Q: There was a story in a recent Metro section about a Gwinnett mom calling 911 because she was lost while hiking in Harbins Park with her two young children. A police helicopter was dispatched and directed her by cell phone to a trail leading out. Will she be billed by the county for this use of resources in a non-emergency situation?
—Frank Manfre, Grayson
A: The Gwinnett County Police Department does not bill citizens for emergency response, spokesman Cpl. Deon Washington told Q&A on the News via email.
Being lost for several hours in 80-plus degree temps without food and water in a 1,900-acre park with children and feeling compelled to call 911 would constitute an emergency, he wrote.
A helicopter was used to find the mother and her children, ages 4 and 7, in the Dacula park, the AJC previously reported.
Q: The AJC recently reported that attorney A. Forrest Morad died while being held in the DeKalb County Jail. What is the status of the investigation into his death?
—Philip Hasty, Roswell
A: A cause of death has not yet been determined, according to the medical examiner's office. The sheriff's office has declined to release reports or further information until the investigation is over.
Morad had been in the jail off Memorial Drive since May 10 on an aggravated stalking charge. After a “medical emergency” at the jail, where he received assistance, Morad was transported to and died May 26 at DeKalb Medical Center, the AJC previously reported.
Fast Copy News Service wrote this column; AJC staff writer Joshua Sharpe contributed. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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