working on Sammy. He was so messed up I didn’t recognize him.
His arm was opened up, his leg was a mess, and his face was so contorted with pain that he looked like a completely different person.
Minutes later, the whole chaotic scene moved to Grady Hospital. When everyone arrived, I still didn’t know if Sammy was going to live or not. He looked that bad. After a few minutes my patience ran out and I pulled one of the paramedics aside and asked him if the Worm was going to die. He told me he was all messed up but he would live.
Sammy’s injuries included the following broken bones, in alphabetical order: Ankle, elbow, femur (compound-how bad? Read the next paragraph.) Hip, pelvis, shoulder, tibia, and all ten toes. He broke pretty much everything on his right side.
When Sammy hit the ground, he said his first thought was of how hot the pavement was. He then realized the bottom of his boot was resting under his chin. The boot had not come off his foot and leg. His leg had broken and completely folded up next to his shoulder.
Finally I’m coming to the point. The fact that Sammy could realize how bad he was hurt meant that his brain was still working. He had no head injury with the exception of a concussion. Luckily he had no soft-tissue internal injuries either. He was lucky and he was wearing a helmet.
The first thing Sammy did before his 25 foot dive onto the pavement was to bounce off of the car. His head hit the windshield and then hit the pavement. Later, I went to his sergeant’s office and looked at Sammy’s helmet. Motorcycle helmets are made of tough fiberglass stuff and then coated with some more tough stuff. The right side of Sammy’s helmet was scraped clean of any color or coating. The fiberglass strands were showing. Without the helmet, we would have buried him days later.
I know that some folks who ride don’t like helmets or want to wear them but your head can’t take a hard lick. In fact, you’d be surprised to see how little it takes to make a normal person either dead or sitting in a wheelchair, drooling on his feet for the rest of his life.
Folks, if you ride a bike, you need to wear a helmet. That is the beginning, middle, and end of it all. Severe head injuries or death don’t come with the do-over option.
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Crime & punishment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some reports filed recently with Sandy Springs Police:
This victim reported that he and his girlfriend were arguing all day long. She left the residence and then later text-messaged him that she was on the way back with the police. The victim said he went outside of his apartment to wait on his girlfriend and the police. He said the girlfriend showed up alone and when she walked up to him, she grabbed and snatched his glasses from his face causing a scratch. According to him, she continued to assault him as he pushed her off while he attempted to retreat to his apartment. On the way, he pulled the fire alarm to hasten the response from the emergency services, who he hoped would help him. As he pushed his soon-to-be ex-girlfriend off of him while attempting to close the apartment door, she sprayed him with a chemical agent, probably pepper spray. He was visibly disabled but managed to get the door shut. When the fire department responded, the woman was gone and the victim refused treatment. The officers advised the man of known remedies for the pepper spray, and then gave him a case number. A passing neighbor noted the officers should have given him a coupon to man-camp instead.
Improper Frolicking
Officers were called to the Stratford Arms Apartments around 2 a.m. Officers found a couple in the pool, him with boxers on, and her with nothing on. They were cited for acting disorderly and sent on their way clothed.
Thefts
A man reported that someone stole his blood pressure meds from his mailbox.
A man reported that while he was playing tennis with friends, he placed his I-Phone on the edge of the tennis courts. Later he noticed it was gone. He said he saw three juveniles loitering near that area earlier. These are hot items so beware. Keep them close folks.
Forgery—Fraud—I.D. Theft
A woman reported that she found fraudulent activity on her husband’s American Express credit card. Someone ordered online, a camcorder from Circuit City and took possession of it at the store on Camp Creek Parkway. They later returned the camera for store credits totaling over $1200.
A woman said she checked her credit report and found someone applied for, and received a credit card in her name. She was later contacted by a collection agency in South Dakota.
A man reported someone accessed his online bank account and later forged three checks for just under $180,000.
Burglary
The resident said her garage door was left open. Someone went into her unlocked car inside the open garage and took cash, keys, and the garage-door opener from the car. (Don’t help them out folks!)
Other Stuff
A woman reported that she’s being harassed by her former pimp. He is text messaging threats to her.
Erika called the Sandy Springs Police Headquarters and said Jessica, when she was stopped by the police earlier, gave the name of Erika to the police officer because Jessica had a DUI suspension on her license at the time.
Arrests
Around midnight, an officer was called to a fight in the 6400 block of Roswell Road. Once things settled down, he was taking information from one of the victims, being treated by EMS personnel. A car drove by and the officer noted that there wasn’t much room for the car to pass by where he and the victim were standing. That proved to be the case when the victim, already being treated for fight-related injuries, suffered another injury when the car ran over his foot. The officer yelled for the driver to stop. She did, and backed up, and backed into a pole. The officer spoke to the driver who said she left her license at home. She then gave the officer a false name. The officer found a food stamp in her car that properly identified her. The officer ran the new name and found she was wanted for a probation violation in Stone Mountain. She was arrested.
Remember:
Leave GPS in car BAD
Take GPS from car GOOD
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Finding Jimmy Buffett: The search for peace, tranquility and a happy wife
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My God! I may as well be looking for Elvis.
I am stumped at what appears to be the onset of an actual quest for God’s sake. I have spent thousands of dollars on Parrothead attire that includes footwear, any number of earrings, bracelets, necklaces, signature items, souvenirs, headwear, glassware, and it looks like I’m fix’ in to buy a ($#@*&)-ing two-hundred dollar blender because it says: Margaritaville on it!
Here’s the really weird part: I don’t really mind anymore. My man-cave bar is total tropics and I actually like it. I did all this for my wife because she is a die-hard Parrothead. Okay—okay I get it! There are thousands of Parrotheads and I’m cool with that. I think it’s great but now my friends, in my humble opinion, its getting unhealthy.
You see, after you buy the “It’s Five O’Clock Tavern sign, the neon clock, the custom lamp, mirror, bar stool and (%$&$^)-ing lawn chair, well I’m getting to the point of being TAPPED OUT!
(Okay, relax.) Now really, I just want my wife to be happy for many reasons among them because it’s my second marriage and most men agree that one of the pitfalls you want to avoid is arguing over little things. To do that you adopt the “okay” response to just about every (#@^$#)-ing thing and move on. You hope for minimal damage. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t.
Like many of you, I’ve been to a lot of Jimmy Buffett shows. We do Buffett here and sometimes in Texas where our extended families join in the fun, Margaritas, cigars, and hangovers. Buffett in Atlanta is just as good on the lawn at Lakewood as it is in the seats. We sat close and we sat far. Far is far better because there’s more room to do that three-cocktail-white-guy dance thing and sometimes the drunks stumble and roll down the hill. Fun for all.
Tailgating is an art form. What to bring: Money. Twenty bucks for the parking spot, Six-dollar beers and fourteen-dollar daiquiris will put you in the mood to party. You feel obligated. Thirty-five dollar concert t-shirts (ten bucks in the parking lot) and straw stuff, a couple of coconuts should do it. Realistically, that should last for a year until the next meeting of the Parrotheads.
It has not.
My wife is losing touch with reality. She sat me down one night and looked at me and said we had to talk about something important. “MY GOD!” I thought to myself. She found my collection of Fantasy Island Posters or perhaps she was leaving me to pursue a life on the road traveling with the Renaissance Festival. (I don’t know, it could be.)
She said that she wants the inevitable photo-op with Jimmy Buffett. She said it and then walked off like it was the end of a press conference. Oh God! She’s serious. Oh No.
And so it began.
July 5, 2008
Dear Jimmy Buffett My name is Steve Rose. I’m sure you get a lot of mail and stuff give that you have about seven-thousand Margaritaville Stores, most of which we’ve visited and by the way, thirty-five bucks for a pair of (@%$&)ing rubber slippers??!! Are you (#@&%$^)ing kidding me??!!—Sorry, anyway, well my wife and I are big fans. My wife is a bigger fan for sure which is why this letter is written. My lovely wife and I bought lots of merchandise and spent many a good dollar for concert tickets and such. I know this because my ($&%@#)ing MasterCard bill is through the (#^$%)ing roof!!! Again, sorry. My reason for writing is to ask you if it were possible, could we make arrangements to have a photo taken with you and my wife. I realize that you probably entertain many requests as such but I have to plead my case as different. You see I’m going crazy and there isn’t much room left in my brain for craziness since I’m already in the neighborhood if you know what I mean!
I may sound a little bitter but regardless of the fact that even though I’m over the FIVE-(%@*^$)ING-THOUSAND-DOLLAR MARK in Margaritaville merchandise and such it seems that it is all for naught because now she thinks that I’m capable of arranging a photo op with you.
I hope that you will consider this as feasible and perhaps return a call to me. I’ve enclosed my home phone, cell phone, fax, e-mail, website, toll-free 800 number and three carrier pigeons on standby. We are willing to travel and subject to a background check. I hope that you will find this request different than the rest given my emotional status.
