Tuesday, April 14, 2015
A convicted felon is off the streets after selling firearms to undercover Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) agents.
CNT, along with the Savannah Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, "made three firearms purchases from Jimmy Ray Williams of Savannah over the course of a three-month investigation. Agents also purchased a military style ballistic vest, prescription pills and marijuana from the 29-year-old convicted felon," police say.
CNT arrested Williams on April 8, 2015 without incident. At the time of his arrest, Williams was found to be in possession of a stolen Glock pistol "hus bringing the overall total of firearms to four. The pistol was loaded and two extended magazines were found. Additionally, agents seized methamphetamine, marijuana, items commonly associated with the distribution of controlled substances and more than $1,100.00 in cash," police say.
CNT’s arrest of Williams marks his 16th booking in Chatham County, 4th CNT arrest and 11th drug related arrest.
CNT, along with the Savannah Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, "made three firearms purchases from Jimmy Ray Williams of Savannah over the course of a three-month investigation. Agents also purchased a military style ballistic vest, prescription pills and marijuana from the 29-year-old convicted felon," police say.
CNT arrested Williams on April 8, 2015 without incident. At the time of his arrest, Williams was found to be in possession of a stolen Glock pistol "hus bringing the overall total of firearms to four. The pistol was loaded and two extended magazines were found. Additionally, agents seized methamphetamine, marijuana, items commonly associated with the distribution of controlled substances and more than $1,100.00 in cash," police say.
CNT’s arrest of Williams marks his 16th booking in Chatham County, 4th CNT arrest and 11th drug related arrest.
The Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team (UNIT) of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department “has concluded a month-long investigation which has resulted in several arrests and the recovery of firearms, cash and drugs,” police say.
The investigation focused on street-level narcotics dealers in the Downtown Precinct. Two search warrants were executed Friday morning, resulting in the apprehension of five suspects, the recovery of four firearms, $4,500 in cash, and various amounts of cocaine, marijuana and MDMA.
Vincent Smith, 34, was charged with Sale of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine); Damon King, 34, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (MDNA) and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Steven Kennedy, 40, was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of a Controlled Substance MDNA; Alan Palmer, 35, was charged with Possession of Tools for the Commission of a Crime; Lathan Williams, 67, was charged with Possession of Marijuana. cs
The investigation focused on street-level narcotics dealers in the Downtown Precinct. Two search warrants were executed Friday morning, resulting in the apprehension of five suspects, the recovery of four firearms, $4,500 in cash, and various amounts of cocaine, marijuana and MDMA.
Vincent Smith, 34, was charged with Sale of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine); Damon King, 34, was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (MDNA) and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Steven Kennedy, 40, was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of a Controlled Substance MDNA; Alan Palmer, 35, was charged with Possession of Tools for the Commission of a Crime; Lathan Williams, 67, was charged with Possession of Marijuana. cs
Two people are in custody following the seizure of drugs and money this past Friday by the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT).
CNT agents arrested 26-year-old Daniel “Dirty” Jeffers of Bloomingdale. Jeffers was arrested outside a Walmart store at 160 Pooler Parkway, Pooler, Georgia. “Jeffers was taken into custody following a short foot pursuit during which he attempted to discard a bag of crystal methamphetamine,” police say.
Also arrested was 33-year-old Jamie Castro of Garden City. This arrest of Jeffers marks his seventh booking in Chatham County, second arrest by CNT and tenth drug related charge. Today’s arrest of Castro marks her sixth booking in Chatham County, second arrest by CNT and her seventh drug related charge.
CNT agents arrested 26-year-old Daniel “Dirty” Jeffers of Bloomingdale. Jeffers was arrested outside a Walmart store at 160 Pooler Parkway, Pooler, Georgia. “Jeffers was taken into custody following a short foot pursuit during which he attempted to discard a bag of crystal methamphetamine,” police say.
Also arrested was 33-year-old Jamie Castro of Garden City. This arrest of Jeffers marks his seventh booking in Chatham County, second arrest by CNT and tenth drug related charge. Today’s arrest of Castro marks her sixth booking in Chatham County, second arrest by CNT and her seventh drug related charge.
