The Polk County Narcotics Enforcement Team busted a meth lad yesterday afternoon in Rockmart. Law enforcement officers executed the raid at 112 Floyd Mountain Circle in Rockmart, which lead to two arrests. Lisa Dawn Pope, 42, of 112 Floyd Mountain Circle and James Van Dover, 51, of 2050 Old Cedartown Road in Cedartown were both arrested and charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.
The Polk County Police Department shut down Park Street yesterday after the discovery of a possible drug house. According to the Polk County Police Department Narcotics Enforcement Team, two people have been arrested in the investigation. Connie Pendergrass, 49, and Timmy Hall, 40, both of 230 Park Street, were taken into custody and both were charged with two felonies. Pendergrass was charges with possession, manufacturing, and distribution of methamphetamine, and drug trafficking. Hall was also charged with possession, manufacturing, and distribution of methamphetamine, and drug trafficking. Both remain in the Polk County Jail.
Former Polk County Police investigator Mark Sparks has been found guilty on three of six charges in U.S. District Court in Rome. Sparks was accused of running a chop-shop in Cedartown. Sparks was found guilty of informing the target of an investigation that was being investigated, obstructing a criminal investigation, and possession of a Chevrolet pickup truck with an altered vehicle identification number with intention to sell the vehicle. Sparks was found not guilty of operating a chop shop and attempting to dispose of various vehicle parts. Sparks will be sentenced on October 6th, and he plans to appeal.
The Cedartown Fire Department, Redmond EMS, Cedartown Police Officers, Polk County Police Officers, and Georgia State Patrol Troopers responded to a construction equipment accident on Highway 27 North near Wal-Mart, on July 19, 2010. The earth mover was doing work when it went up an embankment and flipped. No one was injured in the accident.
The Polk County Police Department and SWAT team, Polk County Sheriff Kelly McClendon and his team, and Polk County District Attorney Robert Brooks conducted a raid on an alleged dog-fighting facility at 569 Cashtown Loop Road in Aragon. The raid has rescued 33 abused dogs and four people are in custody.Devecio Rowland was arrested and charged with dog fighting, cruelty to animals, possession of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance. Trinice Crews was arrested and charged with dog fighting, cruelty to animals, possession of marijuana, and possession of a controlled substance. The raid is the result of a confidential lead from a tip line sponsored by Norred & Associates, an Atlanta-based security firm. Norred investigators contacted the local law enforcement agency and together they conducted a joint investigation. The Atlanta Humane Society deployed their Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team (HEART) and their fifth-wheel trailer to help evaluate and treat the dogs and transport them to an undisclosed location.
Arrests have been made in the May 3, 2010 armed robbery of Smart-Mart on West Avenue. Cedartown Police along with help from the United States Marshalls have made two arrest according to Assistant Police Chief Jamie Newsome of the Cedartown Police Department. Both men arrested are from the Atlanta area. Both men are being housed at the Polk County Jail and are charged with armed robbery.
The Cedartown Police Department responded to the Cedartown Post Office on Thursday, July 1st to an alleged altercation. Two post office employees allegedly began arguing in front of customers. At one point one female allegedly pushed the other and made threatening remarks toward her. After questioning the two women, as well as witnesses, Cedartown Police concluded that no arrests were necessary.
Two Polk County Police officers and a Cedartown Police Officer have resigned after an investigation into illegal steroid use. According to Polk County Police Chief Kenny Dodd, 41 year old John Garrett and 27 year old Shawn Bates, both of Silver Creek resigned effective September 21 in lieu of termination. Cedartown Assistant Police Chief Jamie Newsome confirmed that Cedartown PD officer 36 year old Scott Couch of Cedartown also resigned in lieu of being terminated on October 5. Initial investigations found that both Bates and Garrett ordered ingredients to manufacture anabolic steroids. After interrogations, Dodd contacted an outside agency to conduct an investigation. The Rome Police Department found enough evidence to remove both officers from the force. Newsome said that Couch admitted to having provided a single vial of injectable testosterone to Garrett. Garrett then reportedly provided the testosterone – which is a Schedule III controlled substance – to Bates. Further action is likely by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. Dodd said the results of the two investigations have been forwarded to the POST Council. The Council may revoke the certification of these officers, place them on probation, also called suspended certification, or decide to take no further action against them.
A body was discovered inside a residence in Cedartown early Wednesday morning. According to Cedartown Police, 50 year old Myra Dave was discovered deceased in her home on Erwin Street at approximately 6:45 Wednesday morning. Cedartown Assistant Police Chief Jamie Newsome said that when Dave failed to report to work that morning, a couple of her co-workers went to her house to check on her. When Dave did not open the door, firefighters were called to forcefully enter the residence. When entry was made, Cedartown Police Chief Henry King discovered the body. Due to the fact that Dave was alone at the time, her body was sent off to the GBI Crime Lab for a autopsy. Newsome said that while he doesn’t believe that foul play was involved, the GBI was contacted due to the uncertainty of the circumstances. The Cedartown Police Department is handling the investigation, with the assistance of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
An incident that took place two-and-a-half months ago has led to the dismissal of three Floyd County Police officers. Keegan Romero, Michael Mitchell and veteran Sgt. Barry Sutton were fired by Chief Bill Shiflett earlier this week at the end of an internal investigation into an incident that occurred June 14. Romero and Mitchell apparently pulled onto a construction site to investigate suspicious activity, and Romero later admitted that he had intentionally damaged the tires on a suspect’s vehicle. The vehicle had been loaned to the suspect and the county made compensation in excess of $500 for the damaged tires. Sutton was let go for not making sure that policies were followed and failing to discipline the officers under his authority. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is also investigating the incident but no criminal charges have been filed at this time. The three men have 10 business days from Monday to appeal their firings.
