Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Detectives of Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department are investigating the drowning deaths of two children at a residence on the 600 block of West 59th Street.
At about 12:38 p.m. Metro responded to the residence after Jokeera Morgan, 26, called 911 "stating that she had drowned her two daughters, ages 18 months and 8 months," police say.
"Responding officers immediately entered the residence where they located the children and began performing CPR. The two children were transported by ambulance to Memorial University Medical Center where they were pronounced deceased," police say.
Morgan was arrested by SCMPD. She is charged with two counts of murder.
"This is an ongoing SCMPD investigation supported by the Division of Family and Children Services and the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office. Morgan is the mother of two other children who were not present during this incident," police say.
At about 12:38 p.m. Metro responded to the residence after Jokeera Morgan, 26, called 911 "stating that she had drowned her two daughters, ages 18 months and 8 months," police say.
"Responding officers immediately entered the residence where they located the children and began performing CPR. The two children were transported by ambulance to Memorial University Medical Center where they were pronounced deceased," police say.
Morgan was arrested by SCMPD. She is charged with two counts of murder.
"This is an ongoing SCMPD investigation supported by the Division of Family and Children Services and the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office. Morgan is the mother of two other children who were not present during this incident," police say.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are investigating an apparent domestic shooting.
Officers responded to the 9400 block of Whitfield Avenue just before 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. "The two individuals who succumbed to gunshot wounds are Jenny Rose Keebler, 38, and Jose Antonio Perez-Estrada, 41. The shooting remains under investigation," police say.
Officers responded to the 9400 block of Whitfield Avenue just before 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. "The two individuals who succumbed to gunshot wounds are Jenny Rose Keebler, 38, and Jose Antonio Perez-Estrada, 41. The shooting remains under investigation," police say.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Chatham Emergency Management Agency warns of significant rainfall over the weekend which may result in flash floods.
"Good News: Hurricane Joaquin will remain far out in the Atlantic," says a CEMA spokesperson.
"Bad News: The system keeping Joaquin in the Atlantic is sitting just off shore and is expected to bring heavy rains over the weekend."
CEMA says, "This low pressure system is expected to impact our area Friday afternoon, dropping three to seven inches of rain over a 24-hour period. Significant flooding is expected and will make some roads impassable. Chatham County has been placed in a Flash Flood Watch that will remain in effect until Sunday Afternoon. Chatham County residents, especially those living in areas vulnerable to flooding are urged to remain vigilant and take steps now to protect their families and property."
"Good News: Hurricane Joaquin will remain far out in the Atlantic," says a CEMA spokesperson.
"Bad News: The system keeping Joaquin in the Atlantic is sitting just off shore and is expected to bring heavy rains over the weekend."
CEMA says, "This low pressure system is expected to impact our area Friday afternoon, dropping three to seven inches of rain over a 24-hour period. Significant flooding is expected and will make some roads impassable. Chatham County has been placed in a Flash Flood Watch that will remain in effect until Sunday Afternoon. Chatham County residents, especially those living in areas vulnerable to flooding are urged to remain vigilant and take steps now to protect their families and property."
"Due to the strong winds and rain expected later this evening the First Friday Art March has updated the location for some of the events," a spokesman says.
The events include DISPOSABLE, STAINability, and the House of Strut Pop-Up Shop. The Starland Arts Park will not be active tonight as originally intended. All other locations and the trolley will continue as planned.
Updates:
DISPOSABLE - An exhibition of fashion designs using reclaimed Connect Newspapers has moved to Starlandia Creative Supply located at 2438 Bull Street.
STAINability - A workshop on using sustainable practices to naturally dye your clothes has moved to Starland Cafe located at 11 E. 41st Street.
House of Strut Pop-Up Shop - Featuring clothing from House of Strut as well as music from Twisty Cats has moved to 2434 Bull Street between the Vicar’s Wife and Nola Jane.
LOCI UTOPIA: the De-comodification of Image - A mobile dwelling by Tim Woods will be located on the grassy parking lot immediately south of Starlandia.
When: Friday, October 2, 6-9pm - Rain or Shine
Where: Starland Arts District, Savannah, Georgia
Website: artmarchsavannah.com
Admission: Free and Open to the Public
The events include DISPOSABLE, STAINability, and the House of Strut Pop-Up Shop. The Starland Arts Park will not be active tonight as originally intended. All other locations and the trolley will continue as planned.
