Questions from Citizens about Specific Attacks on Women

We have received questions about whether there have been violent attacks on women at stores, malls, or shopping centers recently. There have been no such attacks since the homicide on May 28, which seems to be the catalyst for great concern from citizens, and the source of these rumors. We did report a robbery and abduction of a woman from a local shopping center on May 14. This type of crime is extremely rare for Dalton, and appeared to be random. A repeat of those two posts is listed below:

Published on May 15, 2007:

Dalton Police Department Investigators have identified, arrested, and charged Edward Matthew Rife for the kidnapping and robbery of a Dalton woman that occurred around noon on May 14th in Dalton.

Police located the suspect around 6:00 p.m. on May 14th, the day of the incident, at a undisclosed location in the City.  The suspect was arrested and transported to Whitfield County Sheriff's Office's detention facility.

Booking photo of the suspect, Edward Matthew Rife 

Published on May 14, 2007

The Dalton Police Department is searching for the suspect wanted in connection with the Kidnapping and Armed Robbery of a Dalton woman.  The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. Monday May 14th.  The suspect is described as a:

• White/Male, approximately 35-45 years of age
• 5'5" - 6'0" tall, with salt & pepper hair and weathered face
• Wearing a ball cap with "Tide" on the side and the number "10" and "Ricky Rudd" also displayed on the cap
• Wearing black jeans with a hole in the right inside leg and a Red/Grey football style shirt
• A faded tattoo on his left arm

The suspect approached the victim in the parking lot of Bryman's Plaza South around Office Depot and Bryman's Plaza Cleaners located at 101 W. Walnut Avenue in Dalton.  He approached the victim from behind, brandished a knife, demanded her money and threatened to kill her.  He then forced her into her vehicle and drove away.  He drove to the victim's bank and forced the victim to withdraw money from her account.

The victim was released a short time later at an undisclosed location.  The suspect faces charges including but not limited to Robbery and Kidnapping.  Images of the suspect were caught on bank surveillance cameras and displayed below.

Anyone with information about this crime or the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Detective Chuck Richards at 706-278-9085 extension 214 or if wishing to remain anonymous, can contact the police department's CRIME TIP HOTLINE at 706-278-9085 extension 221.

Suspect seen here driving victim's vehicle.  Anyone that can identify this individual is asked to contact the Dalton Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division (CID) at 706-278-9085

Comments

[Concerned Citizen]

I have been hearing so many stories lately about random attacks on women in Dalton. I try to read the Daily Citizen and listen to the news to everyday to stay on top of what's going on in my community but I've been told that some of these stories just don't make the headlines. I am really starting to doubt the validity of most of the stories I hear. For instance I recently heard that a woman was getting in her car at Walnut Square Mall when three cars surrounded her making it impossible for her to move her vehicle and then three Hispanic men got out of their cars and exposed themselves to her. Sounds newsworthy doesn't it? I mean if it were in fact true. I tend to beleive it's just another bogus tale someone started. I go to the mall alone quite often. I have female freinds and family that do as well. I would like to think that if there were concerns about the safety of women in Dalton the Dalton Police Department would make it public.

[DaltonLady]

Could you please tell me how many officers have received the training to enforce the new law effective July 1st.

[DaltonPDBlog]

DaltonLady:
Assuming you are talking about the SB529, the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act:

This law is quite sweeping, and covers many areas, from labor to lawyers, to law enforcement.

Section 4, on page five (5) of the attached PDF http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/pdf/sb529.pdf. , talks about specific memorandums of understanding, and the labor commissioner designating which officers will be trained. Under paragragh (d) on page six (6), it is not clear whether this section is in effect on July 1.

Section 5, on page six (6) directs that the... "keeper of the jail..." shall make reasonable effort to verify that the prisoner has been lawfully admitted to the United States. The Georgia Sheriff's Association is responsible for setting up the procedures for this, according to SB 529. The police department does not currently operate a jail.

We have for several years, however, had the ability to contact the INS/ICE to check status of arrested persons. We still have that ability. We work very closely with ICE, and they assist us and the Safe Streets Task Force when needed.

I can tell you that anytime, 24/7, that we encounter a person who has committed a crime and there is a question of immigration status, especially gang members, we are able to directly contact an ICE agent.

We also enforce all laws in a consistent, constitutional manner, a duty to which we have sworn an oath. Dalton IS NOT a sanctuary city.