MPSA Mailbag April 2009
MPSA MAILBAG APRIL 2009
Druggies get hosed down – At 1am I noticed two individuals in a parked car in front of my house snorting coke. I could see it through an open window of the car. I immediately whipped out the garden hose on the front of the house and hosed them down good. They were naturally startled and yelled an obscenity at me – I just told them to take their crap out of our neighborhood. When they tried to get a good look at me in the dark, I hosed at them again. I have done this before, and do not want my street to become a drug haven. They screeched off. It was a dark colored BMW, with a black male and a white male. I told a acquaintance active in safety about this, who suggested that a network develop a show called “America takes back its streets,” modeled after America’s Most Wanted …
LETTERS TO THE MAYOR
Several weeks ago we asked residents to write to the Mayor demanding an end to the furloughs.
#1 – A Piedmont Avenue resident – Hello Mayor Franklin: Straight and to the point…I cannot suggest what should be done to compensate the budget and reinstate increased police protection, as that task is, respectfully, not my job, nor concern. I have lived on Piedmont Avenue in Midtown for 18 years and I’ve never seen it so bad in terms of vagrants and thieves running loose, taking bikes, stealing light fixtures (for the metal), accosting people in broad daylight on the streets and in Piedmont Park (I was cursed out 3 weeks ago for not giving to a homeless man who would not leave me alone), inordinate amount of carjacking, violent muggings / murders, prostitutes and she-males throwing rocks, and…sigh…you get the point. For [what] I pay in property taxes since your 51% tax increase instituted a few years ago, it all doesn’t add up. Please do something…do it quickly…we are suffering.
MAYOR’S RESPONSE: Thanks for writing. Let’s start with crime. Our crime rate is too high though it is lower now than in many years. That doesn’t mean you aren’t experiencing more than you’ve witnessed before. It also doesn’t mean that I don’t support more investment in public safety. I do and am working hard to convince the Council to appropriate funding in the FY 2010 budget. Last year they like a lot of folks thought Atlanta wouldn’t be hit by the national recession or that the recession wouldn’t be so bad. Though public safety represents 70% of the total number of General Fund personnel (not including departments aviation and watershed) we need additional investment. Atlanta should have had 2000 officers 15 to 20 years ago and like the sewers it has been left to this generation of elected officials to make the investment. The furloughs make matters worse (though crime rate is down since January) in terms of police coverage (down 10%). At 1700 officers we have almost reached the 2000 goal and we have more police coverage than ever. The city’s percentage of your local tax bill was 27% when I came into office it is now 23% of the bill. The millage rate was raised 50% in 2002 to 9 plus mills and is now 7.12 mills. So in spite of raising the millage the city has been rolling it back and frankly that’s one of the factors causing financial problems now. Atlanta is a moderate size city with the responsibility for big city operations. Over 400,000 people come into the city everyday to work, operate their businesses and go to school. The city provides a cross section of municipal services to nearly 1 million people each day. Most American cities get state revenue to offset the cost of operating the economic centers of the state. GA does not make such investments in cities ranking it 49th for support of cities. As we move forward in developing the city budget your comments are helpful to understanding the day to day experiences of the people who live here and pay the taxes.
#2 A Myrtle Street resident - I have recently been inspired to request that you end the fire and police furloughs immediately. Last week, I watched (and called 911) as a car wreck involving 2 cars held up traffic and made it very unsafe for pedestrians on 10th St. (near Myrtle) for over 1 hour. After watching the cars sit and the drivers call for 30 minutes, I called 911 myself to ensure that APD had been called. It was close to the afternoon rush hour, when drivers are impatient and speeding down 10th. It was not a small accident, and I certainly hope no one was hurt.
#3 - In October of 2000, we purchased what was then a very dilapidated century-old home sitting on 9th St. and lovingly renovated it back into a single family home. Since our renovation, I’ve lost count of the number of major renovations that have occurred on our street, up to and including four razzings with complete rebuilds and home values in the $1.5 – $2.5 million range. We are now living in a major portion of our retirement income which we hope to realize in 10 short years.
We realized when we made our purchase and chose to live in Midtown that the much maligned Ponce de Leon Avenue was just a few short blocks away along with Boulevard and Edgewood Ave. A neighbor warned us we should never leave anything outside that we cared about or that couldn’t be replaced. We bravely forged ahead, made adjustments to our “suburbs” way of perceiving the world, as evidenced by our chaining our rockers to the front porch. We had an antique bird bath stolen from our front yard in addition to a bike, a blower, a pillow and numerous other “small” items. I, a 54 year old grandmother of 4, have personally confronted a man on my front porch stealing my mail.
