Dalton Police Blog

Stay Safe on Super Bowl Sunday

This Sunday, February 7th, is Super Bowl Sunday.  As a result it's also one of the most dangerous days of the year on the nation’s highways due to drunk driving.  Statistics show that in 2008, 33 percent of all traffic fatalities involved an impaired driver. However, on the day of 2008's Super Bowl, that stat jumped to a staggering 48 percent when the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. 

The Dalton Police Department offers the following reminders to make Super Bowl Sunday safe.
If you plan to host a Super Bowl Party:

• Before kickoff, make sure your guests have Designated sober Drivers.
• Never serve alcohol to guests under 21-years-of-age.
• Serve plenty of food…And include soft drinks, juice, and water.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter (just like NFL stadiums) and start serving coffee and dessert instead.
• Take car keys from anyone who thinks about driving impaired.
• Keep the numbers for local cab companies on hand for impaired guests.

If you plan to attend a Super Bowl Party or watch the game at a restaurant or sports bar, here are some tips to ensure that you arrive home safely:

• Designate your sober driver before the party begins and give them your car keys.
• Volunteer to be the Designated Driver or offer to be one next time out.
• Before you party, program local cab company numbers in your cell phone so a safe ride is just a call away.
• Pace yourself.  Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. 
• Eat enough food, take breaks, and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
• Never let a friend out of sight if you think they will drive impaired.

The Dalton Police Department reminds motorists that we have a Zero-Tolerance Policy for impaired driving. Help make this a safe Super Bowl Sunday on the roadways by buckling up, slowing down and driving sober. 

DPD Makes Arrests in "Tagging" Incidents

The Dalton Police Department has arrested three teenagers and issued an arrest warrant for one other after investigating a series of 16 “tagging” vandalism incidents that occurred on January 7th, 2010.  The incidents occurred in the neighborhood around Kenilworth Court in Dalton, and involved the spray-painting of vehicles, houses, or mailboxes.  In four cases, mailboxes were damaged with a baseball bat.

After an investigation by the Dalton Police Department, Christopher Kinnamon, 17, of 513 Williamsburg Drive; Christopher Charles Wilson, 18, of 808 Judd Terrace; and Samuel Batts, 18, of 800 Atkinson Drive were all arrested and charged with 16 counts each of criminal trespass.  An arrest warrant was also issued for Charles Thomason, 17, of 1908 Tiffany Lane with 16 counts of criminal trespass.

Investigators cited the work of School Resource Officer Brandon Carter as being critical to the quick resolution of these cases.  These incidents remain under investigation and further charges are possible.

Investigation Continues Into 2008 Arson Fire, Public's Help Needed

The Dalton Police Department is continuing an investigation into a November 2008 arson fire in the office of a local insurance company, and the owner is still offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offender.

The crime occurred during the morning hours on November 10, 2008 at the office of Oliver F. Cobb & Associates at 2708 Airport Road.  One of the office windows was found broken out, and a small fire was set inside.  The fire was put out by the building’s sprinkler system, but the office and an adjacent suite suffered smoke and heavy water damage. Oliver F. Cobb & Associates, LLC is a records and information management business handling insurance related services.

The Dalton Police Department continues to investigate the incident.  The $10,000 reward is being offered by the company’s owner, Oliver F. Cobb for any crucial information leading to an arrest and conviction.  If you have any information about this crime, please contact Detective John Helton with the Dalton Police Department at 706-278-9085, extension 143.

A sign outside the office of Oliver F. Cobb & Associates advertises a reward for information leading to an arrest in a 2008 arson case.

 

Girl Scout Donates Stuffed Animals to DPD

Dalton High School senior Aly Flores has been collecting stuffed animals at different locations around Dalton as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award Project.  Originally, her idea was to donate the stuffed animals to Hamilton Medical Center to be used by young patients.  She was more successful than she'd dreamed, collecting more than 1,400 stuffed animals, more than the hospital could accept.  So, she's been looking around for other homes for the stuffed animals, and on Thursday, she made a large donation to the Dalton Police Department.  The stuffed animals will be carried in DPD patrol cars for any children who may be in need of comfort when they encounter our officers. 