Multiple people were arrested following an early morning search warrant conducted by the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) this past Thursday.
Just after 6 a.m., CNT, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, members of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department (SCMPD) and SCMPD SWAT executed a search warrant at 401 East 63rd St.
“Five people were located inside the house and taken into custody without incident. Reynolds and 63rd Streets were blocked off for approximately two hours until the area was safe,” police say.
Agents found “various forms of controlled substances to include but not limited to Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and prescription pills; a total of 12 firearms; items commonly associated with the distribution of a controlled substance and nearly $10,000 in cash.”
CNT’s investigation began in March 2015 after undercover agents “received information that various drugs were being stored, distributed and sold from the house,” police say.
Agents were able to determine that people connected to the house “were likely manufacturing DMT, a hallucinogenic drug,” police say.
DMT is known by other street names to include Businessman’s Trip and Fantasia. It comes from plants in South America and can be boiled to make a brew or ground to make a powder.
CNT arrested 35-year-old Jeremy Lueken, 21-year-old Benjamin James Butler, 23-year-old Cadell Quentin Martin and 27-year-old Justin Redmond, all of Savannah.
Just after 6 a.m., CNT, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, members of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department (SCMPD) and SCMPD SWAT executed a search warrant at 401 East 63rd St.
“Five people were located inside the house and taken into custody without incident. Reynolds and 63rd Streets were blocked off for approximately two hours until the area was safe,” police say.
Agents found “various forms of controlled substances to include but not limited to Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and prescription pills; a total of 12 firearms; items commonly associated with the distribution of a controlled substance and nearly $10,000 in cash.”
CNT’s investigation began in March 2015 after undercover agents “received information that various drugs were being stored, distributed and sold from the house,” police say.
Agents were able to determine that people connected to the house “were likely manufacturing DMT, a hallucinogenic drug,” police say.
DMT is known by other street names to include Businessman’s Trip and Fantasia. It comes from plants in South America and can be boiled to make a brew or ground to make a powder.
CNT arrested 35-year-old Jeremy Lueken, 21-year-old Benjamin James Butler, 23-year-old Cadell Quentin Martin and 27-year-old Justin Redmond, all of Savannah.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Metro Police Thursday arrested a 49-year-old man already on bond for a federal indictment "after finding nine highly explosive military grade rounds in a warehouse connected to his business on Wednesday," police say.
Wesley Defreitas was arrested at his business, Warrior’s Gear, on warrants drawn by members of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team (UNIT.) He has been charged with 9 counts of possession of explosives. Additional charges are being considered.
"Unit officers had worked in support of federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who were investigating a storage facility being used as a warehouse for Warrior’s Gear. Defreitas was on bond for a federal indictment for illegally selling weapons to unauthorized purchasers in a raid by ATF and Metro officers last year," police say.
While searching the storage facility, agents and officers seized a shotgun and nine 40mm HEDP (Highly Explosive Dual Purpose) rounds. "The rounds are designed to destroy light armored vehicles and are to be possessed only by military in time of combat," according to police.
ATF and UNIT officers continue to investigate the business and associated activities.
Wesley Defreitas was arrested at his business, Warrior’s Gear, on warrants drawn by members of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team (UNIT.) He has been charged with 9 counts of possession of explosives. Additional charges are being considered.
"Unit officers had worked in support of federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who were investigating a storage facility being used as a warehouse for Warrior’s Gear. Defreitas was on bond for a federal indictment for illegally selling weapons to unauthorized purchasers in a raid by ATF and Metro officers last year," police say.
While searching the storage facility, agents and officers seized a shotgun and nine 40mm HEDP (Highly Explosive Dual Purpose) rounds. "The rounds are designed to destroy light armored vehicles and are to be possessed only by military in time of combat," according to police.
ATF and UNIT officers continue to investigate the business and associated activities.
Early Saturday morning, Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team and Georgia State Patrol "responded to a three car wreck that sent an entire family to the hospital, including a 2-year-old who sustained serious injuries after he and another child were ejected," police say.
The wreck happened just after 1:30 a.m., at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Gwinnett Street. Fredrick Cobbs, 44, the driver of a Chrysler 300, failed to stop at a red light.
"Cobbs was traveling south on MLK when he struck 25-year-old, Ericka Griffin’s, Nissan Altima as she traveled east on Gwinnett Street. The Nissan spun on impact causing at least two boys, ages five and two, to be ejected from the vehicle. Cobbs’ Chrysler then struck a Saturn sedan operated by Drema Garner, 52, who stopped in MLK’s left northbound turning lane," police say.
The 2-year-old’s injuries were serious, but non-life threatening. The 5-year-old along with Griffin’s two other passengers, including an 8-year-old, were transported by ambulance to Memorial University Medical Center for care of non-life threatening injuries. Garner and her passenger reported no injuries.
Prior to MAIT’s arrival, GSP arrested Cobbs for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The wreck happened just after 1:30 a.m., at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Gwinnett Street. Fredrick Cobbs, 44, the driver of a Chrysler 300, failed to stop at a red light.
"Cobbs was traveling south on MLK when he struck 25-year-old, Ericka Griffin’s, Nissan Altima as she traveled east on Gwinnett Street. The Nissan spun on impact causing at least two boys, ages five and two, to be ejected from the vehicle. Cobbs’ Chrysler then struck a Saturn sedan operated by Drema Garner, 52, who stopped in MLK’s left northbound turning lane," police say.
The 2-year-old’s injuries were serious, but non-life threatening. The 5-year-old along with Griffin’s two other passengers, including an 8-year-old, were transported by ambulance to Memorial University Medical Center for care of non-life threatening injuries. Garner and her passenger reported no injuries.
Prior to MAIT’s arrival, GSP arrested Cobbs for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Friday, April 3, 2015
Robbery detectives from the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department are seeking the public’s help in locating a 17-year-old suspect in the shooting of a 16-year-old Wednesday night.
Detectives are seeking Jamari Cartledge of the 1200 block of East 39th Street in the shooting of Anthony Crawford at 7:51 p.m. Wednesday.
"Crawford, of an East 37th Street address, was riding his bicycle on East 39th Street and stopped to talk to others he knew when Cartledge produced a handgun and demanded his bicycle. Crawford was shot after he resisted," police say.
Cartledge is described as a black male, tall (6-1 to 6-3) with a slender build and medium-length afro hair style.
Anyone with information on his location or the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124 and most area clergy have agreed to serve as liaisons for anyone who would like to share information with police anonymously.
Detectives are seeking Jamari Cartledge of the 1200 block of East 39th Street in the shooting of Anthony Crawford at 7:51 p.m. Wednesday.
"Crawford, of an East 37th Street address, was riding his bicycle on East 39th Street and stopped to talk to others he knew when Cartledge produced a handgun and demanded his bicycle. Crawford was shot after he resisted," police say.
Cartledge is described as a black male, tall (6-1 to 6-3) with a slender build and medium-length afro hair style.
Anyone with information on his location or the case is asked to call Crimestoppers at (912) 234-2020 or text CRIMES (274637) using the keyword CSTOP2020. Tipsters remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
A Tip Line also is open directly to investigators at (912) 525-3124 and most area clergy have agreed to serve as liaisons for anyone who would like to share information with police anonymously.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture "has awarded $31.5 million in funding to local, state, and national organizations to support programs that help participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables," a spokesperson says.
Among the awards was a $50,000 Pilot Program Grant to the local Forsyth Farmers' Market.
The Forsyth Farmers’ Market project will support their SNAP/EBT doubling program – a partnership with Wholesome Wave Georgia – and outreach and educational opportunities.
Teri Schell, Executive Director of Forsyth Farmers' Market, notes “This project will significantly increase our reach in the Savannah community and allow us to bring more good food from our local famers to our neighbors with the least access to healthy fruits and vegetables. Accepting and doubling SNAP is one of the ways that we ensure that all community members are able to participate in the good food movement."
According to the USDA, "Recognizing that all Americans fall well short of the servings of fruits and vegetables recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the grants will test incentive strategies to help SNAP participants better afford fruits and vegetables. These grants were made through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill."
