WGAA 1340AM Cedartown

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.

A man from the Rockmart area is currently in the Polk County Jail charged with child molestation after a child counselor reported suspicions to police. According to reports, 23 year old Anthony Dwatt Holden of a Braswell Mountain Road address in Rockmart, was arrested and charged with aggravated child molestation, sodomy, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree. Police accuse him of molesting a 6 year old girl, apparently a relative. Reports state that a counselor in another city had been counseling the young victim and in one of those sessions, the young victim said that the suspect had been sexually assaulting her for the last several weeks. Polk County Family Services were contacted and a police report was filed.

A Dallas man who tried to flee police on Saturday was unsuccessful in doing so. According to reports, 22 year old Eric Craig, of a Farmbrook Lane address in Dallas was arrested after Polk County Police perused him all the way back to his residence. Reports state that Craig told the arresting officer that he fled because he did not want to be caught driving without a license. In addition to driving with a suspended license, Craig faces additional charges including several traffic violations, along with fleeing and attempting to allude, and several reckless driving charges. The chase began on Highway 278 close to Coots Lake Road, and wound through the Yorkville Highway and eventually into a subdivision where Craig lived. When the chase arrived at the house, Craig was arrested without incident.

An observant Sheriff’s deputy assisted Rome/Floyd Metro Task Force officers in taking out a suspected meth lab Tuesday in Cave Spring. Deputies responded to the home on Highway 411 South earlier in the day to serve a protective order not related to the meth lab when they observed items commonly associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine. The deputy alerted Metro investigators who obtained a search warrant and raided the home around 1am Wednesday morning. According to metro investigator Ghee Wilson, the lab is what is commonly referred to as a “shake and bake” meth lab. Wilson said the shake and bake labs are commonly associated with individuals who make meth for personal use as the method is not able to produce large amounts of the drug. A HAZMAT cleanup crew responded to the scene and and the individual was taken to the Floyd County jail on multiple charges.

Cpl. Eddie Jimenez

A family dispute has landed two brothers in jail, one being a school resource officer with the Cedartown Police Department. According to Polk County Police, 33 year old Cpl. Eddie Jimenez of a Dry Creek Road address is charged with battery under the Family Violence Act, cruelty to children, and discharging a firearm under the influence. His brother, 34 year old Martin Julian Jimenez, of a separate Dry Creek Road address was also charged with battery under the Family Violence Act, but was released on a $500 bond. Cedartown Assistant Police Chief Jamie Newsome said that Cpl. Jimenez has been placed on paid administrative leave while an internal investigation is conducted. Newsome also says that he has contacted an outside agency to perform an independent investigation. Both Cpl. Jimenez and his brother were arrested early Wednesday morning after Polk County Police responded to a domestic disturbance call. The Polk County Police Department is handling the criminal side of the investigation.

The former Polk County Jail officer accused of using excessive force against an inmate has pled guilty in federal court Thursday. Joshua David Lowe of Aragon appeared before Judge Robert L. Vining, Jr. in U.S. District Court and pled guilty to a charge stemming from an incident at the jail this past February. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 15 at 10:30 a.m. Federal prosecutors got involved after the information was sent to the FBI by Polk County Sheriff Kelly McClendon. Lowe was terminated from the Polk County Jail as a result of the incident.

A former Cedartown resident has been charged with child pornography. 26 year old Shannon Leigh Honea formerly of Cedartown and 34 year old John Nicklas were arrested on July 30, 2009 in Baltimore County, Maryland. On July 30th, after obtaining evidence, investigators received and executed a search warrant for the residence and seized computer equipment, several DVD’s and CDs. While viewing the seized materials, detectives identified images of both suspects engaged in the filming and participation of child sexual abuse that allegedly involves children as young as 2 years old. Honea has ties to the Georgia area and had a car registered within the state. It is believed that she and Nicklas visited the Atlanta area together. Because of information gained by police about Nicklas and Honea during their investigation, police are asking anyone who has had, or knows of a child who has had contact with either suspect to contact the Baltimore County Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit at 410-853-3650. Detectives know of several unidentified victims, ranging from approximately 2 to 13 years of age. Police have issued a video alert asking for additional information from potential victim families.