Thanks very much to Aly for her hard work on this project, and for the donation.

Below: Girl Scout Aly Flores and DPD Public Relations Specialist Bruce Frazier with the donated stuffed animals

DPD, DFD Promotions Approved by Public Safety Commission

One Dalton Police Officer and two Dalton Firefighters received promotions at the monthly meeting of the Dalton Public Safety Commission on Tuesday.  Officer Daniel Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  Fire Lieutenant Chris Cantrell was promoted to Captain, and Firefighter III Mike Sloan was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

Sergeant Nicholson has served the Dalton Police Department for more than 10 years.  He has been assigned as a detective with the DPD’s Drug Unit since 2005.  Sgt. Nicholson holds an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science from Dalton State College and will graduate in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Covenant College.  He will be assigned as a supervisor in the Patrol Division.

Captain Cantrell’s promotion fills the void left when Mike Russell was promoted in December to the rank of Battalion Chief.  Cantrell joined the Dalton Fire Department in February of 1993 after serving 5 years with the Whitfield County Fire Department.  He was promoted to Lieutenant in May of 2003.  He’s a POST-certified arson investigator, in addition to holding a varied training background in firefighting tactics, rescue operations, and leadership.  Captain Cantrell also holds National Professional Qualification (NPQ) Certifications in Fire Inspector, Investigations, NPQ Evaluator, Hazardous Materials Operations and Technician Level.

Lieutenant Sloan joined the Dalton Fire Department in February of 1999.  He was promoted to Firefighter III with Battalion 3 since July 2005.  Lieutenant Sloan’s training background includes numerous Strategy and Tactics training, Leadership training, Building Construction, and he is an Incident Safety Officer and a Georgia Smoke Diver. Mike is a member of the Georgia Search and Rescue Team (GSAR) and holds National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) Certifications in Confined Space Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, Trench Rescue, Rope Rescue, Instructor 1, and Hazardous Materials Operations Training.

Congratulations to Sergeant Nicholson, Captain Cantrell, and Lieutenant Sloan!

Below: (1st picture, from left) Sgt. Daniel Nicholson poses with Chief Jason Parker after his promotion. (2nd picture, from left) Capt. Chris Cantrell, Chief Bruce Satterfield, and Lt. Mike Sloan pose after their promotions.

DPD Seeks Information on Burglary Suspects

The Dalton Police Department is looking for information on two suspects who broke into the Smart Mart Chevron at 100 North Oaks Drive early on the morning of January 19th.  The individuals left with packs of cigars and cigarettes valued at approximately $100. 

At approximately 1:45 AM on January 19th, the two suspects broke out a glass door with a large rock and entered the store.  One of the two suspects was captured on the store’s surveillance system.  While the image of his face isn’t clear, he appears to be a young white male, wearing a striped hooded and backpack.  The jacket is a distinctive design, and investigators hope that it might be recognized by someone familiar with the suspect. The surveillance images of the man are included below. The two individuals left the store on foot, possibly headed in the direction of Fleming Street across Highway 71. 

The owner of the store is offering a $250 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution of the burglary suspects.  If you have any information on the identity of these individuals or this crime, please contact Detective Greg Bates with the Dalton Police Department at 706-278-9085, extension 137.

DPD Seeks Information in Credit Card Theft Case

The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a woman who used a stolen credit card to rack up more than $1,400 worth of fraudulent purchases at area retailers including the Wal-Mart on East Walnut Avenue. 

On January 2nd, a man lost his wallet at the Carmike Cinemas movie theater on East Walnut Avenue.  After reporting the loss to police, he cancelled various credit cards that were left in the wallet.  But, he apparently forgot one Kennesaw State credit card that was left in the wallet, and when he received his statement he found 19 fraudulent purchases totaling $1,413.18.  Some of the purchases were made at the East Walnut Avenue Wal-Mart, and the surveillance system there recorded a white female, approximately 5’2 with dark hair wearing a pink colored shirt and white jacket using the card.  She was also accompanied by two other women and a white male and a black male at various times while she was inside the store.  Her picture is included below.

