MPSA Patrol Activity – July 2010
Stats for month-long period ending with July safety meeting (cut-0ff date 7/13)…
Quick Run-Down
- 17 Arrests
- 20 calls for service via 911
- 22 calls for service via patrol hotline
- 17 requests for property visits for out-of-town members
MPSA Patrol Arrest Activity
- [Date | Name | Charge | Location]
- 6/15/2010 | Reginald S. | Prob Viol Burglary – Fulton | [Not noted]
- 6/18/2010 | Joseph G. | Poss Marijuana | [Not noted]
- 6/19/2010 | Alvin B. | Drining in Public | [Not noted]
- 6/21/2010 | Hood, Michael | Prowling | 700′s Penn
- 6/22/2010 | Robert S. | Probation Viol Shoplifting – Fulton | 400′s 4th
- 6/22/2010 | Antonio B. | Theft by Taking – Auto | 650 Ponce
- 6/25/2010 | Detrick T. | Drinking in Public | 551 Ponce
- 6/25/2010 | Royal D. | Warrant | 551 Ponce
- 6/25/2010 | Anthony T. | Drinking in Public | Ponce & Piedmont
- 6/26/2010 | Tremlin D. | Disorderly Conduct & Urinating in Public | Ponce & Bvd
- 6/29/2010 | Pablo D. | Drinking in Public | 650 Ponce
- 6/29/2010 | Judge H. | Warrant Shoplifting – Riverdale | [Not noted]
- 7/02/2010 | Barbara S. | Criminal Trespassing | Ponce & Chas Allen
- 7/02/2010 | Cindy G. | Warrant Traffic – East Point | 600′s Bvd
- 7/04/2010 | Michael H. | Burglary | Penn Ave
- 7/09/2010 | Keith C.| Poss Crack | 400′s Ponce
- 7/09/2010 | Terrell C. | Disorderly Conduct | [Not noted]
- 7/09/2010 | Tony L. | Disorderly Conduct| [Not noted]
- 7/11/2010 | Jermitri M. | False Report to Police | Ponce & Chas Allen
Suspicious persons noted in patrol logs
- [Date | Reason | Location]
- 6/16/2010 | Prowling | 900′s Myrtle
- 6/18/2010 | Harassing Women | Peachtree & 8th
- 6/25/2010 | Trespass Warning | Ponce & Myrtle
- 7/11/2010 | Prostitute | [Not noted]
- 7/11/201 | John | [Not noted]
8TH ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY ON AUG. 3RD
Our 8th annual Midtown Block party promises to be our best ever!
The kids will be entertained by the Super Slide, street chalk, and bubbles while the adults listen to the smooth jazz sounds of the Michael Stechison Trio. You will also meet many of the Zone 5 precinct officers from the Atlanta Police Department and our local firemen. Our Patrol Director, Sgt. Cooper, will be present, along with other officers who patrol our neighborhood daily in our MPSA patrol truck.
We also need volunteers for the evening for a number of tasks, among them: Pick up tables & chairs during the afternoon, trash and recycling, and help with the kids’ area. If you can help out, please email us at info@midtownponce.org.
Please plan to attend this fun evening of food and fellowship with your neighbors.
Our sponsors for National Night Out are: IKEA, Target, Shane’s Rib Shack, Midtown Wash, L & M Grocery Store, Patti Ellis & Adam Ellis of Atlanta Fine Homes – Sotheby’s, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, and Mary Mac’s.
MPSA Mailbag 7/25/10
Observations shared with us by your neighbors… Not necessarily the position of the MPSA…
Drug activity at Kennesaw Ave. & Ponce – This morning (approximately 5:40 a.m. on my way to work while pulling out of the McDonald’s drive-thru) a few people were standing on the steps using what would appear to be drug paraphernalia. They had some kind of torch lighter that was being used (not just a quick light for a cigarette). The drive-thru lines up with the stairs and they were standing in the shadows. The light from the torch caught my eye. Lately, there are a few people with long dreadlocks who seem to be “new people on the stage”. One of the streetwalkers (female) was also with them. (side note: can the city do anything to illuminate that corner better? Maybe ask the owner of the property to trim the shrubs/trees so it’s not a nest for people to hide?) I would have called 911, but the last time I did that (we had a homeless person walking around the fourth floor of our secured parking garage) the 911 dispatch was bent out of shape that I was not able to wait to meet the officer. Again, I was on my way to work this morning as well and was not able to stop/wait for APD. It seems like a daily occurrence, though, between the Ponce Hotel and that corner red brick building. I’m sure this is nothing new to report, unfortunately. I’m hoping the proposed new 311 system will make reporting easier for citizens. Sometimes calling 911 is challenging.
