Dalton Police Blog

Fundraiser for the GreenHouse

The GreenHouse, a Dalton, GA child advocacy center, is hosting Motor Mania 2008 on September 27th.  It's a fundraiser to fund the day-to-day operations of the center.  There will be plenty of cars on display, professional judging, and lots of awards.  It's a family-friendly event, with plenty of inflatable play areas for kids, as well as giveaways, live demonstrations from the Dalton Fire Department, Georgia State Patrol, and Dalton Police Department. 

The GreenHouse is a non-profit organization that provides a neutral, safe place where child victims of physical and sexual abuse in Whitfield and Murray Counties can be counseled, and also interviewed and videotaped to aid in criminal investigations.  It's a child-friendly refurbished house trimmed in green and decorated in a rain forest theme.  It provides a safe, non-threatening atmosphere for the child and his/her family during the investigative process.  Child victims are interviewed and videotaped by a trained child forensic interviewer.  Therapy is often provided on-site to help the child victims begin the healing process.  If referred for prosecution, a victim advocate and prosecutor introduce themselves to the child at the GreenHouse.

The GreenHouse is an extension of the Conasauga Circuit District Attorney's Victim/Witness Assistance Program.  It's a full member of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia.  The Center operates as an arm of the District Attorney's office, which provides governmental financial support, but also with a separate 501c3 Board of Directors ("Friends of the GreenHouse, Inc.") which allows community, corporate, and individual support for service to child victims of abuse in the Whitfield and Murray County areas.

Donations to the GreenHouse are used not just for the day-to-day operation of the facility, but will also help with the construction of a new facility specifically designed to serve the needs of child victims with on-site counseling, play areas, and also medical facilities.  Because the GreenHouse needs community support, the organization is hosting Motor Mania 2008.  The GreenHouse's Board of Directors chose to sponsor the event because they wanted to put together not just an event that would raise needed funds, but also create a family-oriented atmosphere that involves not just grown-ups but also children.

Click "play" in the window below for a glimpse into the GreenHouse, and to find out more about Motor Mania 2008!

For photos from last year's event, or more information on Motor Mania 2008, just click here to visit the event's website.  For more information on the GreenHouse, click here.

Dalton Police Investigate Fight

The Dalton Police Department is investigating an assault that happened during a fight at approximately midnight on Saturday at the Las Delicias bar at 801 East Walnut Avenue.   One of the apparent participants in the fight, a 27 year old male, was taken to Hamilton Medical Center, and was later life-flighted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Police were called to the scene at approximately 12:30 AM Sunday morning.  There are no suspects at this time, but detectives are investigating.

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact Dalton Police Detective Nathan Lee at 706-278-9085, extension 140.

Dalton Police Department Welcomes Two New Officers

The Georgia Public Safety Training Center's Regional Police Academy in northwest Georgia graduated its newest class of officers on Friday, September 12th.  Among the group of 14 graduates are two new officers for the Dalton Police Department.

Matias A. Castillo, 23, and Sean M. Hudson, 24, both received their badges in ceremonies at the Police Services Center and at the Dalton City Hall.

Castillo is a graduate of Dalton High School, and Hudson is a graduate of Northwest Whitfield High School.

Hudson earned special recognition among his classmates at the graduation ceremony, honored as the academy class' "Top Gun", as well as having the class' highest GPA, and earning the "Class Leader" award.

From left to right: Matias Castillo, Chief Jason Parker, Sean Hudson (click on image thumbnail for a larger version)

Click play in the window below to watch video from the graduation ceremonies

Dalton Bike Patrol Officers Nab Suspect in Attempted Robbery

The Dalton Police Department’s bicycle patrol was instrumental in catching a suspect in an attempted robbery on the evening of Thursday, September 11th, 2008. 

On Thursday evening at approximately 8:30 PM, a woman was leaving the tennis courts at Lakeshore Park in Dalton.  When she opened the back of her SUV, a male subject came up behind her and grabbed her, covering her mouth and demanding money.  When the victim began to struggle, she eventually fell to the concrete, getting scratched on the neck by the suspect as she fell.  The victim also suffered a bruised and busted lip.  The suspect then fled on foot into the park. 

Once police arrived on the scene, a description of the attacker was taken.  Officers also noticed a bicycle locked up near the tennis court.  While officers were on scene, another citizen called to report a suspicious individual near the park, who was ducking out of sight whenever cars passed by.  While a search of the park failed to locate any suspects, members of the Dalton Police bicycle patrol remained behind for extra patrol.  Shortly afterwards, one of the members of the bike patrol, reported he was investigating a suspicious person in the park who was trying to unlock his bicycle at the tennis court to leave.  He matched the description of the attacker.

After questioning, Kevin Stanley of 3356 South Old Highway was arrested and charged with robbery and aggravated assault.

Anyone with any information on this incident is encouraged to contact Dalton Police detective Nathan Lee at 706-278-9085, extension 140.

Thieves Steal From Pickup Truck Beds

The Dalton Police Department is investigating a pair of thefts that occurred Monday, September 8th in the parking lots of Wal-Mart and Home Depot on Shugart Road.

Between 12:00 and 12:15 PM Monday, a light blue station wagon, possibly a Ford Taurus or Mercury Sable, drove through the parking lot of the Wal-Mart.  After spotting a parked pickup truck with the tailgate down, the car stopped and one of the occupants got out and stole a box of tools from the bed of the truck.  A few minutes later, the same vehicle stopped in the Home Depot parking lot, and occupants stole another set of tools from another pick-up truck's bed.

