Dalton Police Blog

Police offer $1000 Reward for information on BB Gun Vandalism

As many of you are aware, several businesses in our city have had their windows damaged by BB guns.  The Police Department has decided to issue a $1000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible for this damage.  We will also be putting up flyers at several locations around the city with this same message.

Below, two maps are included.  One is a mapping of all the incidents from July to present.  The other shows the highest concentration of incidents with those occurring from Morris Street to just north of Martin Luther King Blvd. 

We are asking for anyone with any information about the identity of the person(s) responsible for these crimes to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 706-278-9085 ext. 250.

 

Police looking for suspect in attempted Rape case

The Dalton Police Department is looking for a suspect believed to have attacked a woman in the parking lot of Delray Farms grocery store located at 2518 E. Walnut Avenue at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday September 27th, 2006.  The attack occurred in the parking lot when the woman was getting into her vehicle.  The suspect came up from behind the woman, pulled her out of her vehicle and forced her to the ground.  She was unable to scream due to the suspect's hand being over her mounth.  According to the victim, the suspect saw another person in the parking lot and stopped the attack.  He then got into a beige older model passenger sedan style car and fled the area.  The vehicle is further described as having "box type fenders".

The suspect is described as:

• Black male, over 200 pounds (large build), 6 feet tall or taller
• Short dark hair with possible stubble facial hair
• Last seen wearing blue shirt with logo and tan pants

It is believed that the suspect followed the victim from Wal-Mart located on East Walnut Avenue to Delray Farms grocery. 

Investigators are asking for anyone that was at Delray Farms grocery or Wal-Mart between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to contact Investigator Matthew Locke at 706-278-9085 ext. 320 with information.  Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspect while at Wal-Mart.

Image of suspect taken by Wal-Mart surveillance camera

Police looking for suspects involved in several Entering Autos

Investigators are looking for two individuals wanted for breaking into several cars in both Dalton and the southern part of Whitfield County.  The incidents occurred on September 13th, 2006 at the Central Church of Christ and several other churches in Whitfield County between 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The suspects are listed as a white female and white male, both approximately 20-30 years old with the female having light brown or sandy blond hair and medium build and a white male with short black or dark brown hair and slim build.  They are possibly driving a silver or white 4-door car.  In a surveillance video, they are seen carrying a baby carrier.  Some of the stolen items were used in both Dalton and Cherokee County so they may have contacts in both areas.

Anyone with information about the identity of these individuals is asked to contact Detective Matthew Locke at 706-278-9085 extension 320.

Police Department to participate in the upcoming Car Show to benefit The Greenhouse

The Dalton Police Department will be participating in the Car Show this Saturday September 30^th, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the North Georgia Fairgrounds.  The proceeds from this event will go to The Greenhouse, a child advocacy center for abused children.

Officers from the department will be available to discuss crime prevention and recruiting.  We will also have our new crime scene van along with our crime scene investigator present.  Everyone is invited to come out and support The Greenhouse.

Electronic Tickets

Officers will begin this week issuing electronic tickets to motorists.  Compared to the old style tickets used for the past 20 years, the new E-Tickets will look much like a department store receipt.  In the past, officers were required to manually enter all of the violator’s information onto the paper ticket.  With the new E-ticket, the officer simply enters the driver’s license number and the computer automatically enters all pertinent information for the ticket.  The ticket is printed on an inboard computer and given to the violator.  The ticket information is transferred to municipal court every 15 minutes and reduces much of the data entry requirements of the court personnel.

While there are many benefits to the new system versus the old, one major benefit is the reduction in time the violator will be detained.  Also with this shorter stop time, the roadway is cleared quicker and the officer has less exposure to oncoming traffic, a real danger to the officer.  Installation of the printers should be complete in all patrol units by the middle of October.

Patrolman First Class Shaun Scott using car computer in preparation for printing E-Ticket 

Personal Safety and Security

Throughout my time in Law Enforcement, especially in the position of crime prevention officer, I have had many questions concerning personal safety and security and how one can reduce their chances of being a victim.  While no one can ever be completely safe from crime, there are some very basic steps you can take to greatly reduce your chance of being victimized.  Violent crime, especially by someone you do not know, is very rare when compared to property crime.  Of course, being victimized by violent crime even once is too much.  In light of this, I will be posting tips on a regular basis on how you can minimize your chances of being a victim.  If you have a particular topic or concern regarding personal security that you want covered, contact Officer Chris McDonald by email.  Stay tuned!!

