Decatur Police Ask Community For More Info on Robert McKenzie
Decatur Metro | July 21, 2011I’m reposting Deputy Police Chief Lee’s recent comment in hopes that even more people see it.
Sergeant Jennifer Ross has requested I post this statement for Decatur Metro readers:
“I have been researching Robert McKenzie for the past several months as we were made aware of discussions and warnings circulating via email, mostly due to McKenzie’s interactions with local cyclists. However, most of the information I have was third party from someone who heard about an incident or concerns regarding McKenzie. I am reaching out to ask anyone who has had direct contact with McKenzie of a harassing, threatening or intimidating nature to please send me an email explaining the incident. Please provide the approximate date, location and circumstances. I am aware that incidents with McKenzie are not contained to Decatur but span through Atlanta, Dekalb, Decatur, Avondale and Stone Mountain. I am asking for information on any incident with McKenzie, not just those in Decatur. I am also still trying to locate the father and child from the recent incident at Glenlake Pool and ask that if you know how to contact this family, please ask them to contact me. Thank you.”
Sgt. Jennifer S. Ross
City of Decatur Police Department
Criminal Investigations Division
jennifer.ross@decaturga.com
In related news, I just got a tip that Channel 2 Action News is currently filming at Glenlake Park.
The Decatur Patch has a longer piece on McKenzie along with a picture http://decatur.patch.com/articles/fulton-county-probation-officers-arrest-sexual-predator-in-decatur
This is disturbing. Having worked in Law Enforcement, I am always aware (I’ve been told by more than person that I’m “too aware”) of people who don’t seem like they belong in areas where there are lots of children. I have also observed that many parents either don’t notice the strange old man who arrived at the playground by himself and is smoking a cigarette and staring at the kids, or they either don’t know what to do about it or they too scared to do anything about it.
While it is entirely possible that anyone at a pool or playground could be a child’s relative or guardian, it is important to at least keep an eye on anyone suspicious. I often take photos of people, in case I feel it necessary at some point to contact police.
This is not paranoia, nor is it going too far. If you have any idea what some people are capable of doing, you would just do these things naturally, as a part of your routine of taking your kids out to public places.
I have had several incidents with McKenzie in front of Jax Pkg store and the Shell market next door. He is yelling at me as soon as I get out of my car or off of my motorcycle. His ramblings are mostly incoherent but he swears loudly and is intimidating. I never make eye contact or acknowledge his ramblings. He approached me once as I was getting out of my car. I was able to go around him and into the store quickly enough so as not to be touched but it was close and scary.
I bike to Stone Mountain about three times a week, and have frequent encounters with him. He has yelled and waved his arms, tried to ram my bike with his, and one time followed my girlfriend who was riding a little behind me. On that occasion, I pretended like I was going to call the police, and he took off.