CMYK Local
The Paper | Thursday, June 14, 2012
POLICE REPORT Jefferson Police ■ A man was taken into custody for stalking June 7 after police responded to a complaint call. The complainant has had numerous problems with the Hoschton man, who is on parole for aggravated assault, battery and armed robbery. Reports are on file with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Braselton Police and the victim has attempted to obtain a temporary restraining order. The victim attempted to avoid the man in the parking lot of Kroger but he was waiting in the parking lot when she exited with her groceries. She called police and he sped away. He continued to drive in the area and police initiated a traffic stop. The victim, who reported the man had attempted to break into her home and had apparently entered her vehicle, expressed fear for her safety. Steven Ray Gibson, 34, was taken to the Jackson County Jail and stalking charges. ■ A Silverstone Circle residence was “rolled” with toilet paper on June 7. A vehicle was also rolled in the vandalism case. ■ A simple assault and cruelty to children complaint related to a May 23 incident was filed June 7 by a Jefferson woman who wants a restraining order against her husband. A juvenile was pushed against the wall during an argument but the juvenile pushed back and hit the suspect in the face several times. The man is also wanted on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction. ■ A suspicious person report brought police to Bells Plaza on June 7 where a man wearing a winter hat and no shirt was asking people to make a beer purchase for him. In his possession was a syringe. He was taken into custody for possession of drug-related objects. Benjamin Thomas Lesniak, 21, of Jefferson, denied having anything else in his possession but a white pill was found in the patrol car when he was delivered to the Jackson County Jail. The man also attempted to swallow seven or eight pills he said were Xanax. Three jail officials were able to force the man to spit out some of the pills. ■ A man who grew agitated and violent after taking his medication and drinking on June 7 was taken into custody at a Monte Lane location. The man suspected family members had hidden his medication and he threatened to shoot and kill them. ■ Copper was removed from buildings under construction for the new Maple Apartments development on Business 129 in Jefferson between May 31 and June 4. When workers arrived for work, they found the already-installed copper had been removed. The value was placed at $250. ■ Tenants evicted from a Skyline Drive location were questioned about a cruelty to animals complaint on June 4 after the property owner discovered a rotting cat carcass in a box in the pile of trash and old furniture left behind. Also left behind was a dog, several newborn puppies and two cats. One of the tenants said they were unable to take the animals to their new address but were returning daily to feed the animals. She was advised the animals had to be removed from the property the following day. ■ A harassment complaint was filed June 5 by a Commerce man who said his ex-girlfriend continues to text him in spite of repeated requests to stop. He has blocked five numbers yet she continues to text him using a smart phone application. ■ A criminal trespass was reported at a Jimmy Reynolds Drive location between May 20 and June 5. The former occupant had moved out in mid-May but someone had apparently been staying at and damaging the residence. Muddy footprints and stains were throughout the house, holes were in the walls and there was writing on the walls. ■ A man claiming to work for the United States Postal Service contacted a Jefferson resident about fraudulent charges to her credit card of $35.50 and $177.50 made in Washington State. The resident reported a possible fraud. ■ A Crown Victoria with extremely dark tinted windows and a set of handcuffs hanging from a mounted
spotlight was stopped June 6 on Interstate 85. The driver refused a request to search the vehicle but Officer Johnny Wood and K9 Basco were on the scene. Walking around the vehicle, Basco alerted on the odor of illegal narcotics. The male passenger confirmed there was a small bag of marijuana in the trunk. The bag, a metal grinder and a pipe containing marijuana residue were located and the passenger was taken into custody. The female driver and a baby were released. ■ A vehicle was stopped on the 137 exit ramp of Interstate on June 6 after a lookout was placed for an erratic driver. The driver was unsteady on her feet and smelled of alcoholic beverages. She was unable to complete the roadside sobriety test and was charged with DUI, reckless driving, open container and failure to maintain lane. ■ A customer at the Burger King drive-in presented a fake $100 bill on June 10 and then drove away when they were unable to find another payment method. The driver pretended not to know the bill was phony money. ■ A cruelty to children and battery situation was reported June 10 at a Jefferson Boulevard address. The aggressor was taken to the Jackson County Jail and charged under the family violence act. ■ Two men arguing over a pizza pan attracted police to the Jefferson Terrace location on June 9 for a 911 hangup call. Yelling and cursing was involved but no other violence. ■ Two sisters got involved in a fight at a Gordon Street apartment after the suspect hit her sister’s child and also poured two soft drinks on the child. The women fought and the protective mother called 911 as the sister ran out the back door. Warrants are being obtained for the suspect. ■ An open container charge was filed against a driver stopped June 8 after the vehicle was stopped for traffic charges at MLK Av-
enue and Magnolia Avenue. The driver’s license was also suspended.
Braselton Police ■ A theft of services complaint was filed by a wrecker company June 10 after a driver whose 2008 Chevy Silverado was improperly parked in Mulberry Park drove away without paying the driver. The driver had asked if he could pay the tow truck operator rather than having his vehicle towed. When the driver retrieved money from the ATM, he drove off instead of paying the tow truck operator. ■ Damage to property was reported June 4 on Interstate 85 after a ladder out of the back of a truck, went under an 18-wheeler and came out and struck another vehicle. ■ A stalking and harassing phone calls complaint was filed June 5 by a woman whose ex-boyfriend continues to attempt contact with her and has been sitting in his vehicle outside her home and her place of employment. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office has also had a report of harassment. ■ A 2-year-old girl and her 3-year-old brother were found walking unattended in their Hall County subdivision on June 5. They were left in the care of an older sibling, who was also caring for two other children. He said he was unsure how the kids got out of the house where he said he was cooking and doing laundry. The mother, who was running at the track wither another child, notified the son that the children had been found. The Hall County Department of Family & Children Services was contacted. ■ The burglary of a storage unit on Friendship Road was reported June 7. The property owner determined that a Craftsman tool box with tools, two boxes of 9mm ammo, a 3-ton jack and jack, an air compressor, a weed trimmer and edger, a backpack blower and a chainsaw were taken after someone pried open the lock on the unit. While police were ques-
tioning people at the scene, a man wanted on probation warrants in Winder was located. He was taken to the Barrow County Detention Center. ■ Another unit was also entered between June 6-9 when the owner found his lock had been cut. Missing from that unit was a fireproof safe containing personal papers including passports and birth certificates. The victim told police he received an odd text message from someone who helped him move into the unit prior to discovering the burglary. ■ A Braselton resident reported identity fraud after he learned from the IRS that someone had filed a tax return using his Social Security number. ■ An employee of the CVS on Spout Springs Road found a small baggy containing a crystal-like substance suspected to be methamphetamine on June 7. The item was found on the floor next to the front entrance. Police got the substance for proper disposal. ■ A June 6 burglary was reported at Signature Park on Highway 211. Someone broke into the business by forcing open a back door and stole three baseball bats and five boxes of gloves.
■ A suspicious person was observed June 8 at the Shell Station and the Waffle House after 10 p.m. The man, who had been looking around inside the Shell but didn’t make a purchase, walked into Waffle House when he saw a law enforcement officer. After exiting the restroom, he sat down in a booth but didn’t order. He was later seen in the Waffle House parking lot, When he questioned about his behavior, officers learned he was wanted on a parole violation and was transported to the Barrow County Detention Center. ■ An Cadillac Escalade parked at Country Inn & Suites was entered June 89. Someone broke out the driver’s side window. Taken from the vehicle was a Coach wallet, credit cards, check books and a health insurance card. ■ A vehicle traveling too fast was unable to properly stop at the traffic signal at Highway 211 on June 9. An officer watched the driver attempt to back up and pull forward as he waited for the signal to change. At the traffic stop, the officer smelled of alcohol. The driver, who originally provided the name of a family member, was charged with improper stopping, disorderly under
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the influence, driving while license is suspended and DUI (refusal). ■ A driver was unable to maintain a lane of traffic on Thompson Mill Road near Spout Springs Road on June 10 and a traffic stop was made. The driver, who said her license was suspended, contended she was no the way to work at nearly 1 a.m. since she was delivering a credit card machine to her boss. The driver was taken into custody on a Doraville Police Department warrant and also charged with the traffic violations. She was not charged related to the glass smoking pipes, baggies and other drug-related paraphernalia found in her car. ■ Police responded to a Lexington Way location on June 10 to check on a person who texted a family member that she intended to harm herself. The person was checked by medical personnel who indicated all was fine. The woman said she was attempting to get her family member’s attention but did not intend to harm herself. ■ Police responded to a Broadway Avenue location on June 10 after a former employee of Mayfield called in threatening to come to the location with a Samurai sword and kill people he knew.