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.
AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2008 > November > 07 > Entry
Crime & punishment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s a wrap-up of items from the Sandy Springs police blotter:
Robbery
A food delivery driver received a call to deliver $150 in food to an apartment in the Celebration Apartments complex on Roswell Road. A second employee went along to help with the large order and because the driver was concerned about potential danger. That person waited at the delivery car. Once the victim knocked on the door, he was jumped by two men. The victim resisted at first but was assaulted by the two men, one of whom then pulled a gun. The second employee ran from the location while calling the police. They suspects ransacked the victim’s car but left without getting anything.
Burglary
Two men kicked in the door to an apartment in the 1100 block of Huntcliff Village Drive and removed several items including a couple of laptops, jewelry and cash. The burglary was witnessed by a neighbor who called police. Two suspects were later detained and questioned about the burglary.
A man said he cashed a college tuition check at a check-cashing store on Roswell Road. He came home and left the cash—$7,000, on his end table, and then left to go to the mall. (Huh?) He came home and found his patio door open and then discovered the cash missing. (Anyone here surprised?)
Forgery, Fraud, and I.D. Theft
The victim said someone used his personal information to obtain a Wachovia bank card and then used it for over $1,000 in transactions.
In another case, a man applying for a mortgage said he was informed that someone applied for and received two credit cards in his name. The Visa and MasterCard accounts amounted to just under $2,000.
An employee of Best Bank located inside the Kroger Store on Roswell Road said a woman came in and then tried to cash a fraudulent check from the M & T Bank in Buffalo, NY. The bank employee contacted the M & T Bank and was told the check was fraud. (The teller pretty much knew it because the check looked like it was made on a color printer.) The teller noted the woman who presented the check gave her correct driver’s license number. The woman, after being told about the check, said she sells Avon products on the Internet. She was contacted by a woman from Spellman Drive in Fayetteville, NC. She wanted to order just over $400 in Avon products. She would send a check for a little over the billing amount—the excess funds would go for a credit on her next purchase. The woman said she received the check and was surprised to find the amount was over $2,400. The instructions were to cash the check, take her cut, and then send the balance of over $1,900 to a woman in Michigan. Of course, the scam is to cash the check and then find later the check is no good—after you sent your money to the other address. Fortunately for this woman, the teller recognized this as a bad check and so it was never deposited.
Thefts
An employee of the Rite Aid Drug Store on Roswell Road said a man came in and attempted to steal hair care products. The employee followed the man out of the store and they scuffled in the parking lot until the suspect was able to get away. The employee was able to get the products back as well as the man’s jacket and Marta card.
Services »
Comments
By Joe
November 7, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
I cannot believe people still fall for that check cashing scheme…if you stop and think about it for a second, its completely insane. Greed will only end in misery.
By Joe
November 7, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
I cannot believe people still fall for that check cashing scheme…if you stop and think about it for a second, its completely insane. Greed will only end in misery.
By Joe
November 7, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this
I cannot believe the stupid internet at my office causes double posts. I promise I don’t double click it…urgh.
By Joe
November 7, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
I cannot believe the stupid internet at my office causes double posts. I promise I don’t double click it…urgh.
By icantbelieve
November 7, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
i cant believe that some people think that clickin submit 4 times in a row, will result in faster service!!!!
By Joe
November 7, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe you didn’t read the post above yours.
By Joe
November 7, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe you didn’t read the post above yours.
By clyde
November 7, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this
It won’t be long before there’ll be a need for an armored car and armed guards to deliver a pizza.
“That’ll be $17.99 for the pizza,sir,and $1145.62 for the delivery”.
By Tom Becker
November 8, 2008 5:41 AM | Link to this
I delivered pizzas at night for a while. Scary! Hairy! Big bad men with knives and bludgeons. And that was just the managers at the pizza shop. You should have seen the customers!
By swolf
November 8, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
You couldn’t pay me enough to deliver pizza…unleess I was armed to the teeth.
By JackP
November 8, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
I just love the story of the pizza delivery man who arrived at his delivery destination and an armed gunman was waiting for him. The delivery man pulled out his own pistol and sent the dirt bag to an everlasting deep sleep from which there is no return.
By sb
November 9, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
The Avon lady is not too bright.
By ATLien
November 9, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
If you are going to steal from Rite Aide at least steal something cool like an electric toothbrush.
By reba
November 10, 2008 5:14 AM | Link to this
Has anyone heard one single candidate talk about what they were going to do about crime in this country?
By Michael
November 10, 2008 5:34 AM | Link to this
When the student tells the registrar or his parents this story they will say — are you sticking to that story?