Police Volunteer Receives Presidential Award

Dalton Police Volunteer Paul Cline was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award today in a ceremony at Dalton City Hall for his extensive service to the Dalton community. Cline, who has served without compensation since 2004, logged more than 1,800 hours in 2005, and has donated more than 1,300 hours so far in 2006. Dalton Police Chief James D. Chadwick said of Cline and the program, "The contribution of Volunteer Cline and all our volunteers provides an invaluable service to the police department and the citizens of Dalton. The donated time by our volunteers allows us to stretch our resources and frees our officers to concentrate on law enforcement. We are indebted to them for their dedicated service".

Below, Cline receives the award from Chief Chadwick. Pictured, L-R are: Sergeant Mike Dyer; Cline; Public Safety Commission Chairman Lane Ashworth, and Chief Chadwick.

Cline spends many hours monitoring traffic conditions; assisting motorists with mechanical failures, and performing administrative functions for the department.

The Dalton Police Department has hosted a citizen volunteer effort, which is associated with the national Volunteers In Police Service program, since 1987 and now has eight (8) volunteers. The program, which started with local ministers volunteering as Chaplains to the department, is intended to extend the services the department offers Dalton citizens and to free up police officers for more pressing duties. Sergeant Mike Dyer coordinates the effort and is currently training four new volunteers.

For more information about the Volunteers In Police Service programs, click here.

Dalton Police Investigate Shooting

Dalton Police Officers responded to a shooting incident at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday morning at the Oyster Pub located at 2206 Chattanooga Road.

Some time shortly before the incident, the offender, Shundy Hicks, and the victim, Jay Thomas, got into an argument in the parking lot of the Oyster Pub. Mr. Hicks returned to a vehicle, retrieved a pistol, and fired three shots at Mr. Thomas, striking him 2-3 times in the upper torso and left arm. Mr. Hicks then fled the scene.

According to witnesses at the scene, Mr. Hicks was identified as the offender and warrants were secured for Aggravated Assault.

Victim: Jay Thomas, black male, age 25, of 507 Park Canyon Drive, Dalton.

Suspect: Shundy Hicks, black male, age 25, of 602 Autumn Drive, Dalton

Mr. Hicks turned himself in to authorities on Saturday evening at approximately 6:00 p.m. Mr. Hicks is being charged with: Aggravated Assault, Felony 9O.C.G.A. 16-5-21)

Anyone with further information about this case should contact Officer Chris McDonald at 706-278-9085, extension 177.

Dalton Police Arrest Rape Suspect

The Dalton Police Department has arrested a suspect in connection with a rape that occurred at East Side Cleaners and Laundry, 1001 East Murray Avenue, Dalton. 

Based on information gained during the followup investigation, patrol officers with the Dalton Police Department located and arrested Lorenzo Shelton, black male, age 40, of 609 South Thornton Avenue, Dalton. Shelton is registered in the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office Sex Offender Registry.

The rape occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Friday morning September 22, 2006.

The victim was in the laundry area alone.  The offender entered the cleaners and attacked the victim.  The sexual assault occurred inside the cleaners. 

A surveillance camera captured pictures of the suspect inside the cleaners.  Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 911 or Detective John Helton at (706) 278-9085 ext. 143.

            For information about this release, contact Officer Chris McDonald at (706) 278-9085 ext. 177, by cellular phone at (706) 260-6746, or by email at cmcdonald@cityofdalton-ga.gov.

Photos of Rape Suspect:

Dalton Police Update Active Shooter Training

The Dalton Police Department will soon conduct in-service training for police officers that is designed to prepare for an "active shooter" within local schools.

Since the fall of 2001, the Dalton Police Department has trained its officers to react to a situation that we all hope never happens; an "active shooter" in or around local schools. Earlier this year, the police department scheduled an in-service, (or refresher), training session for Dalton Officers in order to update newly hired officers, and reemphasize the subject for veteran officers.. The recent shooting on a college campus in Montreal underscores the importance of school safety, and this type of training.

Prior to the school shooting incidents that received worldwide attention, proper police tactics were to establish a perimeter around the area and then work inward to solve the threat situation. Since that time, the Dalton Police Department, and others nationwide, have trained to actively enter the school premises and seek out the dangers so that injuries and loss of life can me minimized or prevented. All of Dalton's sworn officers and investigators receive the training so that the first officers on the scene can intervene rapidly.

For more information about school safety, please email the department's Public Information Officer, Chris McDonald, or School Resource Officers Sam Eaton and Ricky Long.