Secretary Vilsack, who made the announcement at the Freshfields Farm market in Orlando, said, “Encouraging low income families to put more healthy food in their grocery baskets is part of USDA’s ongoing commitment to improving the diet and health of all Americans.” Vilsack continued, “These creative community partnerships also benefit regional food producers and local economies along with SNAP participants.”
Among the awards was a $50,000 Pilot Program Grant to the local Forsyth Farmers' Market.
The Forsyth Farmers’ Market project will support their SNAP/EBT doubling program – a partnership with Wholesome Wave Georgia – and outreach and educational opportunities.
Teri Schell, Executive Director of Forsyth Farmers' Market, notes “This project will significantly increase our reach in the Savannah community and allow us to bring more good food from our local famers to our neighbors with the least access to healthy fruits and vegetables. Accepting and doubling SNAP is one of the ways that we ensure that all community members are able to participate in the good food movement."
According to the USDA, "Recognizing that all Americans fall well short of the servings of fruits and vegetables recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the grants will test incentive strategies to help SNAP participants better afford fruits and vegetables. These grants were made through the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill."
Secretary Vilsack, who made the announcement at the Freshfields Farm market in Orlando, said, “Encouraging low income families to put more healthy food in their grocery baskets is part of USDA’s ongoing commitment to improving the diet and health of all Americans.” Vilsack continued, “These creative community partnerships also benefit regional food producers and local economies along with SNAP participants.”
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Metro Police "have combined resources to field a unit to focus on street-level and mid-level drugs that led to or aided the arrest of 13 suspects in three days last week," a police spokesman says.
The Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team (UNIT) of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department "staged two operations on its own last week, arresting nine people and seizing guns and narcotics. Its officers also aided arrests by Metro robbery detectives and Tybee Island Police," police say.
Police Chief Joseph H. “Jack” Lumpkin Sr., in December, tasked Maj. Richard Zapal with combining existing tactical units to create the narcotics investigation team.
Zapal pulled the officers from Tactical Investigation Units (TIU) that have been operating for 18 months in the Central and Islands precincts and added officers from the Savannah Area Regional Intelligence Center (SARIC), the Metro intelligence unit.
“It is apparent that street level drug sales need much more attention than uniformed officers were able to provide and that other crimes – robberies, shots fired, shootings and burglaries – are being committed by the same offenders,” Lumpkin said. “Savannah’s Mayor-Council is studying the funding of a full-fledged drug street sales unit, but we need to be taking significant action to address these issues now.”
Lumpkin had told a special meeting of Mayor-Council on November 24 that street level drug sales needed more attention than they were getting. Those crimes fell between Metro’s Crime Suppression Units, which respond to drug sales complaints, and the Chatham County Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), which focuses on higher level drug operations.
He also pointed out that uniformed officers "were unable to adequately control sales because they were quickly noticed by suspects who simply suspended sales before they arrived."
Including the time spent in individual TIU units and the three months as UNIT, members of the unit have accrued 295 arrests, confiscated 98 weapons, served 52 search warrants and $135,728 in cash and seized 14.3 pounds of marijuana, 63 grams of Molly/MDMA, 49.1 grams of Methamphetamine,154 prescription pills and 33 ounces of cocaine.
UNIT members last Wednesday "converged on a live drug operation to arrest four; and on Friday helped Metro robbery detectives arrest four others in an internet sales scheme to sell items stolen in a home invasion; helped Tybee Island Police in the arrest of two burglary suspects; and Friday night raided a second live drug operation to arrest five others."
The week "culminated with a Friday night operation into a drug sales and gambling location on the 700 block of West 52nd Street by UNIT, Crime Suppression Units of various precincts, and Metro SWAT and K9 officers," police say.
Arrested were Mario Ahkir Grant, 32, possession of a controlled substance (heroin); Xavier Kenny Whitfield, 29, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony and possession with intent to distribute Molly and marijuana; Simmeon Joshua Whitfield, 25, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession with intent to distribute Molly and marijuana; Whitney Denise Cooper, 25, possession with intent to distribute Molly and marijuana; and Alexander Larfeayone Ballard, 22, possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
During the raid officers also seized quantities of all the controlled substances listed in the charges, three handguns and containers of ammunition.
