The City just sent out this statement…

The City of Decatur Police Department is in the process of investigating a series of 13 day time burglaries that occurred from May 30 – June 26 that appear to be related.  The majority of the burglaries occurred in and around S. Candler Street including parts of the Oakhurst and Winnona Park neighborhoods.  The burglaries seem to be related to a significantly higher number of similar incidents in DeKalb County and the City of Atlanta.  All three jurisdictions are working on a coordinated approach and together have made one arrest, detained five juvenile perpetrators, recovered a stolen vehicle, and recovered stolen property.

The Decatur Police Department is also in the process of investigating an attempted robbery and two robberies that occurred in Oakhurst on July 1 & 2 and a car theft that occurred on Swanton Way in downtown Decatur on July 3 that resulted in the vehicle crashing at Kirk Rd. and South Candler Street.  A 15-year-old suspect is currently in custody.

According to information obtained from the witnesses and the victims, both the burglaries and the robberies are being committed by juveniles.  Decatur Police Chief Mike Booker said that there is no indication that the juveniles are Decatur residents.  He added that these appear to be crimes of opportunity with no regular pattern but that they do share common characteristics in terms of items stolen and the number and age of the suspects involved.

Chief Booker stated that “We are meeting and comparing information on a daily basis with both DeKalb County and City of Atlanta officers working the cases.”  He added “that in addition to the regular patrol shifts of five officers, the City has called in additional off-duty police officers and re-directed the four special unit officers to assignments related to addressing the current situation.” Officers are using marked and unmarked cars and implementing periodic roadblocks throughout the city.  Additional uniformed city staff, including firefighters, are assisting in the patrol of city parks, neighborhoods, and the business districts.  In addition to responding to all burglaries and processing all latent prints, the police are using the GBI sketch artist and anticipate the release of at least one sketch very soon.

Decatur Mayor Jim Baskett said, “We want to assure the community that resolving these incidents are a top priority for the City Commission, the Police Department and all City staff. We are confident that they are utilizing every available resource to catch the perpetrators.”

Mayor Baskett continued, “The police regularly issue community advisories and update them as more information is available for release.  We encourage the community to read those advisories and follow the suggested safety precautions.”  Advisories are also posted on the City of Decatur website at www.decaturga.com.

Chief Booker and other police staff members will attend the Oakhurst Neighborhood Association Meeting on Monday, July 8 at 7 p.m. at The Solarium, 321W. Hill Street and the Winnona Park Neighbors Meeting on Tuesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. at the Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore Street.  They are also available to attend other neighborhood association meetings.  Call 404-373-6551 if you would like to request they attend your meeting.

The Decatur Police encourage the community to call if they see any suspicious activity.  The non-emergency number is 404-373-6551.  If you believe you are witnessing a crime, or have an emergency, dial 911.

From the City’s Katie Abel…

The City of Decatur has decided to postpone our Independence Day events and celebrations in light of the unfavorable weather forecast for July 4th. But never fear! We will host our Faux Fourth Celebration on Saturday September 28th with a Pied Piper Parade, Concert on the Square, and Fireworks! So just put those red, white, and blue decorations back in the attic for a few months and we’ll see you on the Square in September.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

UPDATE II: Here’s the official Decatur PD summary of the incident…

On Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at approximately 8:57am, the Decatur Police Department was notified of a carjacking in the 200 block of Swanton Way.  The suspect approached a female, showed a firearm, stole the victim’s vehicle, and fled the location in the stolen vehicle.  Responding officers observed the vehicle on East Trinity Place, at which time they attempted to stop the vehicle.  The suspect fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed onto South Candler Street.  The suspect lost control of the vehicle causing it to overturn at the intersection of South Candler Street at Kirk Road.  A 15 year old male has been apprehended and is in custody for the charges of armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and numerous traffic offenses.

The suspect sustained a minor laceration to his left hand as a result of the accident.  The victim of the carjacking was not injured.

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UPDATE: More couple more pics of the crash after the jump.

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According to eyewitness reports on Facebook and a new report on Patch, a carjacking in downtown Decatur this morning resulted in the crash of a stolen red SUV on South Candler Street around 9am this morning.  Decatur Police said they would have an announcement out soon.

Eyewitnesses stated that the driver of the SUV crawled out of it after it flipped over along the street.  A white pickup truck was also involved at the crash site.  Patch says that neighbors saw police remove a gun from the rear of the flipped vehicle.

Working on adding a photo, if I can get the site to cooperate.  Apologies for all the issues.  Site’s getting hit really hard this morning and apparently it can’t handle it.

More as we have it.

Photo courtesy of a concerned citizen

OK, site situation is improving.  A couple more pics after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

Receiving multiple reports of police and fire departments out in force at S. Candler and Kirk Rd.

Chris sent in this pic.

From Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee…

On July 2, 2013 at approximately 5:27 pm, there was an armed robbery of three women in Oakhurst Park.  The victims were in the playground area and initially observed the suspects, described as three black males in their mid to late teens, sitting on a nearby wall.

One suspect then approached the victims and went through a blanket on the ground and took a cell phone belonging to one of the victims and fled on foot toward Third Avenue.  A male witness pursued the suspect but returned back to the playground area.

A second suspect tried to talk to one of the victims and was ignored.  He then began going through a stroller bag belonging to another victim. It was reported that keys for one of the victims’ vehicle were taken from the stroller bag and subsequently a maroon Honda CRV was stolen from the parking area on Third Avenue.

The third suspect approached one of the victims, pulled out a small handgun and fired one shot, described as a pop, into the air and demanded her iPhone.  She refused and he pointed the gun at her and tried to grab the phone.  She retained her phone and verbally refused to relinquish the phone.  The remaining two suspects then fled on foot toward Third Avenue where another witness reported seeing the suspects enter a newer model red Ford Explorer and a maroon SUV and flee toward East Lake Drive.

As part of the investigation, it was determined that a Ford Explorer matching the description of the one driven by the suspects had been stolen from an Edgewood neighborhood earlier in the day.  Decatur Police have recovered evidence from the scene and are working with Atlanta Police and DeKalb Police on what appear to be related cases.   For the past several weeks, Decatur Police have used overtime assignments and reassigned staff to address increased criminal activity in the area.  Those efforts will continue and be on-going. Please report any non-emergency suspicious activity to the Decatur Police at 404-373-6551 or in the case of an immediate emergency dial 9-1-1.