If you have any information on this crime or the identity of the woman pictured below, please contact Detective John Helton with the Dalton Police Department at 706-278-9085, extension 143.

DPD Officers Make 50-Pound Drug Bust

Acting on intelligence gathered during a month-long undercover investigation by the department’s Drug Unit, officers from the Dalton Police Department arrested four-men and seized approximately 50 pounds of marijuana and 2 ounces of methamphetamine ice on Thursday night after performing a traffic stop on I-75.  The combined street value of the seized drugs is estimated at approximately $100,000.  Agents from the Immigration Customs Enforcement Agency, the Conasauga Safe Streets Task Force, and the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit assisted in the operation.

Arrested on Thursday night were Bryan Torres Montiel, 23; Roberto Diaz Celis, 29; Rodolfo Amaya Gilliano, 22; and Effrain Ruiz Ortiz, 22.  Montiel, Celis, and Gilliano all list home addresses in Albertville, Alabama while Ortiz lists a home address in Crossville, Alabama.

After stopping the vehicle carrying the four men on Thursday night, investigators called in Gordon County’s K-9 drug dog, which alerted on the vehicle.  After securing a search warrant for the men’s vehicle, investigators found the marijuana wrapped heavily in plastic in the back of the men’s SUV.  The substance field-tested positive as marijuana.  The methamphetamine ice was also recovered at the scene.  A picture of the seized drugs is included below.

This incident remains under investigation by the Dalton Police Department’s Drug Unit.  If you have any information on drugs or other crimes in the City of Dalton, you can report that information anonymously to the Dalton Police Department’s Drug Tip Line at 706-278-9085, extension 221.

DPD Seeks Burglary Suspect

The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in several burglaries in the Underwood Street/Frazier Drive area.  Items taken include jewelry and electronics. 

In one incident on January 7th, a resident of Frazier Drive returned home and discovered a black male hiding behind one of the doors to a bedroom.  She fled the home, and the suspect fled through a back door.  Nothing was taken from the home.  Later in the week on January 9th, a neighboring resident on Underwood Drive returned home to find a man matching the description standing on her front porch.  He said that he was there to visit someone, but that person didn’t live at the residence.  He left on foot.  Investigators believe that these incidents are related. 

The suspect is described as being in his late 20’s or early 30’s, approximately 6 feet tall with a medium build.  He was wearing a brown or light gray jacket.  A composite sketch of the suspect is included below.  Witnesses say that the suspect’s face may appear slightly older than the figure in the sketch.  If you have any information on these incidents or the identity of the suspect, please contact Detective Greg Bates with the Dalton Police Department at 706-278-9085, extension 137 or the Crime Tip Line at extension 221.

DPD Offers Crime Prevention Tips to Property Owners

Investigators with the Dalton Police Department are taking note of some trends in recent property crimes that can be prevented by some simple actions taken by property owners.

Investigators are noticing an increase in property being taken from outdoor garages or carports in residential neighborhoods.  These items are mostly outdoor tools such as weed-eaters or lawn mowers or other power tools.  Most of these incidents have involved items that were left in plain sight in an open or easily accessible area of the property.  Investigators believe these items are being taken because they’re easily seen from the roadway and can be taken without any effort or actions that may be suspicious.  These items are difficult for police to recover because property owners often don’t record serial numbers for investigators to use if stolen property is recovered.  The Dalton Police Department urges property owners to take care to store valuable items out of sight and make sure to secure garage areas or sheds where these types of items are kept.  The DPD also recommends property owners to make a note of serial numbers on valuables to assist in recovery and return of stolen items.

Investigators are also noticing a trend of vehicle break-ins where valuable items and purses are left in plain sight inside the car.  The DPD urges vehicle owners to make sure to remove valuable items from vehicles left in driveways or parking lots of help prevent these types of crimes.

Investigators are also urging citizens in Dalton to report any suspicious activity in their neighborhood.  In a number of recent burglary cases, the crimes were committed during daylight hours and that while neighbors saw the crimes committed, they did not call to report the incidents.  If you see activity you think may be suspicious, call the police so officers can determine if the activity is related to crime.