Earlier that evening, UNIT officers combined with Metro Robbery detectives and Southside Precinct detectives to investigate a home invasion reported March 23. Cash, cell phones, electronic games and other items were taken from two residents who were beaten with guns during the crime.
Two suspects were arrested and others are being sought as that investigation continues.
Earlier Friday, UNIT officers and Tybee police culminated the surveillance of two suspects on Wilmington Island for a burglary on 18th Street in Tybee Island. After a few hours of surveillance, UNIT officers assisted with a search on the 100 block of Wilmington Island Road in which two weapons were seized.
Alejandro Rodrigo Rodriguez, 37, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, burglary in the first degree, theft by taking and theft by receiving stolen property. Kathy Mary Dinh, 34, also was arrested at another location under surveillance and charged with theft by taking, theft by receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime. Tybee and Islands Precinct detectives are investigating other possible stolen items found in the residence.
Maj. Zapal lauded the efforts of the 10-officer team for its surveillance, organizational skills and its process of collaborating with other units inside SCMPD and beyond. UNIT officers already have worked with Tybee Island and Pooler police and will extend their efforts into other municipalities and even other counties as the need arises.
“Drugs are not restricted to Savannah, nor are the accompanying crimes,” Zapal said. “Our suspects do not recognize jurisdictional boundaries so neither can our investigations. A unit such as this takes time to develop, so I am proud of these results so early into the organizational process. I predict we will all see a lot more of UNIT in the near future.”
The Undercover Narcotics Investigation Team (UNIT) of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department "staged two operations on its own last week, arresting nine people and seizing guns and narcotics. Its officers also aided arrests by Metro robbery detectives and Tybee Island Police," police say.
Police Chief Joseph H. “Jack” Lumpkin Sr., in December, tasked Maj. Richard Zapal with combining existing tactical units to create the narcotics investigation team.
Zapal pulled the officers from Tactical Investigation Units (TIU) that have been operating for 18 months in the Central and Islands precincts and added officers from the Savannah Area Regional Intelligence Center (SARIC), the Metro intelligence unit.
“It is apparent that street level drug sales need much more attention than uniformed officers were able to provide and that other crimes – robberies, shots fired, shootings and burglaries – are being committed by the same offenders,” Lumpkin said. “Savannah’s Mayor-Council is studying the funding of a full-fledged drug street sales unit, but we need to be taking significant action to address these issues now.”
Lumpkin had told a special meeting of Mayor-Council on November 24 that street level drug sales needed more attention than they were getting. Those crimes fell between Metro’s Crime Suppression Units, which respond to drug sales complaints, and the Chatham County Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), which focuses on higher level drug operations.
He also pointed out that uniformed officers "were unable to adequately control sales because they were quickly noticed by suspects who simply suspended sales before they arrived."
Including the time spent in individual TIU units and the three months as UNIT, members of the unit have accrued 295 arrests, confiscated 98 weapons, served 52 search warrants and $135,728 in cash and seized 14.3 pounds of marijuana, 63 grams of Molly/MDMA, 49.1 grams of Methamphetamine,154 prescription pills and 33 ounces of cocaine.
UNIT members last Wednesday "converged on a live drug operation to arrest four; and on Friday helped Metro robbery detectives arrest four others in an internet sales scheme to sell items stolen in a home invasion; helped Tybee Island Police in the arrest of two burglary suspects; and Friday night raided a second live drug operation to arrest five others."
The week "culminated with a Friday night operation into a drug sales and gambling location on the 700 block of West 52nd Street by UNIT, Crime Suppression Units of various precincts, and Metro SWAT and K9 officers," police say.