In addition to the “petty” nuisances of loud drunks & prostitutes fighting & screaming in the streets in the middle of the night, beer & liquor bottles thrown in my yard, crackpipes and used condoms on the sidewalks, I have dealt with “disturbances” of all varieties and far too many to mention here. Calling 911 is virtually futile. I regularly deal with people begging money from me at the grocery store, on my street, at my door, and in the park. I have witnessed cars being broken into in broad daylight outside my kitchen window. Seeing broken glass and glass repairmen around here is, unfortunately, normal. Our own cars have been broken into eight times in the eight years we’ve lived here – they’ve left blood on my car seat and once they actually stole a pair of pink “Beauty & the Beast” children’s sunglasses and when they could find nothing else of any value in the vehicle, they stole my car manual. I totally expect to go out one morning and find they’ve stolen the children’s car seats. We have experienced many things here and we’ve dealt with many challenges, including a man who was selling drugs out of the house across the street, and the crime associated with the traffic of his “clientele”. One bad property on the street was “torched” one July 4th several years ago and the neighbors & MPSA worked to get the owners to be held accountable by authorities.
We have heard horror story after horror story of people we know being robbed at gunpoint in the immediate neighborhood – usually in the early hours of the morning. The little neighborhood grocery several blocks south of my home has been robbed several times in the last year. My husband witnessed & ultimately assisted a young lady in a fight for her purse with a thug that jumped out of a car full of thugs just outside my kitchen window.
Most recently, in the early morning hours of Sunday March 2, my sister-in-law visiting us from Maryland watched from an upstairs window a couple having sex in a car stopped in the middle of the street. Her husband reported hearing gunshots that morning (which, by the way, we hear all the time). Later that Sunday, we learned that a neighbor’s friend attempting to return to his car had been held up at gunpoint, again outside my kitchen window about 3 a.m. that same Sunday morning. Earlier in the week, I received a message from Midtown Ponce Security Alliance urging us to leave all lights on, ask guests to announce their arrival by blowing their horn, and to put a flashlight on anyone coming into our home so that we could follow them to be sure they weren’t accosted.
For years my husband has felt compelled to walk everyone that visits us to and from their car just to be sure they make it safely. I take off all my jewelry before strolling my grandchildren in the park, and wonder if by allowing them to play in my own backyard I’m putting our very lives at risk. One afternoon two guys were fighting on Argonne and one threw a rock at the other guy which whizzed across the top of my 8′ tall fence and barely missed one of my grandchildren. I have to warn my 80 year old mother-in-law and my 9 month pregnant daughter-in-law to blow their car horn so that I can be sure they’re not mugged (without me knowing about it).
Yesterday, my mother-in-law and I had been shopping and she was going to her car but had left something in the house. As I turned to go inside the house to retrieve the item for her, I hesitated and felt actual fear to leave her standing on the sidewalk by her car in broad daylight even for the few minutes it would take me to return. I have yet to tell my 77 year old mother in Macon, for obvious reasons, that a woman was raped in her home one block south of me on Argonne one weekday during the lunch hour. I realize now that to go out (or come in) after dark in my own neighborhood to my car or to a restaurant is reckless and extremely risky. I am virtually a prisoner in my own home from sundown to sunrise.
In a few weeks, hundreds if not thousands of unsuspecting citizens of the Atlanta area and Georgia will be in my neighborhood for the Dogwood Festival. They’ll be worried about where to park and if that spot is legal and will they be towed…unfortunately that should be the least of their worries. They have no idea how vulnerable they are…They don’t know about having to completely clean out their vehicles – no change in the coin holders, no bags, no glasses cases, nothing that a crack-head could hock for $5. They don’t know that if they stay in the area past sundown to have dinner or visit a shop (adding $ to the city’s coffers) that they put their very lives in jeopardy as the predators will be watching for them…It’s like bringing lambs in for the slaughter. It is only a matter of time as the crime escalates and the law enforcement is depleted until someone is murdered over a wristwatch or some pocket change.
