WGAA 1340AM Cedartown

BARTOW COUNTY, GA (AP) – Bartow County Sheriff Clark Millsap says a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a man in the back yard of a home in Cartersville. The shooting happened Sunday night after a homeowner called authorities to complain about a man in her front yard. Millsap says deputies arrived and the man ran into the back yard. He says that when a deputy approached, the man pulled a gun and was shot several times. The sheriff says the deputy, who was not injured, was placed on routine administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. The dead man’s name has not been released.

Two arrests have been made in reference to a burglary that occurred at a local Rockmart business. On Sunday, March 14th, entry was made into Moates Plumbing located at 210 Cherry Street in Rockmart and several items were stolen. Reports indicate that 29 year old Weldon Lee Easterwood and 28 year old Thomas James Hilburn were arrested by Polk County police on warrants through Rockmart Police Department for charges stemming from that burglary. Easterwood was arrested on Portland Circle and is charged with burglary, parole violation and obstruction. Hilburn was arrested on Formby Circle and is charged with burglary, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug related objects. This is the second time that Moates Plumbing has been burglarized this month.

A fight in the Lindale area resulted in the arrest of a Silver Creek man on several charges. According to Floyd County Jail records, 23 year old Christopher Paul Chipman of 825 Burkhalter Road in Floyd County was taken into custody on a felony charge of terroristic threats and acts. In addition, Chipman also faces misdemeanor charges of obstruction or hindering law enforcement officers and disorderly conduct. He is alleged to have been involved in a fight that occurred at a Cemetery Road residence in Lindale Friday evening. Reports say Chapman began shouting and swearing at officers and refused to return home. He is also reported to have threatened the officers after he was palced in the patrol car. He remained in Floyd County Jail over the weekend.

A long awaited road project for the city of Cedartown has begun as Davis Road will be resurfaced. According to Bob Worthington of the city road department, the road will be closed from the railroad tracks down east to the intersection at North Park Boulevard. Worthington advises motorists to take North Park Blvd. as a detour to get to and from the bypass on Davis Rd. Those wishing to access the Polk County convenience center will have to take Burkalter Rd. Worthington said that he doesn’t know how long the resurfacing will take and that Davis Road will be closed indefinitely until the project is complete. Recapping once again, Davis Road from the railroad crossing behind Home Depot to the intersection with North Park Blvd. is closed indefinitely as crews work to resurface the road.

A Cartersville teen has been arrested and charged in the March 13 shooting death of an older teen. According to arrest records, 14 year old Leondris Tyree Jackson has been charged with as an adult for the murder of a 19 year-old Norman Moore Jr., of Cartersville. Jackson was arrested in Louisiana and will be extradited back to Georgia. The shooting occurred on March 13 just after 9 pm in Cartersville. Police reports said that witnesses saw a blue SUV circle the block several times before the shooting occurred. It went on to say that Moore Jr. got out of the car and a fight ensued with an unidentified person. Two other males got out of the car and opened fire on Moore Jr. The victim was pronounced dead at Cartersville Medical Center.

A drug raid at a couple of McCowan Road residences in Rockmart Wednesday night has netted ten adults and one juvenile for several charges. According to a press release from the Polk County Police Department’s Narcotics Enforcement Team, arrested were: (more…)

A former detective from Polk County Police Department is now facing several charges, including operating a chop shop, after an indictment was made public in federal court in Rome on Thursday. Documents indicate that 39 year old Mark Howell Sparks, waived arraignment and pleaded not guilty to six criminal charges including operating a chop shop and interfering with a federal investigation by allegedly tipping off the targets of the investigation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Walter Johnson released Sparks on his own recognizance.

The following organizations were recipients of money from the Polk County Community Foundation at their annual luncheon Thursday, March 25 at the Cherokee Golf & Country Club.

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An Aragon couple was arrested late Tuesday night on several charges including drug and weapons charges. According to reports, Barry Crumley and Tracy Crumley of 26 Crumley Road in Aragon were taken into custody by members of the Polk County Narcotics Enforcement Team and charged with methamphetamine possession, possession of marijuana, possession of drug related objects, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Polk County NET said that this is the second time this particular residence has been raided in a year’s time. Along with this residence, a home at 16 Crumley Road was raided back on January 25. Arrested at that time were 38 year old Steven Wayne Crumley, and 19 year old Sylvia Elizabeth Adkins. Officials received more information about illegal drug use going on at 26 Crumley Road and that information led to the latest search warrant. Polk County NET received assistance from the Drug Enforcement Agency Clandestine Lab out of Atlanta in this case.

A Rockmart man arrested on drug charges earlier this month has been re-booked into the Polk County Jail after new charges are filed on him in the case. According to jail docket reports, 65 year old Thomas Cochran of 1483 Prospect Road in Rockmart now faces charges of possession of drug related objects, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of meth. Cochran was one of five individuals who were arrested after a raid of Cochran’s home. Police believe Cochran was selling prescriptions out of his house illegally. His original charges were distribution of a schedule III drug and distribution of a schedule IV drug. According to investigators, the latest charges stem from evidence found when his home was raided. Additional evidence testing indicated that a substance found at the scene was indeed methamphetamine residue. Gun charges stem from guns found in the raid, officials said. Cochran remains in the Polk County Jail at this time.