The images below were captured by surveillance in the parking lot.  They show the station wagon.  There are two, possibly three occupants inside, and at least one of them appears to be a white male. The vehicle has Virginia license plate KGM 2155. 

If you've got any information about this vehicle or the thefts, please call Dalton Police Detective Matthew Locke at 706-278-9085, extension 320.

The Dalton Police also remind citizens to always secure your belongings in your car when you park, and remember to lock your car doors.

Information updated 9/17/08 with suspect's name and photograph.  Click here.

Click thumbnail images below for a larger version of the image.

Dalton Police Seek Credit Card Thief

The Dalton Police Department is looking for a suspect who stole a man's wallet and used his credit card on July 22nd.  The man realized he'd lost his wallet at the Blimpie restaurant on Chattanooga road, and when he returned to the restaurant, it was gone.  When he checked with his bank, he discovered that his card had been used twice.  At the first store, there were no surveillance cameras but a clerk said it was possible that the suspect was a female with blonde hair and a small child, though that description is not certain.

The second purchase was for $24.40 in the Chik-fil-A drive through on Walnut Avenue.  Surveillance cameras in the drive-thru captured the images below of the suspect's car.  It is a gold Honda Accord, possibly a model from the middle 1990's.  The driver's side window does not roll down, so the suspect had to open the door to use the card and get the order.  The camera was not able to capture an image of the suspect's face, and employees could not remember a description.

The victim later recovered some property from the wallet when a resident of Miller Street found one of his checks in the street and called to return it.

If you have any information about this theft, please contact Detective Jason Bishop with the Dalton Police Department at 706-278-9085, extension 214.

Click on thumbnail for a larger version of the image.

Dalton Police Search for Thieves

Dalton Police detectives continue to investigate a pair of thefts that occurred in April committed by a group of suspects.  The first theft occurred at Hamilton Medical Center on April 25th.  Just before midnight, $1,500.00 was stolen out of a Coke machine and a money changer.  Three white male suspects in their early 20s are shown on surveillance footage.  Also shown on surveillance is a white female in her early 20s who assisted the male suspects.  It is believed the suspects used keys to open the machines.

The same male suspects are also wanted for a theft at Laundry King on MLK Jr. Boulevard on April 26th.  At this location, the suspects broke into a Coke machine and detergent dispenser.  Approximately $50.00 in change was stolen from the Coke machine and approximately $20.00 worth of laundry detergent was taken.  The three male suspects were captured by surveillance cameras.  At this location, the suspects also used keys to open the machines.

The suspects are pictured below in images captured by surveillance cameras at the hospital and the laundromat.  If anyone has information about these four suspects, please call detective Jason Bishop at 706-278-9085 extension 214.

Suspects break into vending machines (click thumbnails below for a larger version of the image).

Dalton Police Assist Red Cross Shelter

Hurricane season is once again having an impact in Dalton, Georgia.  Hurricane Gustav was too far away to cause any damage in northwest Georgia, but Dalton is welcoming evacuees from areas of the gulf coast that were affected by the storm.  First Baptist Church in Dalton has been serving as a shelter all week for families who fled the storm.  As many as 90 people were staying at the shelter earlier in the week.

The Dalton Police Department is serving a support role for the Red Cross, which is hosting and managing the shelter.  The police are providing 24 hour security for the shelter.

While Hurricane Gustav may not have been as powerful or destructive a storm as Hurricane Katrina, it is still causing some major headaches.  As many as 800,000 people in the gulf coast area could be without power for two to eight weeks.  As of Thursday, September 4th, nearly 34,000 people were still in evacuation shelters in 12 states, like the shelter in Dalton.  Beyond sheltering evacuees, the Red Cross is also providing support to people still in the gulf coast area, such as meals and financial assistance for clean-up.  For more information on the effort, and also how you can donate to help the Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org. You can also visit the local Dalton/Whitfield County chapter of the Red Cross by clicking here.

The shelter in Dalton will likely be closing this weekend as evacuees begin to head home.  However, it may re-open if the need should arise from Tropical Storm Hanna or Hurricane Ike.

Click play in the window below for video on the Red Cross shelter.  (Video may take a few moments to load)

Dalton Police to Conduct Road Checks Friday

The Dalton Police Department will be conducting citywide road checks on Friday, September 5th.  Officers from the department's Traffic Enforcement Unit, along with the Situational Response Unit and the Patrol Division will all be setting up road safety checks at several undisclosed locations throughout the evening.

Officers will be checking to make sure motorists are driving with proper driver's licenses, proper insurance, and proper child restraints.  Officers will also be checking to make sure motorists aren't driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. 

The Dalton Police Department conducts a series of road checks throughout the year.  They're a valuable tool to guard against serious traffic offenses such as driving with suspended or revoked driver's licenses, driving without insurance, and also driving under the influence.  To learn more about road safety checks the department conducted earlier this year, click here.

As always, the Dalton Police Department reminds drivers to Buckle Up, Slow Down, and Driver Sober... not just this Friday, but every time you get behind the wheel.

Officers from the Dalton Police Department conduct a Road Check on Shugart Road in August.  Click thumbnails for a larger version of the image.