If I can’t get my elected officials – my representatives in government whose salaries I pay and who are the only ones that can actually do something about this situation legally – to realize or care about the “quality of life” issues as well as the public safety issues I am struggling with, perhaps I can appeal to you in terms that seem to carry the most impact – and that is of course financial. How long do you think it will be before a highly publicized tragedy occurs that will negatively impact the commerce of this entire area?
How long do you think we will continue to try to live here and pay taxes and our insane water bills and the revolving bizarre “parking” permits and the general insanity that is “metro living” these days with the city government depleting our Department of Public Safety and our Fire Department? It was bad BEFORE the furloughs…virtually having to ‘call in’ crime reports. I know, I know, “the economy…” – I urge you to take money from the “Administration” who has mismanaged my tax money and gotten us in this situation and put my money where it belongs – protecting the people who pay the money to begin with (and their property). I don’t need another administrator – I need police officers & firefighters. We, Midtowners, are open-minded, strong willed, intelligent, and determined people and we are weary of doing more than our fair share and yet left to fight this battle alone.
Assault by Dangerous Vagrant
A psychotic vagrant attacked an off-duty officer Saturday morning (4/25) during the 7am hour at Post Parkside Someone called the officer out of bed about the individual aggressively panhandling and menacing people in front of the 10th Street entrance of the building, where the officer lives.
Officer Joe, as he is affectionately known around the neighborhood, told the subject to leave once he made it downstairs to the entrance. The assailant swung several times at the officer with a walking stick, striking the officer at least once. At some point during the incident the subject laughingly remarked “I know you are not going to shoot me.” The subject was caught a short distance away. Once apprehended, police discovered a butcher knife concealed beneath his clothing. Officer Joe is fine, and did not require any medical attention.
The assailant, Albert Dees (DOB 3/11/1962), previously served 4 years in the Georgia prison system for aggravated assault and assault on a peace officer arising out of a 2004 incident in Fulton County. He was also arrested by Decatur Police in 2001 for carrying a concealed weapon, and had a recorded address of “homeless.”
Our vision of a Midtown experience does not provide for having dangerous, irrational street people walking around with butcher knives, and we will put him on our court watch list in hopes that this recidivist assailant will be permanently incarcerated before he seriously hurts someone. The incident also occurred near the site of today’s ATAC rally (see below).
FULTON JAIL DETAILS
- Date Arrested 4/25/2009
- Release Date 8/30/2010
- AGG ASLT ON PEACE OFCR 16-5-21
- U/S AGG ASLT ON PEC OFF* 42-8-38
- U/S AGG ASLT ON PEC OFF* 42-8-38
- U/S AGG ASLT ON PEC OFF* 42-8-38
- U/S AGGRAV ASLT SPC 16-5-21 $25,000.00
- U/S OBSTRUCTION OF OFFI* 42-8-38
- U/S OBSTRUCTION OF OFFI* 42-8-38
- Count: 7 Total: $25,000.00
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- 2009 Fulton Mugshot
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- 2004 Fulton mugshot
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- 2002 Fulton Mugshot
Burglar Notes: Frederick Stranahan
RETROSPECTIVE NOTE: The contents of this post originally appeared in several e-blasts. For archival purposes we have combined it to a single post.
After we sent our last e-blast we received the great news to cancel the lookout for Frederick Stranahan. He is now in jail where he belongs, with a hold for Florida authorities. He is one of many who do not need to be out in the community.
From Officer Gurley - I appreciate you getting the word out to the citizens of Zone 5. Approximately 5 hours after I sent the original message, Mr. Stranahan was arrested. I have attached an update that was provided by Sgt. Schierbaum of the Zone 5 Burglary team. You can see why Sgt. Schierbaum was nominated as supervisor of the year.
From Sgt. Schierbuam (Burglary Investigator for our precinct) - Please be advised that Frederick C. Stranahan, wanted burglar from Florida and Zone 6 Burglary suspect, was apprehended without incident at 1815 hours last night at the Intown Suites located at 1944 Piedmont Circle. At the time of his arrest Stranahan still had property in his vehicle from the burglary which occurred earlier in the week Officer Chad Gurley, Zone 6 Burglary Officer, stated that during his post arrest interview that Stranahan stated he and an accomplice had burglarized homes in what Stranahan described as the Midtown area of Atlanta – but could not provide specific locations.
At the time of his arrest Stranahan was clearly under the influence of narcotics which negated Zone 6’s ability to take a voluntary statement/confession or have Stranahan participate in a drive around – which he stated that he was willing to do. Officer Gurley and I will be arranging to check Stranahan out of jail and conduct a second joint interview and conduct a drive around of the two zones with him.