Arrested were Mario Ahkir Grant, 32, possession of a controlled substance (heroin); Xavier Kenny Whitfield, 29, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in commission of a felony and possession with intent to distribute Molly and marijuana; Simmeon Joshua Whitfield, 25, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession with intent to distribute Molly and marijuana; Whitney Denise Cooper, 25, possession with intent to distribute Molly and marijuana; and Alexander Larfeayone Ballard, 22, possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
During the raid officers also seized quantities of all the controlled substances listed in the charges, three handguns and containers of ammunition.
Earlier that evening, UNIT officers combined with Metro Robbery detectives and Southside Precinct detectives to investigate a home invasion reported March 23. Cash, cell phones, electronic games and other items were taken from two residents who were beaten with guns during the crime.
Two suspects were arrested and others are being sought as that investigation continues.
Earlier Friday, UNIT officers and Tybee police culminated the surveillance of two suspects on Wilmington Island for a burglary on 18th Street in Tybee Island. After a few hours of surveillance, UNIT officers assisted with a search on the 100 block of Wilmington Island Road in which two weapons were seized.
Alejandro Rodrigo Rodriguez, 37, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, burglary in the first degree, theft by taking and theft by receiving stolen property. Kathy Mary Dinh, 34, also was arrested at another location under surveillance and charged with theft by taking, theft by receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime. Tybee and Islands Precinct detectives are investigating other possible stolen items found in the residence.
Maj. Zapal lauded the efforts of the 10-officer team for its surveillance, organizational skills and its process of collaborating with other units inside SCMPD and beyond. UNIT officers already have worked with Tybee Island and Pooler police and will extend their efforts into other municipalities and even other counties as the need arises.
“Drugs are not restricted to Savannah, nor are the accompanying crimes,” Zapal said. “Our suspects do not recognize jurisdictional boundaries so neither can our investigations. A unit such as this takes time to develop, so I am proud of these results so early into the organizational process. I predict we will all see a lot more of UNIT in the near future.”
Sunday afternoon, officers of Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department arrested a trio of teens for snatching a purse outside of Savannah Mall on the 14000 block of Abercorn Street.
"Just after 12:30 p.m., SCMPD met the victim behind Dillard’s. The purse snatching happened when one of the three suspects dropped to the ground in front of the victim as though he were in distress," police say.
"As the victim knelt down to offer assistance, the suspect snatched the her purse and ran towards Shawnee Street with two other teenage males."
With detailed descriptions of the three suspects, "Southside precinct patrol officers saturated the area and located the them walking in a nearby neighborhood. The suspects failed to comply when instructed to stop by a Metro officer. They proceeded to run," police say.
"Two suspects stopped and were arrested near a canal on west Quail Hollow Court. The third suspect, later identified as the purse snatcher, was taken into custody in the woods near Mohawk Lake. The victim’s cellular phone was in his pocket."
Two of the suspects are 15-years-old and one suspect is 16. All three are charged with obstruction by fleeing and robbery by sudden snatching.
“I commend the Southside Precinct officers and their commander for acting both swiftly and appropriately in this situation,” said SCMPD Chief Joseph “Jack” Lumpkin. “These arrests should serve as warnings to any criminal seeking to victimize innocent citizens in this way.”
"Just after 12:30 p.m., SCMPD met the victim behind Dillard’s. The purse snatching happened when one of the three suspects dropped to the ground in front of the victim as though he were in distress," police say.
"As the victim knelt down to offer assistance, the suspect snatched the her purse and ran towards Shawnee Street with two other teenage males."
With detailed descriptions of the three suspects, "Southside precinct patrol officers saturated the area and located the them walking in a nearby neighborhood. The suspects failed to comply when instructed to stop by a Metro officer. They proceeded to run," police say.
"Two suspects stopped and were arrested near a canal on west Quail Hollow Court. The third suspect, later identified as the purse snatcher, was taken into custody in the woods near Mohawk Lake. The victim’s cellular phone was in his pocket."
Two of the suspects are 15-years-old and one suspect is 16. All three are charged with obstruction by fleeing and robbery by sudden snatching.
“I commend the Southside Precinct officers and their commander for acting both swiftly and appropriately in this situation,” said SCMPD Chief Joseph “Jack” Lumpkin. “These arrests should serve as warnings to any criminal seeking to victimize innocent citizens in this way.”
