From Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee…

The Decatur Police Department and Decatur Municipal Court will begin moving into temporary facilities on Friday, February 22, 2013. The move will be completed on Sunday, March 3, 2012. We apologize for any inconvenience this move will cause our customers. The following guide will assist you in obtaining services from the police department and court:

DECATUR MUNICIPAL COURT
120 West Trinity Place, Room 391-B
678 553-6655

SERVICES

Pay fines
Request background checks
Attend court hearings
Request court continuances, etc.

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Here’s the official statement from Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee…

On August 30, 2012 at approximately 4:37pm, Decatur Police responded to the Decatur Library and Decatur Marta station due to a fight in progress/child molestation call where a parent and bystanders had tried to detain a child molestation suspect who fled the library to the Decatur Marta station. Library security and several bystanders pursued the suspect to the Decatur Marta Station and guided police officers arriving in the area. Marta Police and Decatur Police pursued the suspect who jumped down into the tracks and continued to flee into the tunnel. Decatur, Marta and Dekalb K9 officers actively searched the tunnel and covered possible exit points until the suspect was located and taken into custody.

Investigation revealed the suspect exposed his genitalia to a male child and then touched the child with his exposed genitalia. The suspect, 19-year-old Johnta Mackenzie Baker, was charged with child molestation and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Additional charges are pending on behalf of Marta Police. This incident was resolved quickly not only due to the tireless determination and cooperation of officers from three police departments but because of the commendable efforts of a parent, a security officer and concerned citizens.

Now that it has been verified that a child was a victim in this crime, posts related to this incident have been closed to comment.

Read the update in this case HERE.

Many folks are asking about police activity around Decatur Square and the Decatur Library yesterday afternoon.

Around 4:30pm yesterday, there was an indecent exposure incident at the Decatur Library, which led to a “lengthy foot chase”, according to Decatur Police.  Eyewitnesses at the library report that some people in library chased the suspect down Sycamore Street, and when they came back empty-handed, reported that the suspect had run into the MARTA station.   According to Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee the suspect is now in custody.

Some have reported that the suspect ran into the MARTA tunnels to escape.  Still trying to confirm/deny that piece of info.  Stay tuned.

Photo of Decatur Police outside MARTA tunnel courtesy of dw

Decatur Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee sends in this press release…

Child sex abuse is in every community. You see the statistics and it is difficult to accept that your children and the children in your community are more likely to be victimized by someone they know, someone that you know and trust. It can be difficult as parents to decide how to approach your children to educate them without scaring them. It is up to each parent to determine how they want to approach this sensitive topic with their children. The impact of child sex abuse on children, families and the community as a whole is bigger than most of us realize.

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From Deputy Chief Keith Lee…

The Decatur Police Department will host its “JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY” during the week of July 16 – 20, 2012. The program is designed to educate and enlighten young people about the functions and duties of their police department. Participants will participate in fun and educational exercises designed to simulate real law enforcement activities. Lunch and refreshments will be provided to participants each day and participants who successfully complete the academy will receive certificates of completion and a class t-shirt.

The class will be limited to 12 participants and further is limited to City of Decatur residents who have completed the 7th or 8th grade during the 2011-2012 school year. Applications can be obtained at the Decatur Police Department. Applications must be submitted to the Decatur Police Department no later than June 29, 2012 at 5:00 pm. For further information or if you have any questions, please contact Deputy Chief Keith Lee at 678 553-6620.

Justin wrote in around 3am this morning to report that Java Monkey had just been robbed and that he had spoken with an employee at Decatur Diner who “said she saw the guy running away and the diner is without power.”  He continued, “a Java Monkey employee and a friend came by and the friend said they just happened to be in the area, heard the alarm and chased the guy to the mini Kroger where they lost him. I overlook Kroger from my condo and there are several cop cars around.”

I followed up with Decatur PD this morning and Deputy Chief Keith Lee just provided this detailed report of this incident, which confirms nearly everything in Justin’s report, though luckily it sounds like the burglar was unsuccessful in gaining entry to the coffee shop …

On 12-27-11 at 0232 hours, Sergeant Canipe was dispatched to a suspicious male leaving Java Monkey coffee shop located at 425 Church Street. This establishment has been burglarized a few times during the last month so officers responded quickly. Canipe arrived at 0234 hours and checked the exterior of Java Monkey. The power to the building, which includes Decatur Diner, had been turned off. Within the patio area, Canipe observed a large rock approximately 8″ x 12″ on the floor next to a glass panel. The glass had been cracked; however, it did not fully break, therefore, the perpetrator did not gain entry. Also next to the rock was a brown aluminum pole approximately 5 feet long.

Canipe met with the complainant, Brannon Greene, who is an employee of Java Monkey, who told the officer he had closed up earlier in the evening but returned to the coffee shop because he thought he forgot his cellular phone. Greene said he was walking toward the front door when he saw flood lights illuminated within the business and heard a strange beeping sound. Greene became suspicious and approached with caution. Prior to reaching the front door, Greene said he observed a black male with a light complexion exit the patio area (which is enclosed with plastic tarp) and run north on Church Street then east on East Ponce de Leon Avenue. Greene said the black male was approximately 6’0″ and weighed approximately 180 pounds, wearing dark pants and a dark, possibly green down (puffy) jacket that came down to about mid thigh. Greene said he gave chase, along with his roommate, Michael Koechlin, as Greene dialed 911. Greene said the suspect ran across East Ponce de Leon Avenue then north around the Wells Fargo building. Greene lost sight of the suspect as he continued east, possibly across Commerce Drive toward the Decatur Cemetery. Greene returned to Java Monkey to meet with officers.

Canipe collected the pole left behind by the suspect and placed it into evidence at Decatur Police Department. The glass panel was photographed. Greene was given a business card and case number.

UPDATE:  Here’s the AJC’s blurb on the incident.  No real new info.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the sensitive nature of this ongoing case and the fact that it involves a juvenile, the comments section is closed.

Decatur Deputy Chief Keith Lee sends along this press release…

The Decatur Police Department is investigating the sexual assault of a juvenile reported on October 31, 2011. The victim was transported to an area hospital by her parents, where she was treated and released. Investigators of the Decatur Police Department are pursuing several leads in the incident. Due to the age of the victim and the nature of the assault, the name of the victim is not being released.

As detailed in an earlier post, the alleged assault occurred around Winnona Park Elementary’s playground last night around 9pm and Decatur Police have had the area closed off since around 10:30pm, looking for evidence.

I spoke with Deputy Chief Lee just moments ago and he reiterated that this “terrible situation” was “an isolated incident”, and that the Police Department has some very strong leads in the case and hope to have it resolved quickly.

Additionally, I just received a report that WAGA just arrived on the scene, so expect this story to jump outside the city’s borders in the next few hours.