We are presently reviewing both residential and commercial burglaries which have occurred in Zone 5 since Stranahan arrived in Atlanta in preparation for the interview. A pawning history check will also be conducted today as well. We will keep you advised of our progress.
A final note from MPSA – On behalf of the Midtown community we wish to express appreciation for their diligent work in keeping our neighborhoods as safe as possible. They are truly our heroes! We will advise of court watch events and other opportunites to enhance the work of our prosecutors as they arise.
BACKGROUND
#1: APD is currently seeking to apprehend a burglar preying on intown neighborhoods including ours. This suspect is currently operating in the Morningside area, directly adjacent to Ansley Park and the Midtown communities. He has two convictions in Georgia and currently has an active burglary warrant issued out of Florida.
#2: APD has asked us to pass along this information, and to have as many people look at the photo linked below. Questions should be directed to Lt. Padgett at 404-422-6063. Sightings should be reported to 911 without delay.
We now have a new, more updated photo at the same link sent yesterday, along with some more details (below). The latest version has three mugshots, so please look at it again if you only saw one or two mugshots. In our research, we find that Stranahan served several prison sentences in Georgia for offences including burglary, forgery, sale of LSD, and theft by taking. We have no information on out-of-state priors other than what is below. We will also discuss this case at Monday’s (4/13) safety meeting, and add him to our court watch list once he has been apprehended.
- Name: Frederick Charles Stranahan
- White / Male
- DOB: 01-19-1971
- Height: 510
- Weight: 175
- Hair: Brown
- Eyes: Blue
- Tattoo: Upper Left Arm
- Vehicle: 1995 Ford Explorer (Green) GA Tag: AWT5548
ADDITIONAL DETAILS, AS PRESENTED TO US
Info from the Virginia Highland public safety folks – I just received this alert from our ever-alert Officer Gurley here in Zone 6 and since we are the extra eyes and ears for APD – I wanted you to know about this guy on the prowl here in our midst. After you look at his pictures – this is the sort of guy you might encounter at the convenience store, drugstore, etc. and not think anything about it. His appearance is not threatening or evil and defies what we might all think of as a dangerous individual. If you happen to see him or his vehicle – please call 911 right away.
Information from Officer Gurley of APD Zone 6 – commercial burglaries and Zone 6 is currently experiencing a rash of commercial burglaries in the Cheshire Bridge/Lavista area (Beat 601 / 602). He currently has an active warrant issued by Palm Beach County, Florida, for Commercial Burglary. Florida authorities have advised they will extradite Stranahan from Georgia if he is located. Stranahan has two convictions for burglary in Georgia for which he served prison sentences.
As recently as April 6, 2009, Stranahan was renting a room at the Intown Suites located at 1944 Piedmont Circle NE. However, he is no longer registered at that hotel.
Investigators in Palm Beach County have provided me with a telephone number recently used by Stranahan to call acquaintances in Florida. The number was listed to Atlanta Triangle Club / 702 Lakeshore Circle NE, which is a drug rehab center. I also found that on April 3, 2009, he attempted to contact former friends [on] Morningside Place. That residence was burglarized on April 7, 2009. Please become familiar with this subjects photograph and vehicle description. If you know anything of his whereabouts, please report him to 911 without delay.
Fulton County Jail details:
- Date Arrested: 4/09/2009
- Release Date: 10/26/2009
- DEKALB COSO(09W10551) FORC
- PALM BEACH W#090035885 FORS
- U/S BURGLARY 16-7-1 $25,000.00
- U/S BURGLARY 16-7-1 $25,000.00
- U/S FORGERY 2ND DEGREE 16-9-2 $5,000.00
Incarceration Details - Dept. of Corrections (as of 10/05/2011)
- Major Offense: Burglary
- Most Recent Instituion: Rutledge State Prison
- Max Possible Release Date: 4/08/2014
- Tentative Parole Month: 8/2013
Periods of Incarceration in Georgia
- 10/26/2009 to ACTIVE
- 10/12/1994 to 7/13/2002
- 12/11/1991 to 1/19/1994
- 03/01/1991 to 6/06/1991
Sponsors
Many thanks for our community sponsors! While the majority of our funding comes from residents and small businesses, a significant portion of our neighborhood patrol funds comes from the following sponsors:
