Commerce police arrested a Commerce High School student last Friday after she made repeated threats to “blow up graduation” and commit other acts of violence following a dispute with a former boyfriend.
“A lot of it stemmed out of a relationship with a boyfriend,” explained Max Briggs, the school resource officer who made the arrest. “I’m hoping it will serve as a wake-up call for her.”
[Full Story »]
Public Safety
Road grinding to begin Monday
Driving through downtown Commerce will get a lot more challenging starting Monday.
That’s when crews under the Department of Transportation will begin milling about four inches of pavement off Broad and Elm streets from Washington Street south to Hwy. 334 near Ingles in a project that will ultimately result in new pavement and striping.
“They will be working at night, but it is going to cause major interruptions during the day because of the uneven pavement,” city manager Pete Pyrzenski told the Commerce City Council during its work session May 6. This week, workers are lowering manholes and water valve lids.
The last time the DOT milled down Broad and Elm streets it created an obstacle course of raised tops to water valves and sewer manholes that caused many a vehicle to need a new front end alignment. This go-round, the crew will lower the devices by four inches, then patch the resulting hole before the grinding starts.
That’s when crews under the Department of Transportation will begin milling about four inches of pavement off Broad and Elm streets from Washington Street south to Hwy. 334 near Ingles in a project that will ultimately result in new pavement and striping.
“They will be working at night, but it is going to cause major interruptions during the day because of the uneven pavement,” city manager Pete Pyrzenski told the Commerce City Council during its work session May 6. This week, workers are lowering manholes and water valve lids.
The last time the DOT milled down Broad and Elm streets it created an obstacle course of raised tops to water valves and sewer manholes that caused many a vehicle to need a new front end alignment. This go-round, the crew will lower the devices by four inches, then patch the resulting hole before the grinding starts.
12 arrested at J&J Flea Market
Twelve people were arrested for selling counterfeit items during a raid Saturday at J&J Flea Market.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Southern Region Anti-Piracy Section of the Recording Industry Association of America and Dupree Security, representing various major brand manufacturers, culminated an investigation into sales and distribution of counterfeit and pirated property at the J&J Flea Market, located south of Nicholson. Items being sold included compact discs, professional sports caps, designer bags, sunglasses, shoes and other items.
[Full Story »]
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Southern Region Anti-Piracy Section of the Recording Industry Association of America and Dupree Security, representing various major brand manufacturers, culminated an investigation into sales and distribution of counterfeit and pirated property at the J&J Flea Market, located south of Nicholson. Items being sold included compact discs, professional sports caps, designer bags, sunglasses, shoes and other items.
[Full Story »]
Outburst at police station leads to arrest
A Maysville man who couldn’t control his temper will face interference with government property charges after ramming his fist through the drywall in the Commerce Police Department lobby and deliberately stopping up a toilet in the holding cell.
The arrest report did not indicate why Matthew Tillman Bagwell, 23, of 2810 Hwy. 98, was at the police department — just what he allegedly did while he was there.
After punching a hole in the lobby wall right by the front door, Tillman was arrested, handcuffed and taken to a holding cell, according to the report. At some point he managed to get his hands, which were handcuffed behind him, in front of his body, after which he stuffed a blanket into a commode and flushed the commode repeatedly, flooding the room, according to the report.
For all of the arrests and incidents reported over the past week by the Commerce Police Department, read the May 8 edition of The Commerce News.
The arrest report did not indicate why Matthew Tillman Bagwell, 23, of 2810 Hwy. 98, was at the police department — just what he allegedly did while he was there.
After punching a hole in the lobby wall right by the front door, Tillman was arrested, handcuffed and taken to a holding cell, according to the report. At some point he managed to get his hands, which were handcuffed behind him, in front of his body, after which he stuffed a blanket into a commode and flushed the commode repeatedly, flooding the room, according to the report.
For all of the arrests and incidents reported over the past week by the Commerce Police Department, read the May 8 edition of The Commerce News.
Stopped by police, man vows to get cops fired
A man cited for two traffic violations not only told police that he would not pay the citations, but also added that he planned to hire an attorney to get them fired.
The incident began when an officer at the intersection of North Elm Street and Washington Street noticed as he made a turn that the occupants of a Ford Explorer looked at him very intently as he made the turn. The officer said in his report that he kept watching, and noted that the vehicle backed up and turned into the parking lot near Commerce Spinal Center, on Maysville Road.
