Crime Time

If you’ve already been repeatedly denied a date, chances are decent that handcuffing yourself to your crush isn’t going to work.

But a northwest Georgia man tried it anyway. And now he’s going to prison because of it.

On Aug. 10, 2011, James Earl Dean approached the object of his affection, then 18, after her shift ended at the Ringgold Taco Bell. Before she could get into her car, Dean handcuffed his hand to hers.

Romantic? Not exactly.

The woman screamed and other co-workers urged Dean to release her, police said. He did and drove away.

Two days later, Dean was wearing handcuffs again. Only this time, they belonged to a police officer.

This week, a Catoosa County Superior Court judge sentenced Dean to four years in prison followed by six years on probation, The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported. And he’s not allowed to contact the victim or her family, according to the judge’s sentence.

Come on now, James Dean. Clearly she just wasn’t that into you. Next time, I’d …

Continue reading Judge orders prison for Taco Bell handcuffer »

It’s been a few minutes since I was a teenager.

OK, a lot of minutes.

But high school pranks were around long before my time. I mean, who hasn’t headed out in the wee morning hours with enough toilet paper for a third-world country? Was anyone spared from those infamous “kick me” sticky notes?

Apparently, pranks have changed. At a Friday night high school football game, a 16-year-old boy was dared to strip to his boxers and sprint across the field during half-time.

And he did it. Now, Gunner Cook is in big trouble. He’s facing a criminal charge and suspension from school.

Thursday night, his mother told Channel 2 Action News a Coweta County deputy overreacted when he tried to use a Taser to stop the streaker. The deputy slipped as he tried to deploy the Taser. As the deputy escorted Gunner from the stadium, the deputy allegedly used vulgar language when telling students to get back in the stands.

Gunner’s mom says the Taser was too extreme for a harmless prank. But Coweta …

Continue reading Was a Taser necessary for high school streaker? »

Cory Harris allegedly signs the letters "CUR" on his graffiti, according to Atlanta police.

Cory Harris, 21, of Stone Mountain, remained in the DeKalb County jail Thursday.

If your idea of fun includes spray-painting trains, government property and other things that don’t belong to you, I have one suggestion. Don’t sign your work.

You are not an artist, you are a vandal if you decide to destroy things with scribble. But a 21-year-old DeKalb County man was apparently so proud of his work, he added his personal moniker to his designs. And now, he’s linked to at least 70 acts of vandalism in the city of Atlanta alone, police said Thursday.

Cory Sherard Harris was arrested Sept. 11 by APD officers who spotted him “tagging” train cars in the CSX rail yard near Seaboard Avenue, according to Carlos Campos, police spokesman. Harris had markers and was found near 15 train cars which all had fresh logos featuring the letters “CUR,” police said.

Investigators conducted a search of his …

Continue reading Writings on the walls for alleged graffiti vandal »

Matthew Cody Henderson, 28, is accused of stealing two cows in north Fulton County. Photo: Fulton County Sheriff's Office

This is one of those stories that’s udderly impossible to believe happened in metro Atlanta. But it’s no laughing matter to the victims.

A Cobb County man was released from jail Wednesday following his arrest on livestock theft charges. Matthew Cody Henderson, 28, is accused of stealing two cows, according to a Milton Police Department report obtained by Crime Time.

Back in April, a Milton man told police he’d asked Henderson to take a black and white cow to auction and then return the cash, the police report states.

Henderson, of Marietta, picked up the boss’s cow, as well as a cow belonging to a neighbor, according to police. Some power tools were also reported missing.

Henderson allegedly said he’d return the neighbor’s cow and his boss’s cash. But he never returned. We can all imagine what became of the cows.

But the story doesn’t end there. Henderson …

Continue reading Man allegedly steals two cows (and gets the milk for free) »

Jonathon Salas allegedly put his girlfriend on the hood of his SUV and drove on I-85 in Gwinnett County.

If this guy isn’t single now, he should be. When he gets out of jail, that is.

A Gwinnett County man was arrested Tuesday afternoon after allegedly putting his girlfriend on the hood of his SUV and ignoring her screams as he drove on I-85, Channel 2 Action News reported. But other drivers couldn’t help but notice the woman and are credited with helping her to safety, police told Channel 2.

Others on I-85 called 911, took pictures of the woman’s ordeal and surrounded the SUV until the driver was forced to pull over.

“We start motioning to each other, like can you believes this,” Adam Marlatt, a witness, told Channel 2. “One guy is showing me he’s taking pictures. He can tell I’m on the phone. And, I kind of mouthed to him, I’m on with 911.”

Thanks to the Good Samaritans, the SUV finally stopped near the Mall of Georgia and officers quickly arrived and arrested the driver, …

Continue reading Angry man puts girlfriend on hood, speeds down interstate »

Did you hear the one about the man dressed as Burger King that went into McDonald’s? No, this isn’t a joke about The Hamburglar, either.

And once inside, the competitor’s mascot proceeded to hand out burgers, dance and pose for pictures, according to a Rome News-Tribune story.  The “king” said it was for charities, but he didn’t collect any money in the West Rome restaurant Monday afternoon, according to the report.

It sounds funny, unless you’re the restaurant manager. She wasn’t laughing when she called police to report a “suspicious person,” according to the police report obtained by the newspaper.

When approached by the manager, the costumed man got into a white Acura and left, but officers tracked him down by his tag number. Probably wasn’t the first time for the prankster, shown here in a YouTube video.

Do you have a beef to pick with this guy, or do you think it was a harmless act?

Continue reading Report: Burger King pays visit to McDonald’s »

Anyone with information about this man's identity is asked to contact Greenville, S.C. police.

Donald Carter is accused of stealing laptops from Greenville, S.C.

UPDATE: The man believed responsible for stealing laptops in Greenville, S.C., is no stranger to trouble. Turns out the suspect, Donald Carter, 34, was already in jail when Crime Time reported his alleged computer heists.

And he’s a convicted felon that’s served four sentences in Georgia state prisons. At the time of his recent arrest, he was on parole following a burglary conviction, according to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Carter, of Dublin, was arrested Thursday and booked into the Whitfield County jail in Dalton. He remained Wednesday in jail without bond on a long list of charges, according to the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office.

There aren’t many counties in the metro Atlanta area where Carter hasn’t committed a crime, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections website. He’s been …

Continue reading UPDATE: Alleged laptop thief already in jail »

Jean Patrict Souffrant, 40, is accused of trying to kidnap a boy from a Loganville park, according to police.

A 40-year-old Gwinnett County man is accused of trying to kidnap a boy from a park, police said Wednesday. But some quick-acting bystanders prevented any children from harm.

A 911 caller reported seeing a suspicious man approach two football players during practice Monday evening at Bay Creek Park in Loganvillle, Detective J.R. Flanagan with Gwinnett police said. The man, wearing a white T-shirt, blue shorts, glasses and flip-flops, tried to convince the two boys to leave the park with him, the caller said.

Officers arrived at the park and found the suspect, identified as Jean Patrick Souffrant, of Lawrenceville, Flanagan said. Initially, Souffrant denied talking to any children, but didn’t have a good reason for being in the park, according to police.

“In speaking with officers, Souffrant was unable to speak clearly and his explanations changed several times while …

Continue reading Cops: Man tried to kidnap boy from Gwinnett County park »

A man who wanted to get off work a little early is in jail facing terroristic threat charges after calling in a bomb threat, authorities said.

Cherokee Sheriff’s Office investigators said William Miranda, of Canton, placed a call to the Pilgrim’s Pride chicken processing plant and alleged there was a bomb on the premises.

Cherokee deputies, fire department personnel and K-9 units from the Woodstock Police Department searched the facility for two hours.

Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Capt. Joe Perkins said Miranda, an employee of the plant, told co-workers he wanted to leave work early before making the bomb threat Thursday. Miranda was arrested at work Monday.

He is being held at the Cherokee jail on a $11,200 bond.

Continue reading Police: Man wanting to leave work made bomb threat »

It’s pretty tempting. Tell Snellville police who stole 12 guns, including two assault rifles, and get either a PlayStation 3 or a $350 gift card.

That’s because investigators in the Gwinnett County city feel certain that teenagers living in the neighborhood where the guns were stolen known who is responsible, Tony Thomas with Channel 2 Action News reported.

“We thought by offering something that might be more enticing to the age group we are targeting other than just some money might bring somebody forward,” Sgt. Trey Downs says.

An AR-15 assault rifle, an SKS rifle, and several handguns, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition, are among the items taken during the burglary in the Hawthorne Glen subdivision, according to police. Also taken was a gaming station. Yep, a PlayStation 3.

The homeowner, who admits the guns were not locked up, says he was at work when someone broke in through a back window. Now, investigators want to get the weapons returned, before they end up …

Continue reading Cops offer PlayStation 3 as reward to find stolen guns »