Regards, Steve Rose
August 10, 2008
Dear Mr. Rose,
I am the secretary to the assistant of the day shift merchandise store for the Margaritaville in New Orleans. I have been asked to write and thank you for your letter. By the fact that I am answering your letter should indicate to you that your somewhat emotional appear to Mr. Buffett was taken as rather scary prompting him to increase his bodyguard security and write the governor in an attempt to perhaps incarcerate you. He did however, think your wife was a good Parrotthead and as such, he is sending her a “Five O’Clock Somewhere” rubber bracelet. Twenty-five dollars has been charged to your MasterCard account since we already have the number.
Sincerely, Rhonda Bucksworth Margaritaville Merchandise Store / Second Shift
Uh oh, it’s not going to be easy.
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Smoke, mirrors and Olympic swimmers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The little girl singing the opening whatever song that was, was miming the words? The original singer was canned because her face was round and her teeth weren’t even enough?
A couple of days later we found that the fly over with the cool—no, a very cool fireworks display was faked as well?
Didn’t the Chinese invent gunpowder? You would think out of pride or whatever, they would do up the fireworks at least to out do the July 4th shindig in New York.
I caught the gymnastics event and watched the little 7-year olds from China fly around in the air. They were really good. Then, the narrator said the Chinese swear these kids were no younger than 16.
I’m not so sure the Olympics are even going on. With all the computer generated fakery and lying and treating little round-face girls so mean going on, I’m starting to think that I don’t trust the Chinese officials who say the games are, in fact, going on. For all I know, they could be doing this whole thing right outside of Toledo in Perrysburg, Ohio where it’s rumored they faked not only the landing on the moon but also Super Bowl XXXV and Mayberry RFD (the one in color—after Barney left for Mt. Pilot.)
Where does it end?
I went to see my favorite Chinese restaurant proprietor, Ed Murphy. Ed, who changed his name from Ran Shun Tiao because he said he wanted to blend in, (I don’t think he thought it through) He said that China wants to portray an air of patriotism through the games. They want to show that these games will rival any of the past. The only difference is that one sitting in the stands during past Olympic Games could actually see the athletes on the field and track.
“The Chinese government banned millions of cars and tanks from the road in order to improve air quality” said the Beijing Environment Protection Monitoring Center.
As a result, the IPM in the Bejjing area was greatly reduced. IPM or Inhalable Particular Matter, is the standard of measurement used. According to air quality officials, about one-fifth of Bejjing’s IPM’s are from vehicle emissions. They claim the results are astounding. On day two of the games, you could actually see the athlete’s feet, at the bottom of the pollution fog as they ran.
One thing is for sure at these games. Our guys and girls can swim. Michael Phelps, who’s taking the No. 5 bus to Wheaties-Town, is breaking his own swimming records and working on surpassing Mark Spitz’s seven gold medals.
Alain Bernard, French swimmer, who predicted the French would “Smash the U.S.” in the 400 meter freestyle relay, was noticeably silent after Jason Lezak beat him in the final relay of the event.
As a result, France’s Olympic Swim Team has already adopted a motto for the 2012 Olympic Games:
“Just Shut the (*$&^$) Up and Swim!”
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View from the Cop: Honey, I got this
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One advantage of reading police reports every morning is you get a good look at how the world turns—which can sometimes turn a bit towards the warped-out side.
I’ve noticed the following lately: Young men 21-25 are getting beat up—no, whupped in the bars, more and more for reasons that are best described as less than important. In just about all cases, the whuppin’ involves a woman.
Well anyway, that’s not really news and certainly not new news—in fact, like many of us I’ve been there.
Here’s the deal. A guy’s having an evening with his girl, in a drinking establishment sometime around 1 a.m. Just like the B-movies, some big ol’ guy with 75-inch arms and a brain the size of a microbe - a microbe fueled by alcohol no less - inserts himself into their conversation. She gets aggravated and well, her guy was ready to go anyway so he took the high road and gave a little tug on her arm as if to say “Let’s go—now!”
The big ol’ 75-inch armed guy was drunk enough to be on a five-second delay, similar to when Ted Koppel talks to a correspondent who is embedded in a rock in northern Afghanistan. He just sort of looks confused for a few seconds and then says something really clever—to him—such as “Oh yeah, so what am I?”
Now the boyfriend isn’t all that drunk and wants to just ease on out, probably because he’s been in this situation before. He sees the light at the end of the tunnel until she says something really, really stupid: “You need to Man Up!”
What??!!
If you’re not familiar with Man Up, it’s one of several new hip buzz words put into play over the last couple of years. Man Up! Is meant to imply to be like a man, do what a man would do, do the right thing. Geeze—the only thing missing is the Old Spice tune. In this guy’s case, the challenge to Man Up was witnessed by too many people.