By Cassie
November 10, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Whew! It took me more time to find this blog, now that some butt monkey moved it from it’s regularly scheduled page…
Where are all my regulars?
By Dixie
November 10, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
Hi Cassie - I always go to ajc.com first. Then as I run my mouse over the blue bar at the top I scan Metro - drop and click on North Fulton. Then this blog is in the box under the headlines. I would be reading the AJC front page anyway. It’s just 1 extra step - but it’s always there.
By Dixie
November 10, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
Rockmart man dies stealing copper from utility pole
Ya gotta love natural selection.
By Tom Becker
November 10, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this
Dixie and Cassie are the same twaught.
I thought that I was taught to be naught a person that fought so taut, wrought with fraught when I bought what she sought, the dirty twaught.
Maybe next time you’ll leave it alone, girls. Admit your situation. It has more dignity. (No country for old twaughts).
By Dixie
November 10, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
Not the remarks of a truly cognizant individual. I wish I could amuse myself as easily as you do.
By Tom Becker
November 10, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
God, you swing at everything.
By Dixie
November 10, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
I’m Bored at the moment.
By Tom Becker
November 11, 2008 6:32 AM | Link to this
worse, you used cognizant wrongly.
By Jimbo
November 11, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
@ Reba, what do you want them to do? Crime is at a 20 or 30 year low. It’ll probably go back up now though. The good news is that the best thing they can do about the crime is fix the economy.
By Tom Becker
November 11, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Crime is at a low because nobody has nuthin to steal nohow.
Simply go shopping, America, like Bush done did say, and then crime’ll go up agin’!
By The truth about cops
November 11, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
I didn’t see the part about how cops stole (essentially at gunpoint) thousands of dollars from hard working families on BS traffic citations. That seems like a much bigger scam than bad checks. Until police are held accountable, crime will never go down. When the police force consists of a bunch of overweight Clint Eastwood types (and those are just the females!) that couldn’t hack it in a real job (or college, for that matter), crime will always be high.
At least while these armed robberies were occurring, some evil-doing speeder was being taken care of! You just can’t stop armed robbery, but you can damn well address the “no right on red” crisis that we face in our country.
By Cassie
November 11, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
Let’s See?
Is Dixie Me?
Or Am I Dixie?
Ah, this could be one of life’s great mysteries; but alas, alack and alee, this silly thing is not to be!
(oh, with apologies to real poets everywhere but I can’t resist)
By Dixie
November 11, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
Cassie - I mean Dixie - I mean Cassie - You, Cindy, Stone and Fred (most of the time,Fred) are the people I enjoy here the most. If I’m going to be mixed up w/ someone, I’m glad it’s someone I like !
I still miss ElBubba.
By gadyke
November 12, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
I miss ElBubba too. Is anyone else just beyond annoyed with Truth? I know I shouldn’t let him get under my skin, but I think he reminds me of my late crazy uncle.
By Cassie
November 12, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
Sheeeeeetttt (does that pass the profanity checker?)! He reminds me of my alive crazy uncle who likes to ask things like “are you ovulatin?” down the table in front of an entire restaurant…
I don’t think he appreciated the retaliatory shrimp thrown at his glasses.
By Stone
November 12, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Hey everyone, hope all’s been well.
By Dixie
November 12, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
gadyke - Yes - but it’s like any barrel of apples. There’s bound be be a few stinkers. The good news is that they’re great for the compost pile.
Hello Stone - was getting worried. Hadn’t heard from you since the election. I was afraid you were going to pull an ElBubba.
I love the new front page for the Arizona Republic. But it’s a little unsettling to have them show a link to thier death row pics & info a third of the way down.
By Cindy
November 14, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
Hi y’all. Happy Friday! :)
By Cassie
November 14, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
And you won’t hear from me all next week. We are going hunting. I am getting a rifle for my birthday. Woohoo!
By Tom Becker
November 15, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this
Clean your gun, Clyde.
By Dixie
November 15, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Good luck Cindy. Where are you going? I thought gun season didn’t open in GA until Thanksgiving.
By Tom Becker
November 15, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Obama’s first act a president should be to pardon Bush, Cheney and Rove. (oh my).
By Cindy
November 15, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Dixie,
It’s Cassie who’s going hunting, not me. :)
But it’s already gun season. Not sure what or where they’re hunting, but deer season, for most counties, with guns started October 18th.
By Dixie
November 15, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
OOPPS ! (it was a heck of a Friday night !) Well Cindy I hope you too have good luck this weekend.
GL Cassie!
