UPDATE: Again, from the OMB…

DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS ALERT
On Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 4:35 PM, the Decatur Police Department received a report of an armed robbery, which had just occurred. The victims were seated at the Oakhurst Park pavilion on Third Avenue when they were approached by a lone male. The male was dressed in a silver or bluish-gray “hoodie” jacket with his face partially concealed by the jacket. The male produced a handgun and demanded the victims’ money. The victims complied and neither was injured. The suspect fled the area on foot. At this time the suspect has not been apprehended. The suspect’s description is as follows:

African-American male
Medium to dark complexioned
5’8″ to 5’9″ in height
Slender build
“dreadlocks” hairstyle
Silver or bluish gray “hoodie” jacket

Anyone having information about this crime is encouraged to contact the Decatur Police Department at 404-373-6551 or the Decatur Police Department-Criminal Investigations Division tip line @ 678-553-6677.
Investigator J.S. Ross is the lead investigator for this incident.

Sherina Clough
President
Oakhurst Neighborhood Association

Sigh…

Left Wing points out this new message on the Oakhurst Message Board…

There was an armed robbery at Oakhurst Park today 2.11.09 @ 4:30 pm. My wife was going up to Snap fitness when a young girl around 20 years old came running up to her car to tell her that someone came up to her with a gun. My wife called Decatur Police and 3 units arrived in less than 5 min. I will post more about this as I get more details from her.

Stay tuned.

Over on the Oakhurst Message Board, Simon writes this eyewitness account of a car chase that ended in Oakhurst Park yesterday…

Yesterday (Wednesday at 1:00pm) I was walking my dog near Oakhurst Park, and heard police sirens. Two police cars were chasing a Ford Taurus driving up 3rd Ave towards the intersection of 3rd Ave and East Lake Drive. They boxed the car in. However, the driver somehow maneuvered his car out and tried to escape at top speed up 3rd Ave. He hit the curb at that twist in the road and blew out his tire next to the tennis court at Oakhurst Park. The driver (young African American male) jumped out his car and ran towards the playground in Oakhurst Park. What cracked me up is the fact that the guy tried pulling his jacket over his head so nobody would recognize him. All of this in broad daylight.

Of course, by this time there must have been five or six police cars on the scene. One cop car chased the guy into Oakhurst Park, while a few others cop cars flew around to Leyden Street to intercept the guy. Other cops drew their guns and arrested the passenger. It was like an episode of Cops (except it was on my doorstep). Full credit to the police, they did an incredible job catching and arresting both guys.

Yikes. Glad no one was hurt. I wonder who the suspects are and if we’re talking Decatur or DeKalb PD. I’ll follow up with our police department and see if they can fill us in.