How to Stay Safe While Shopping

For those getting a head-start on rounding up goodies for Christmas, Cobb police have some advice for how protect your purchases and yourself.

By Cobb Police With the onset of the holidays comes a stronger presence from thieves trying to take advantage of the season in their own way. Thanksgiving was last week, meaning the holiday shopping season has officially began. The intent is not to frighten you into staying home to do all your shopping online, but instead to educate you with simple steps you can take that will reduce your chances of becoming a victim. The thefts of items from your vehicle almost always increase this time of year. Thieves target the parking lots at malls and retail establishments looking for high yield with little investment. But again, a little planning goes a long way toward reducing your chances of becoming a victim. Try to choose well-lit parking spaces…

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Woman Dies After Crash with Powder Springs Man

Charges aren't expected against 26-year-old Nicholas Weinberg.

Cobb police were informed Tuesday by the Cobb Medical Examiner's Office that Andrea Brantley of Smyrna has died from injuries caused by a head-on crash in September in Marietta.  Brantley, 69, was driving west Sept. 18 in a 2012 Toyota Camry on Ridge Road when she collided with a 1999 Mercedes traveling east, Cobb police said. She was taken to Emory Adventist Hospital. The driver of the Mercedes, 26-year-old Nicholas Weinberg of Powder Springs, said at the time that he would seek medical treatment on his own. Charges aren’t expected in the crash, police said. Anyone with further information is asked to call investigators at 770-499-3987. Don’t miss any of the local news you care about. Subscribe to West Cobb Patch’s free newsletter, like …

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Service Saturday for Former Cobb Police Chief

Robert Hightower, who was also the county's first director of public safety, died at 78 on Tuesday.

Just two months after Cobb County police headquarters in Marietta was renamed after Robert E. Hightower, he died of complications from a fall. Hightower completed a 26-year tenure with Cobb, serving as chief of police, as well as the first director of public Safety, which oversees police, fire, 911 and corrections. Hightower led the police department through critical periods of growth, creating many specialized units that are still in service today. He also created the Department of Public Safety Training Academy. After leaving Cobb, Hightower served as director of the Georgia State Patrol and as Georgia's first director of homeland security. He began his career in the Navy's Underwater Demolition Team as a Navy Seal. He also served as a …

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Police, Commissioners Discuss Pawn Shop Tech

The potential changes to the Code of Cobb County would mandate security measures to fight the pawning of stolen goods, but the issue of fees for the service is proving a stumbling block.

The Cobb County Police Department and the Cobb Board of Commissioners are looking for ways to recover stolen property and catch those pawning stolen items. The Police Department has suggested the amendment of Chapter 78 of the Code of Cobb County. The additions would include provisions for Cobb County pawn shops to be equipped with electronic fingerprint readers. Additionally, pawn shop attendants would be required to photograph each client and the items being pawned. "If we have the system, more property will be recovered and people who trade in stolen goods may move to other ventures," said Cobb Police Chief John Houser. "In areas where this program has been started, business does not decrease." Houser had been observing other …

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Raquel Nelson Arrested on Eluding Police Charge

The Cobb woman accused of vehicular homicide in the 2010 death of her son as he crossed Austell Road now faces four unrelated misdemeanor charges.

Raquel Nelson, who came into the national spotlight after her 4-year-old son was struck and killed while crossing the street in 2010, was arrested Friday by Cobb police on four unrelated charges. The Marietta resident was taken into custody in the 200 block of Giibbs Street, jail records show. The four charges, all misdemeanors, are fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, affixing of materials which reduce light transmission through windows or windshield, speeding, and expired/no tag. She made her $1,300 bond Saturday, records show. Patch has contacted Cobb police about the arrest and will provide further details when they are available. The attorney who represented her in her son's death, Steven Sadow, said he was unaware of …

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Local Job Alert

Help Wanted: Reserve Police Officer

In need of work? Maybe today's Local Job Alert will be a perfect fit.

Cobb County needs a part-time reserve officer for its police force: Minimum Qualifications: Must be a former Cobb County police officer who resigned or retired in good standing, with at least 10 years of experience on the force. Pay: Part time, between $14.15 and 24.06 per hour   Final Filing Date: Monday, Aug. 27 Full job posting and application information Don’t miss any of our Local Job Alerts. Subscribe to West Cobb Patch’s free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Cobb Police: No Increase in Theater Presence

The department is aware of the potential for copycat attacks after the Colorado movie theater shooting, but has no plans to modify its current security plans.

In wake of the shooting in a Colorado movie theater during the midnight premiere of "The Dark Knight Rises," communities across the country look to their local police to ensure that the same thing doesn't happen in their towns. Sgt. Dana Pierce, Public Information Officer at the Cobb County Police Department, says that the uniformed presence at most county movie theaters should be sufficient to prevent patrons from attacks. "There is definitely the possibility of copycat attacks," Pierce said. "However, most theaters already have uniformed police officers or sheriff's deputies on duty already." Pierce says the owners of movie theaters without police protection may call to request the department provide them with additional security. Don’t …

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Teen Allegedly Kills Mother

Police reported to the crime scene at Ashley Drive, off Barrett Parkway and immediately arrested an 18-year-old.

Update (8:00 a.m., Tuesday): According to a news release from the Cobb County Police Department, Damian Cornell Purdue McElrath has been charged with aggravated assault and murder in the death of Diane McElrath. Update (10:25 p.m.): The victim has been identified as 58-year-old Diane McElrath. Her son, Damian Cornell Purdue McElrath, 18, has been charged with murder and aggravated assault. He is being held without bond in the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. Update (6:15 p.m.): According to Cobb County Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Dana Pierce, officers from Precinct 5 responded to the residence at on Ashley Dr. NW at 1:43 p.m. Monday. Upon arriving at the scene, a male was found near the mailbox and detained. Shortly …

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Applications Being Accepted for Public Safety Academy

Those wanting to attend must be 21 years old and residents of Cobb or work for the county government.

The deadline to register for Cobb's next Citizens Public Safety Academy is Friday, July 20. This program provides an opportunity for citizens to get an inside look at the Cobb Department of Public Safety's three units: fire, police, and the emergency communications center. Classes for the free 13-week program are held every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., and the location changes from week to week depending on what is being discussed or introduced to the class. The fall session is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Sept. 4. Applicants must be 21 years old and residents of Cobb County or work for Cobb County government. The class is limited to 25 pre-screened applicants. If a person is not accepted into this session, they will be placed on a future …

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