By Stone
November 15, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
Thinking of being our Homeowner Association President. Somebody decent, honest and intellegent has to take the job and when we find that person they can take over, but until then I should do just fine. Truth be told I don’t know what I am doing but everyone is looking at me to save the ship. I don’t know whether I’m a savior or a sucker, but I’d settle for VP. Nobody shoots the VP.
By Dixie
November 16, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
Stone - I think you’d be a great P or VP. You’re thorough and calm until some shovels a load of crap. Then you just give it back in acceptable proportions. More important, you genuinely wish the best for everyone.
I wonder if the job would be good for you. A postition like that lets you know who your REAL friends are - fast. You’re a good person and I hope nobody tries to take advantage of that.
Are there many foreclosures in the subdivision? Why did the last prez leave? Are you going to have a big BBQ party? Is this going to invade the time you have here?
By reader
November 16, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Hey Stone…the VP, in our hoa at least, is the omnibus, i.e., is involved in every aspect of the hoa. If you care, don’t have an ulterior personal motive, other than preserving your neighborhood & hoa, and truly want to make a difference, you’re the person for the job. You would not believe the people who sign on with a personal agenda. Community service looks great on the resume, but sometimes, unfortunately, people get involved for the wrong reasons.
Actually, I’ve met great neighbors who have become my friends. Totally unexpected. Most neighbors are simply unaware and don’t know how or where to turn to regarding issues. They need a leader, and those unlikely leaders who emerge, never realized they possessed the untapped potential. Of course, there are a fair amount of whiners as well.
It’s a rewarding experience, and depending on the size of your hoa, you’ll meet a lot of people. Being a board member of an hoa can introduce you to the workings of the community at large, especially if your hoa is a member of a community association.
I lived in my n’hood anonymously for 12 years. Now, everyone knows me, my (reluctant) husband, my son, my dog and my email. Best advice: set a new email for hoa stuff…don’t use your personal one. Otherwise, people will have it forever.
Take the position, make a difference.
By Cough Syrup
November 16, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
Be vocal. Be very vocal as your P or VP of the Homeowner’s Asso, stone. Let everyone get a dose of your personality and epistemological potential. Justice will prevail in that arena, sir, and the world will be a better place. All thanx 2U.
By Cindy
November 16, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this
Stone, I think you should do it too. You have a good attitude. :)
By Cough Syrup
November 16, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Cindy, UR so kind to others. U encourage others so sincerely. I’m sure the people in your orbit are grateful for your constant assurances and support.
It’s nice 2B nice 2 the nice.
By Stone
November 16, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
No foreclosures, yet. The current pres. is under indictment for hitting a homeowner over the head with a log and we just found out he has taken over 10 gs out of our treasury to pay his lawyers. A real mess.
By reader
November 16, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this
Before you sign on, be sure your hoa has liability insurance for its officers. And, imo, it’s worth it to have an attorney (firm that specializes in hoas) on retainer. Get that guy off your list of current officers, and off the bank’s approved signature list. Good luck!
By Cindy
November 16, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
My orbit?
I don’t know if i’d categorize myself as encouraging, supportive or assuring…alot of times on here, I tend to be a butt. Usually, I don’t mean to be though.
By Dixie
November 17, 2008 5:41 AM | Link to this
Cindy - just ignore him.
Lt. Steve - Is all well? I can’t recall a time when we went 11 days w/o some input from you.
By Bubba Bluffton
November 18, 2008 1:23 AM | Link to this
This is off topic but it needs to be seen by as many Sandy Springs residents as possible. It is ludicrous that this happened. On Sunday night, November 16, I drove home from work and was stopped after being followed by almost one mile by a young, overzealous Sandy Springs police officer. The reason—he had run my plates while following from the Abernathy Road exit and up Roswell Road. I was not speeding. I have no burned out lamps on my car. It is in excellent condition and there was no reason for running my plates other than to generate revenue.
It seems that when I leased my NEW Focus in June, Sandy Springs Ford neglected to transfer my plate information from my previously leased vehicle to the new one. I was stopped, provided my license, proof of insurance and receipt provided by Fulton County in June of this year. I also provided the original tag receipt from my previous car showing that my tag had been paid for last March. I was asked to wait “for just a moment” while he returned to his patrol car. THIRTY FIVE MINUTES LATER, I was issued to two citations and then given instructions on how to avoid paying the citations! If the officer were willing to provide me with this information on how to transfer my old registration to my new car, why wasn’t I given a warning ticket?
As a result, I must go to Sandy Springs Ford and find out why this task was not done five months ago, make a trip to the North Fulton Annex to transfer the tag and then take time off from work in JANUARY to go to court, provide the paper work to the judge with an explanation and then have the tickets overturned.
Needless to say, I am livid. This is a complete waste of time for the officer (can you say QUOTA?), a waste of my personal time to solve the issue with the dealership, from whom I will NEVER purchase another vehicle, and an absolutely ridiculous waste of tax payer money for something that could have been accomplished with a warning ticket.
The Sandy Spring Police Department, already fraught with controversy, is rapidly increasing its poor reputation by attempting to generate revenue at every possible opportunity. Enough is enough. Lt. Steve regularly informs the public of the stupidity of criminals in North Fulton County. We have illegal immigrants everywhere, speeders, vehicles that should not be on the road and property crimes that need more intense scrutiny. The Sandy Springs Police are just as stupid in stopping safe drivers who are coming home from work and running tag numbers because its officers have nothing better to do than find a way to raise a buck or two for the City of Sandy Springs. Shame, shame, shame on the Department.
By amari
November 18, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Will some one tell me why : Christopher Nichol is still not being sentenced. You have more than enough proof , video tapes, the people who have survived his shootings.
I understand everyone has a right to a fair trial , But you have the proof and he has managed to obtain a cellphone and other things, he really thinks its a joke he sits there drinking water and smiling. its really sad that the families of his victims have to endure looking at him while their love ones were murdered.
Wake up Atlanta!!
By Tony
November 18, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
Hey Bubba, Sounds like you need to quit blaming other people for your oversight. You want someone to blame, look in the mirror. I always enjoy hearing someone say,”they were supposed to take care of this”. I would love to find these people called “they”. The officer was just doing the job that he/she was sworn to do.
By Cindy
November 18, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
Bubba Bluffton,
Did you ever think maybe, just maybe he was trying to make sure he handled your unique situation correctly? Trying to not stick it to you and make you feel like a victim, but being sure to document everything just in case things didn’t turn out the way they appeared…
Yes your time is valuable but be glad your city police are taking their job seriously and not being on a power trip.
Since he took the time to explain things to you, it seems like he wanted you to leave the scene not feeling victimized.
I could be wrong and if so, I apologize. My last ticket broke my heart too, but i’m still glad they’re out there getting the bad guys.
By Dixie
November 18, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Bubba, if I had been that cop, and it was me who ran your plates and found out that you were a no good, dirty, tag-transferrin’ scofflaw and title procrastinatin’ piece of confederate scum, the I woulda tazer’d your sorry patoot, pal.
Here’s your warning sir, PFFFTZZZ!
I know, “say it, dont spray it”.
moron.
By Dixie
November 18, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
UH - the REAL Dixie was at work when that last post was entered.
And anyone who knows thier head from a hole in the wall knows that I would not speak like that.
Right analchord?
And as the real Dixie: I have to side w/ Bubba on this one. Officers should not run plates unless a person displays inpropriety outwardly. The 45 minutes this officer spent on this means he wasn’t available to someone who may have needed him more.
The usual and customary practice for new and leased vehicles is that the car dealers (who handles this paperwork everyday) handle this transfer. For the consumer to trust the “professionals” to do thier job is a perfectly reasonable assumption. This officer could have written a warning and handed out the same info.
Bubba - I wish you the best of luck on this.
By Dixie
November 18, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
amari - If you mean Brian Nichols, I concur. There was 1 bullet too few shot on the day of his re-capture. This is just another OJ joke.
By no more tix
November 18, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this
I “earned” a citation a few years ago. It’s worth it to go to court. The cop who wrote me up, gave me all of the options. It was probably the longest traffic stop in history. I was so irritated at myself for being stupid, that I could not focus on what he was telling me. After several weeks of a lot of back and forth (in my head), I went to court and wound up with only a warning…without ever speaking a word.
By Jimbo
November 19, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
Cops runs plates randomly to catch stolen cars. If I recall correctly, they actually have programs now where that’s all a cop will do is drive around running plates to see if they’re stolen. That said, a little probable cause would be nice. If you weren’t stealing and your car was fully operational it seems a little fishy that they would run your plate, besides the fact that the idea of a cop messing around on his laptop while driving is a little grating to me. Just had a georgia move over violation a few weeks ago in Roswell. The cop was decent and I misunderstood the particulars of the law so it was my own stupidity. I talked to the solicitor and that worked out very well. If the municipality that got you has one I highly recommend it.
By darcnarono
December 1, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
eltzel
By darcnarono
December 1, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
eltzel
By darcnarono
December 1, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
eltzel