Updates:
DISPOSABLE - An exhibition of fashion designs using reclaimed Connect Newspapers has moved to Starlandia Creative Supply located at 2438 Bull Street.
STAINability - A workshop on using sustainable practices to naturally dye your clothes has moved to Starland Cafe located at 11 E. 41st Street.
House of Strut Pop-Up Shop - Featuring clothing from House of Strut as well as music from Twisty Cats has moved to 2434 Bull Street between the Vicar’s Wife and Nola Jane.
LOCI UTOPIA: the De-comodification of Image - A mobile dwelling by Tim Woods will be located on the grassy parking lot immediately south of Starlandia.
When: Friday, October 2, 6-9pm - Rain or Shine
Where: Starland Arts District, Savannah, Georgia
Website: artmarchsavannah.com
Admission: Free and Open to the Public
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Robbery Unit detectives are searching for two suspects in a purse snatching at a residence on the 600 block of east 41st Street just before 6 p.m. today.
"Responding Metro officers learned that while standing on the front porch attempting to enter her residence, Alderwoman Mary Osborne was approached by a male suspect requesting to use her phone," police say.
"Osborne declined, then was shoved to the ground by the suspect causing minor injuries. That suspect snatched the victim’s purse before running north. The second suspect ran south. Osborne’s injuries were treated at the scene. There were no known weapons," police say.
Both suspects appear to be in their late teens. The first suspect is described as a slender black male standing about 6-0. During the incident he wore a white T-shirt and khaki shorts. The second suspect is a heavy set black male, standing roughly 5-10. He wore a blue shirt during the incident.
"Responding Metro officers learned that while standing on the front porch attempting to enter her residence, Alderwoman Mary Osborne was approached by a male suspect requesting to use her phone," police say.
"Osborne declined, then was shoved to the ground by the suspect causing minor injuries. That suspect snatched the victim’s purse before running north. The second suspect ran south. Osborne’s injuries were treated at the scene. There were no known weapons," police say.
Both suspects appear to be in their late teens. The first suspect is described as a slender black male standing about 6-0. During the incident he wore a white T-shirt and khaki shorts. The second suspect is a heavy set black male, standing roughly 5-10. He wore a blue shirt during the incident.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
In a long-rumored move, several plaintiffs — including the Delatorre brothers, allegedly ousted from the Counter Narcotics Team as whistleblowers — have brought civil racketeering and corruption charges against several high-profile local defendants.
The defendants include: Former Savannah City Manager Michael Brown, former Chatham County Manager Russ Abolt, former Chatham County Commission Chairman Pete Liakakis, former Police Chief Willie Lovett (now imprisoned), former Interim Chief Julie Tolbert, and a host of staff in the Savannah Chatham Metro Police.
The suit in Superior Court also targets the estate of former Internal Affairs head Andre Oliver, who committed suicide as the controversy unfolded which eventually led to Lovett's ouster.
See the full complaint here.
The complaint alleges that "the managers of both the County and the City were key participants in the furtherance of the criminal activity of the corrupt enterprise," referring to allegations that Brown, Abolt, Lovett, and other defendants conspired to allow the environment which effectively guaranteed the shipment of illegal narcotics to Savannah streets.
Michael Brown is alleged to have told former Police Chief Michael Berkow, who wanted to fire Lovett, that "elected officials in the City of Savannah protected Lovett, and Brown refused to allow Berkow to fire Lovett."
The suit also alleges that during Lovett's tenure there was a "criminal organization" within SCMPD "that included multiple officers and individuals within local government... 'selling high grade marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy pills in large amounts.'"
The suit says those corrupt officers were remnants of the so-called "Savannah 11" corrupt cop ring which were untouched by that investigation in the mid-90s.
The suit says an informant told CNT that "corrupt officers inside the Savannah Police Department were not charged during the 'Savannah 11' investigation. The informant said these officers had been promoted in the department and now held positions of power."
One of the defendants, former officer Floyd Sawyer, starred in a locally produced rap video "You Don't Want This Life," in which rappers perform in front of his squad car.
Sawyer is currently in federal prison for extorting Oxycontin from a contact.