Street prostitutes inevitably bring more crime - There has been a LOT of prostitute activity on my block in the past week, seems to be a big increase. This culminated in a fight and shots fired about 4:30 AM Monday. There was so much screaming and yelling between prostitute and john that it woke me up. I called 911 to report it. Not 15 mins later there was another argument and shots fired. I called and reported that as well.
11-12 at night til dawn this seems to be prevalent along 3rd in my block. I saw an AJC article recently about an APD sting/crackdown on Metropolitan Ave and wonder if the same thing could be effective around here.
I also suspect some of these prostitutes (who are actually black men dressed as women) live in 1 of 2 apartment buildings along Piedmont just north of 3rd (next to Dr Rossi’s office). Walking my dogs one evening last week I saw a man hanging out in front of one of these buildings and then shortly after saw him dressed as a woman working the corner.
Showing folks what he’s got - The whores have been back the past two mornings at 3rd and Piedmont, around 5:30am. But there is another reason I am contacting you today — There is a flasher in the apartment complex on the northeast corner of Piedmont and Juniper. Three times now, as I have walked 3rd street to or from MARTA there has been a black guy in the third floor apartment standing completely naked in his balcony doorway. He makes sure to call your attention to him, so you will see him standing there. I just keep walking, but to be honest I find such behavior to be really unsettling. I am going to call the complex this morning, but is there anything else I should do?
Penn Avenue Burglary Suspect Arrested
Major Williams gave us the great news that a suspect in the home invasion alert we sent out last Tuesday has been arrested. According to APD, he was apprehended after burglarizing a home in Old Fourth Ward, following similar patterns to the burglaries on Penn Avenue. Major Williams further reported that a victim of one of the Penn Avenue burglaries positively identified the suspect in a photo line-up. APD is pursuing search warrants for the suspect’s home as their investigation continues.
Major Williams sends the following message: “I am grateful for the community’s support, patience, and confidence in Zone 5 and our public safety share-holders!”
Other reminders from Major Williams:
- Always (24/7) be vigilant (on your guard, cautious, observant, watchful).
- Report all suspicious people/activity to 911.
- Keep your living areas locked (windows/doors/gates).
- Follow the Clean Car/Vehicle rule. Leave nothing/nothing/nothing visible in your car. It does not have to be valuable – when it is visible it is interesting and smashing in your window is no big deal to anyone who is interested in what may be valuable.
We cannot stress enough how grateful we are that Major Williams keeps us informed, and we wish also to extend commendations to all the officers of APD who work diligently to keep our community safe.
Surge in Prostitution Activity
Area residents have noticed a surge in transvestite prostitute activity in the area of 3rd and 4th Streets from Juniper to Myrtle Streets. For a long time the bulk of them were good about staying out of our area, but this activity has shifted back into our area.
A transvestite prostitute who, right after this picture was taken, changed clothes in someone's front yard
We have allocated additional funding to add patrol coverage at 4am to discourage transvestite prostitutes and particularly the criminal activity they inherently bring with them. It has already escalated into a shootout in the early morning hours of July 19th, a situation to which all three agencies and patrol forces responded – APD, Midtown Blue, and MPSA. This is a tough situation and we will stay on top of it as best as we can with limited patrol funding.
We believe that some of the prostitutes on the street have access to an apartment in the 700 block of Piedmont. Sgt. Cooper spoke to the manager there and learned that the building is now under new ownership. We will work to get cooperation by the new property owner to clean up that area. We have also requested that the City of Atlanta Parks Department trim back branches obstructing street light coverage. We have also asked Georgia Power to upgrade the bulbs in that area, similar to those on 8th Street between Juniper and Piedmont. We will advise the community if we need help in elevating pressure…
You can help us now by encouraging your neighbors to join MPSA, we need more revenue for patrol hours and that revenue comes from our members and sponsors.
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:
