News Nearby: Pounds of Meth Seized; Cop Fired

Authorities Seize 3.5 Pounds of Meth

Authorities from Haralson and Paulding counties found 3.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and a firearm at a Buchanan residence before dawn Monday.

The street value of the meth is estimated to be around $90,000. Kevin Womack, 52, and Denise Powell, 48, were arrested on drug and firearm charges.

Man Jailed After Dog's Ride in Truck

Cartersville police arrested Jerry Mason, 50, of Savannah on Monday after his dog was allegedly locked in the back of the U-haul he was driving. 

When police responded to a gas station after a complaint, the dog was lying next to the truck in the parking lot and someone was pouring water on it to help cool it down.

Mason said the dog had only been in the U-haul for an hour and he "did not think an hour was a long period of time to keep the dog in the back of the truck."

Mason was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Canton's Assistant Police Chief Fired

Todd Vande Zande, who temporarily took the helm of the Canton Police Department after the agency faced widespread criticism for its role in the search of 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera, was fired Monday.

Vande Zande's attorney said that if his client was fired, he would "immediately seek injunctive and other relief through the Superior Court of Cherokee County against the City of Canton and individually against Wood and Merchant" on Vande Zande's behalf.

Videos Allegedly Linked to Pipe Bomb Suspect 

The attorney for the teenager arrested last Monday in connection with an explosives case in Canton told WSB-TV that YouTube instructional videos about pipe bombs came from the suspect's account.

"It's my understanding that this is my client's Internet account," Ashleigh Merchant, the suspect's attorney, told WSB-TV. "I think it's a huge problem."

Man Allegedly Assaulted for Being Gay

Details surrounding an alleged assault on a gay man Saturday night as he exited a Midtown parking garage were still emerging Monday afternoon.

According to the Atlanta police, the 50-year-old victim said he was walking in the west district area of Atlantic Station when he asked a male and female couple for directions.

The white male then reportedly asked him, “Are you gay?” When the victim replied that he was, he said the man knocked him to the ground with a punch to the face, striking his head as he fell.

The assailant then fled on foot and there have been no arrests.

Don’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to West Cobb Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.