The suit says the Delatorre brothers, Peter and Michael, met with former interim Chief Julie Tolbert — installed after Lovett's resignation — and told her "they feared for their lives if they had to work alongside armed officers whom they knew to be corrupt and had reported as being corrupt."
Michael Delatorre alleges that during his exit interview, Chief Tolbert said "she knew that Lovett's actions as police chief were wrong. But she said she felt she could do nothing about Lovett's bad acts while they were occurring."
Another officer named in the suit, Eric Henderson, is accused of using unmarked police vehicles to "distribute multiple ounces of powder and crack cocaine on Savannah's Westside and to protect drug dealers on Savannah's Westside from arrest."
At one point the suit references a meeting at Olympia Cafe between Pete Liakakis and former Major Mark Gerbino in which the Chairman was told of corruption but "took no action to remove Lovett from his position" as Major.
Lovett was later named police chief.
The suit also alleges Gerbino had a similar meeting with County Manager Abolt, and that Abolt subsequently told Lovett of his conversation with Gerbino.
The defendants include: Former Savannah City Manager Michael Brown, former Chatham County Manager Russ Abolt, former Chatham County Commission Chairman Pete Liakakis, former Police Chief Willie Lovett (now imprisoned), former Interim Chief Julie Tolbert, and a host of staff in the Savannah Chatham Metro Police.
The suit in Superior Court also targets the estate of former Internal Affairs head Andre Oliver, who committed suicide as the controversy unfolded which eventually led to Lovett's ouster.
See the full complaint here.
The complaint alleges that "the managers of both the County and the City were key participants in the furtherance of the criminal activity of the corrupt enterprise," referring to allegations that Brown, Abolt, Lovett, and other defendants conspired to allow the environment which effectively guaranteed the shipment of illegal narcotics to Savannah streets.
Michael Brown is alleged to have told former Police Chief Michael Berkow, who wanted to fire Lovett, that "elected officials in the City of Savannah protected Lovett, and Brown refused to allow Berkow to fire Lovett."
The suit also alleges that during Lovett's tenure there was a "criminal organization" within SCMPD "that included multiple officers and individuals within local government... 'selling high grade marijuana, cocaine, and ecstasy pills in large amounts.'"
The suit says those corrupt officers were remnants of the so-called "Savannah 11" corrupt cop ring which were untouched by that investigation in the mid-90s.
The suit says an informant told CNT that "corrupt officers inside the Savannah Police Department were not charged during the 'Savannah 11' investigation. The informant said these officers had been promoted in the department and now held positions of power."
One of the defendants, former officer Floyd Sawyer, starred in a locally produced rap video "You Don't Want This Life," in which rappers perform in front of his squad car.
Sawyer is currently in federal prison for extorting Oxycontin from a contact.
The suit says the Delatorre brothers, Peter and Michael, met with former interim Chief Julie Tolbert — installed after Lovett's resignation — and told her "they feared for their lives if they had to work alongside armed officers whom they knew to be corrupt and had reported as being corrupt."
Michael Delatorre alleges that during his exit interview, Chief Tolbert said "she knew that Lovett's actions as police chief were wrong. But she said she felt she could do nothing about Lovett's bad acts while they were occurring."
Another officer named in the suit, Eric Henderson, is accused of using unmarked police vehicles to "distribute multiple ounces of powder and crack cocaine on Savannah's Westside and to protect drug dealers on Savannah's Westside from arrest."
At one point the suit references a meeting at Olympia Cafe between Pete Liakakis and former Major Mark Gerbino in which the Chairman was told of corruption but "took no action to remove Lovett from his position" as Major.
Lovett was later named police chief.
The suit also alleges Gerbino had a similar meeting with County Manager Abolt, and that Abolt subsequently told Lovett of his conversation with Gerbino.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
A homicide investigation has been initiated by Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crimes detectives "after the body of a 26-year-old Savannah man was found on Harry Truman Parkway early this morning," police say.
At about 5 a.m. Metro officers responded to northbound Truman Parkway, just south of Victory Drive, where Romell Stephens was found lying on the ground deceased.
Investigators seek to identify any witnesses or persons with knowledge of this case. Information regarding suspects and events leading up to this incident remain under investigation.
At about 5 a.m. Metro officers responded to northbound Truman Parkway, just south of Victory Drive, where Romell Stephens was found lying on the ground deceased.
Investigators seek to identify any witnesses or persons with knowledge of this case. Information regarding suspects and events leading up to this incident remain under investigation.
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police are investigating the shootings of three men in the Cuyler-Brownsville area early this morning.
At about 4:40 a.m. Metro officers responded to 38th and Harden streets, where Corinthian Colonel, 17, and Travon Lenard, 19, were suffering from gunshot wounds. Eddie Robertson, 22, who also sustained a gunshot wound, was found nearby on the 2300 block of Florence Street. The three men were transported to Memorial University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators are working to determine the events leading up to these shootings and to identify all individuals involved.
"Robertson, who is a convicted felon, admitted to having a gun during this incident. He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon," police say.
At about 4:40 a.m. Metro officers responded to 38th and Harden streets, where Corinthian Colonel, 17, and Travon Lenard, 19, were suffering from gunshot wounds. Eddie Robertson, 22, who also sustained a gunshot wound, was found nearby on the 2300 block of Florence Street. The three men were transported to Memorial University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators are working to determine the events leading up to these shootings and to identify all individuals involved.
"Robertson, who is a convicted felon, admitted to having a gun during this incident. He was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon," police say.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department detectives seek information on two separate and unrelated shootings that injured three people late Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
"At about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Metro responded to the 600 block of East 38th Street where Carlos Roundtree, 20, and Jakeria Maynor, 21, were found suffering from gunshot wounds. Roundtree and Maynor sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported by ambulance to Memorial University Medical Center for treatment," police say.
Roundtree and Maynor were walking on East 38th Street "with a small child when shots were fired from a green 4-door Buick vehicle. The child was not harmed. Investigators believe Roundtree was the intended target," police say.
Also, just before 3 a.m. Sunday, "Metro responded to a shots fired call on the 600 block of Indian Street. Investigators believe Jared Pollard, 18, was shot at that location while leaving a nightclub. Pollard sustained non-life-threatening injuries. He arrived at Memorial University Medical Center in a privately owned vehicle where he was met by Metro detectives," police say.
"At about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Metro responded to the 600 block of East 38th Street where Carlos Roundtree, 20, and Jakeria Maynor, 21, were found suffering from gunshot wounds. Roundtree and Maynor sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported by ambulance to Memorial University Medical Center for treatment," police say.
Roundtree and Maynor were walking on East 38th Street "with a small child when shots were fired from a green 4-door Buick vehicle. The child was not harmed. Investigators believe Roundtree was the intended target," police say.
Also, just before 3 a.m. Sunday, "Metro responded to a shots fired call on the 600 block of Indian Street. Investigators believe Jared Pollard, 18, was shot at that location while leaving a nightclub. Pollard sustained non-life-threatening injuries. He arrived at Memorial University Medical Center in a privately owned vehicle where he was met by Metro detectives," police say.
Violent Crimes detectives of Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department are seeking information on a shooting in Downtown Savannah Friday afternoon.
Just before 5 p.m. Metro responded to West Oglethorpe Avenue and Bull Street, near The Collins Quarter restaurant and the Girl Scouts of America birthplace and the Wright Square area.
"Shotspotter indicated activity in that area minutes prior. Responding officers located Kwame Williams, 23, on Bull and York Lane, suffering from a gunshot wound. Williams was transported to Memorial University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries," police say.
"Investigators believe shots were fired from a gray four-door sedan before the vehicle fled the scene. Investigators are now searching for that vehicle and anyone who may have been inside of it."
Metro’s Criminal Investigations Division, Downtown Precinct Patrol officers, command staff and Forensics Units responded to the scene. Savannah Fire and EMS also were present.
Just before 5 p.m. Metro responded to West Oglethorpe Avenue and Bull Street, near The Collins Quarter restaurant and the Girl Scouts of America birthplace and the Wright Square area.
"Shotspotter indicated activity in that area minutes prior. Responding officers located Kwame Williams, 23, on Bull and York Lane, suffering from a gunshot wound. Williams was transported to Memorial University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries," police say.
"Investigators believe shots were fired from a gray four-door sedan before the vehicle fled the scene. Investigators are now searching for that vehicle and anyone who may have been inside of it."
Metro’s Criminal Investigations Division, Downtown Precinct Patrol officers, command staff and Forensics Units responded to the scene. Savannah Fire and EMS also were present.
