VaHi Safety Report: January 13, 2015
By John Wolfinger
Arrest and Court News
Phillip Gamble, who was arrested in a daylight take-down on Virginia Avenue (east of Lanier Boulevard) after a residential burglary on this street on 10/8/14, and who also admitted to other residential burglaries on Bellevue Drive and on 6th Street in Midtown, was in court on 1/8/15 to receive a sentence of 20 years with 5 years to serve. If he enrolls in a drug treatment program in prison and successfully completes it – he could be out in less than 2 years.
Paul Williams, a career criminal, was arrested in the Old 4th Ward on 1/7/15 charges of breaking into vehicles. He has a long history of being arrested and serving time both in our county jail and in our state prison system. I remember seeing him and his infamous burgundy Buick on Los Angeles Avenue near North Highland many years ago when he had been stopped by Zone 6 for questioning. No word as of yet as to any court dates for him on this latest arrest.
The Zone 6 Christmas Toy PartyThanx to all of the generous folks here who kept bringing toys to my front porch for me to take to the precinct – the toy party on 12/19/14 was a great success. There were a lot of happy little kids that day with their bags of toys, and also little kids who now can look to the police as friends as opposed to enemies.
Thanks to all of the generous folks here who kept bringing toys to my front porch for me to take to the precinct – the toy party on 12/19/14 was a great success. There were a lot of happy little kids that day with their bags of toys, and also little kids who now can look to the police as friends as opposed to enemies. Thanks also to Joy Ariola of Morningstar Storage on PDL Place for her support of this program and attending the party with me at the precinct office.
Coyote Sightings
I have gotten reports again of coyote sightings in the Orme Park/ Amsterdam Avenue area of the neighborhood. Just be cautious when letting your 4-legged pets outside to keep them in your view and do not leave out filled pet food bowls to attract the coyotes to your backyard. Interesting story about this subject at http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/bio…
New Neighborhood Watch Systems
Morningside and Poncey Highland are in the process of setting up Street Captain watch systems for their respective neighborhoods, emulating our successful VaHi program. I am glad to have been of some help to these folks.
The following reports are taken from our APD Zone 6 (http://atlantapd.org/Zone6.aspx) VaHi Beat 601 reported incidents for the last week of 2014 and the first week of 2015 (12/21/14 – 1/3/15). These reports are not meant to scare anyone, but to let you know what happens around us every day – so you can be alert and aware.
Aggravated Assault – No reported incidents from Beat 601.
Auto Theft – A Mercedes E-32 was taken from Maiden Lane and a 2009 Mitsubishi Galant stolen from Highland Terrace.
Commercial Burglary – No reported incidents from Beat 601Residential Burglary – No reported incidents from Beat 601.
Residential Burglary – No reported incidents from Beat 601Commercial Robbery – No reported incidents from Beat 601.
Commercial Robbery – No reported incidents from Beat 601.
Residential Robbery – No reported incidents from Beat 601.
Pedestrian Robbery – On 12/21in the late nite hours on Barnett Street, the victims were walking home when a male, wearing a bandana over his face, jumped out of a passing car – pointed a small revolver at them and demanded they take everything out of their pockets or he would shoot them. Items were thrown on the ground, the suspect gathered them up and fled in the car.
Larceny From Vehicle – Of the 80 such reported incidents all over the Zone in this time period – the following incidents were reported in Beat 601. Maiden Lane (laptop). PDL Avenue (backpack and clothing), North Highland Avenue (purse, 2 laptops, driver’s license, credit and debit cards), Virginia Avenue (change). Greenwood Avenue (backpack), Greenwood Avenue (gym bag, I-phone charger, earphones), Clemont Drive ( laptop bag), Todd Road (clothing, camera, cheeseboard, gym bag, cookbook, backpack), PDL Place ( sunglasses), PDL Avenue (GPS and music system).
Amazingly enough, there was only one weapon stolen in the Zone – a 22 caliber Glock – to be added to the arsenal on the streets.
Larceny Other – A mini bike and a wheelbarrow were taken from an Adair Avenue backyard. A wallet was taken from an unwatched purse at Neighbor’s Bar. A purse was taken from behind the d.j.’s booth at the MJQ Club. An unwatched cell phone was taken at an unnamed North Highland Avenue business.In this time
In this time period all of the stores at the Edgewood Retail District reported seven shoplifting incidents.
Happy New Year!