Category: Law and Order

Decatur PD: Pedestrian Killed in Hit & Run on College Ave Early This Morning

From Decatur Police Lt. Jennifer Ross…

On Friday, February 2, 2018 at approximately 3:24 am,  Decatur Police responded to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle in the 300 block of East College Avenue. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital where he was subsequently pronounced deceased.  The pedestrian’s identity is not being released at this time.  The incident is being investigated as a hit and run.  The Decatur Police Accident Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigations Division and the Georgia State Patrol are investigating the incident. Anyone with information in reference to this incident is asked to call the Decatur Police Department at or contact Crime Stoppers at 404/577-TIPS (8477).

UPDATE: Clairemont Avenue Closed Due to Tree Down Across Road This Morning

UPDATE:  DPD sent out this update at lunchtime today…

Removing the fallen tree from the roadway on Clairemont Avenue was only part of the task. A tree crew will now be working to take down the rest of the tree. The work is estimated to be complete by approximately 2pm but could take longer and the roadway will remain closed until the work is complete. Plan accordingly for after school pick-up. Please be patient and slow down while detouring through surrounding neighborhoods.

Notice all the sirens, helicopters overhead and diverted traffic on the northside of Decatur this morning?  Here’s what’s up.

Decatur Police sent out the following message this morning…

We have a tree down across Clairemont Avenue at Wilton Drive blocking all lanes and resting on a power line. No traffic can pass in the area. Take an alternate route.

And the city followed up with this…

Due to downed trees and powerlines, Clairemont Avenue is closed between Ponce De Leon Place and Lamont Drive. Please avoid this area until further notice.

We’ll keep you posted!

Sign Up for 2017 Citizen’s Police Academy

From the Decatur Police Department…

The Citizen’s Police Academy (CPA) is sponsored by the police department for the benefit of the residents and business owners of Decatur in an effort to increase understanding and awareness through interaction, education and training.

We are now accepting applications for the 2017 Citizen’s Police Academy. Classes will be Thursday evenings from September 7, 2017 through November 9, 2017. Class times are 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

The 10-week course focuses on the inner workings of the police department and how our officers enforce laws and help keep us safe.

Class topics include:

  • Department Functions & Staffing
  • Recruitment & Training
  • Criminal Law & Crime Trends in Decatur
  • Traffic Enforcement
  • Drug Trends
  • Firearms
  • Familiarization & Safety
  • Special Units & Criminal Investigations
  • Use of Force
  • Juvenile Procedures
  • Community Policing & Crime Prevention

CPA participants will also have the opportunity to leave the classroom and view police work first hand by completing a ride-a-long with an officer during their shift. There are also opportunities for tours of the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office and DeKalb County Jail.

CPA applicants must be a minimum of 21 years of age by the first day of class and must submit to a limited background investigation by the Decatur Police Department. The background check will include a check of criminal history. Individuals must meet the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Council standards to be accepted into the CPA program.

*PREFERENCE IS GIVEN TO CITY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

The Citizen’s Police Academy is an excellent class to take if you want to become more informed and develop working relationships with your police department staff.

If you are interested in signing up for the CPA, please submit completed applications to Lt. Jennifer Ross at [email protected] or drop them off to Lt. Ross’s attention at the Decatur Police Department, 420 West Trinity Place, Decatur, GA 30030.

If you have a problem opening the PDF application attached to this post, please email Lt. Ross at [email protected] and request an application.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS IS AUGUST 21, 2017.

The class is limited to 24 participants. Apply today!

DPD Alert: The Pinewood Robbed Around Midnight Last Night

From Decatur Police…

On Friday, May 26, 2017 at approximately 12:00 am, Decatur Police responded to The Pinewood Restaurant in the 200 block of West Ponce De Leon Avenue in reference to an armed robbery. An employee stated she was exiting the rear of the business when one suspect pointed a handgun at her, forced her to her knees and began asking questions about how many people were still inside and where money was kept. She was forced back into the restaurant and placed on the floor. Two suspects entered the business and rounded up the additional four victims inside of the restaurant.  The victims were placed on the floor with their hands bound and questioned about the whereabouts of cash. The suspects also demanded car keys, cell phones, wallets and weapons.  The suspects took cash from the business and the personal belongings (purses, wallets, phones, keys) from the five victims and fled. The business was closed at the time of the robbery. No injuries were reported. The suspects were described as follows:

Suspect #1: Black male, early to mid-20’s, approximately 5’5” with a slender build, wearing a dark (possibly gray) hooded sweatshirt, black mask, gloves, blue jeans and armed with a handgun.

Suspect #2: Black male, early to mid-20’s, approximately 5’8” with a slender build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black mask, gloves, blue jeans and armed with a handgun.

Scary.  Glad no one was injured.

UPDATED: Power Restored to West Ponce in Decatur After Morning Without Power

UPDATE II: Power seems to have been restored to most businesses and all the traffic lights along West Ponce.

UPDATE I: DPD doesn’t know the cause of the outage, but said GA Power plans to be working on it until around 3p.

Use caution driving or walking downtown today. Power seems to be out along most of West Ponce. Traffic lights are totally out and many businesses are closed.

I’ve asked the Decatur PD what’s up and will report back once I know more.

Traffic Accidents Make For Messy Commute Around Decatur This Morning

Hit terrible traffic around the COD this morning?

There were at least two traffic accidents that we could confirm on major roads in Decatur this morning.  One on East College at Commerce – captured above by the WSB traffic copter and confirmed by DPD on Twitter – and another on Scott Boulevard that caused some Westchester elementary students to be late to class this morning (no major injuries were reported in the Scott Boulevard incident).

An eyewitness reported that traffic thru Winnona Park this morning was very heavy, as cars were being diverted through the neighborhood to avoid the East College accident.

How was your morning commute?  Drive safe out there everyone!

Street Sweeper Catches Fire in Decatur

A street sweeper caught fire in Decatur yesterday afternoon at the corner of Hilldale and Shadowmoor.

Joseph took this photo (above) and video (below) yesterday as Decatur Fire Department fought the blaze.  You can see an explosion from the vehicle at the very end of the video.  A report on Facebook said there were two explosions as the truck burned. He reported that the Fire Department spent “all afternoon and night cleaning it up and they did a very good job.”

Very dramatic footage.  We’ve heard initial reports that there were no injuries, but I’m double-checking with the Fire Department. UPDATE: DFD has confirmed there were no injuries.