Result: Wasn’t pretty.
In short, it’s no fair. Man Up? How dare you imply my Man Up status is anywhere but up! Don’t get me wrong, I’d Man Up for my wife but I’m under a contractual agreement and besides, she’s SWAT certified so in essence, I could Woman Up right back. Still, for the most part, I think guys need to take a little look at their social lives and get some perspective. Take this little quiz:
How many times a month do you Man Up? If you man up over three times a month and it involves a woman, you need to get rid of that woman faster than Barack Obama dumped the Reverend Jeremiah Wright because you are in what they called a dysfunctional relationship. How can you tell?
Look in the mirror. See where your teeth used to be? In police work, we call that a CLUE DUDE!!
Here’s a hint: You need to start going to bed when the clock says P.M. instead of A.M.
Boys, ya’ll are getting beat up a lot more since “Man Up” was first introduced. Think about this: If you’re going to Man Up for a woman, are you sure she’s the one? Is she going to be there for you when you’re eating from a feeding tube for the next thirty years? You need to know this before Manning Up! Look in the mirror. If you like the way you look?
Think about this: Do you want to look like Joe Palooka after Manning Up? (Okay, you younger guys go ahead and Google “Joe Palooka” so we’ll all be on the same page.) I’m not saying anything specific here but maybe—well maybe perhaps she’s not the one for you after all. Plenty of fish in the sea boys. I’m just saying think about it while your nose still points outward.
Ladies, stop abusing the term “Man Up!” It’s one thing to say it to some dead-beat dad or to members of your favorite boy-band but you need to leave that phrase in the car when there’s alcohol and steroids in the same room. Ya’ll forget how easy it is for us to get beat up! No fair!
It is depressing to see all these guys having to face “Man Up” challenges and come away with a face that could land the starring role in “Elephant Man—The Sequel.”
Take it easy on us. Let’s get nostalgic and roll it back a bit and go with some oldies but goodies like “Chill Out!” I’m picturing a Corona and a lime and no blood. Good times Ya’ll.
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Crime & Punishment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A sampling of reports filed with Sandy Springs police:
Arrests
A man was arrested after a resident of the 400 block of Morgan Falls Road saw him inside his neighbor’s car just after midnight on July 27. Officers approached him and once he saw them, he ran. A short time later, another officer saw him coming out of the wood line behind the apartments chased him to a stairwell. Before the officer could secure the suspect, he broke loose and ran to his apartment where officers found him hiding under his bed. This probably wasn’t the smartest move on his part.
Burglary
A man reported that while he and his family were asleep, they heard a loud noise and found that their front door to the apartment, in the 1800 block of Summit Place Drive, had been kicked in. As the victim walked into the living room area, the suspects ran out. The only lookout is that of four men who were seen just prior to and just after. No further description was documented.
The victim reported that someone entered a home in the 5700 block of Mountain Creek Road by forcing the basement door and then taking several appliances from the home that is vacant and for sale.
This victim said that she left her purse in an unlocked car that was parked in a garage on Bridgewood Valley Road. Sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight, someone entered the garage and took the purse.
The complainant said that someone used a concrete stone to break a window in a residence in the 8900 block of Roswell Road and took his laptop and cell phone. The suspect left behind blood which was swabbed for future DNA comparison.
Thefts
A woman reported that someone took her credit cards from her purse that she placed in her desk. The cards were later used on Mountain Industrial Blvd in Tucker, GA. Make sure that you not only hide your purse or wallet but lock it down well enough that someone cannot open a desk drawer or file cabinet and get to it. Even better, if you’re going to leave your purse in the desk area, go ahead and take the credit and debit cards out and place them in your pocket and carry them around with you. This serves two purposes: One, you will not have to worry about someone forcing open a desk and getting your cards and two, you can instantly react to any shopping emergency that may occur.
A man reported that while he was playing basketball at the gym, he had his belongings in a bag sitting outside the court area. He walked away for a moment and when he returned, his money had been taken from the bag. The victim said he saw three young males near the bag when he walked away. He found them and questioned them but they denied knowing anything.
A woman reported that workers were in her apartment on Roberts Drive doing upgrades. Later she discovered an expensive necklace was missing. (Knowing that workers will be in your home is the best reason to hide your stuff.)
A woman reported that she was informed by her neighbor that a package was delivered to her door on Park Gate Court while she was out of town. When she returned, the package was gone. (If you’re out of town, reschedule any deliveries, have a neighbor or family member pick up the mail and paper.)
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