[Full Story »]
The incident began when an officer at the intersection of North Elm Street and Washington Street noticed as he made a turn that the occupants of a Ford Explorer looked at him very intently as he made the turn. The officer said in his report that he kept watching, and noted that the vehicle backed up and turned into the parking lot near Commerce Spinal Center, on Maysville Road.
[Full Story »]
Outdoor burning ban now in effect
If you’ve got leaves, limbs or other yard waste to burn, you’ll have to wait until October to burn it.
A ban on outdoor burning is in effect in 54 Georgia counties, primarily in the northern half of the state.
The ban includes Banks, Barrow, Jackson and Madison counties and is required by the state Environmental Protection Division to enhance air quality during the summer months when high ozone levels can negatively impact people’s health. Elevated ozone and particulate matter can contribute to watery eyes, breathing issues, and lung and heart disease.
The burn ban will be in effect May 1 through Sept. 30 and affects the following counties: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker and Walton.
For the full story, see the May 1 edition of The Commerce News.
A ban on outdoor burning is in effect in 54 Georgia counties, primarily in the northern half of the state.
The ban includes Banks, Barrow, Jackson and Madison counties and is required by the state Environmental Protection Division to enhance air quality during the summer months when high ozone levels can negatively impact people’s health. Elevated ozone and particulate matter can contribute to watery eyes, breathing issues, and lung and heart disease.
The burn ban will be in effect May 1 through Sept. 30 and affects the following counties: Banks, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Butts, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crawford, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lumpkin, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Peach, Pickens, Pike, Polk, Putnam, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Troup, Twiggs, Upson, Walker and Walton.
For the full story, see the May 1 edition of The Commerce News.
Tag reader leads to recovery of stolen vehicle
The Commerce Police Department’s (relatively) new auto tag reader resulted in the recovery last week of a vehicle reported stolen in Athens-Clarke.
A Commerce officer was on patrol on U.S. 441 southbound when the tag reader alerted him that a vehicle was stolen. When the officer tried to pull the vehicle over, it slowed down, but continued slowly for a half mile before coming to a stop at Homer Road, according to the arrest report. As it came to a stop, the officer noted the occupants of the vehicle moving around and observed a small child who appeared to be standing up in the front seat. [Full Story »]
A Commerce officer was on patrol on U.S. 441 southbound when the tag reader alerted him that a vehicle was stolen. When the officer tried to pull the vehicle over, it slowed down, but continued slowly for a half mile before coming to a stop at Homer Road, according to the arrest report. As it came to a stop, the officer noted the occupants of the vehicle moving around and observed a small child who appeared to be standing up in the front seat. [Full Story »]
Two face cocaine possession charges
Two Spring Street residents face cocaine possession charges after Commerce police allegedly found plastic bags of the substance in each man’s pants pocket following a traffic stop last week on Williford Street at South Elm.
Jermaine Lee Burnes, 37, and Richard Dee Burnes, 44, both of 164 Spring Street, were passengers in a vehicle pulled over because of an expired tag, according to the arrest report.
Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer immediately noticed a number of open 12-ounce containers of beer and the smell of alcohol.
Patting down Richard Burnes for weapons, the officer said he found a baggie containing what appeared to be cocaine in Burnes’ watch pocket. A similar search of Jermaine Burnes also turned up a small bag of the substance, the report said — also in his watch pocket.
The driver of the car, identified as Casey Rashard Burnes, was cited for violation of the open container law and following too closely, and was released, but the other two men were charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and taken to the Jackson County Jail.
For all of the arrests reported during the past week by the Commerce Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, see the April 24 print edition of The Commerce News.
Jermaine Lee Burnes, 37, and Richard Dee Burnes, 44, both of 164 Spring Street, were passengers in a vehicle pulled over because of an expired tag, according to the arrest report.
Upon approaching the vehicle, the officer immediately noticed a number of open 12-ounce containers of beer and the smell of alcohol.
Patting down Richard Burnes for weapons, the officer said he found a baggie containing what appeared to be cocaine in Burnes’ watch pocket. A similar search of Jermaine Burnes also turned up a small bag of the substance, the report said — also in his watch pocket.
The driver of the car, identified as Casey Rashard Burnes, was cited for violation of the open container law and following too closely, and was released, but the other two men were charged with violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act and taken to the Jackson County Jail.
For all of the arrests reported during the past week by the Commerce Police Department and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, see the April 24 print edition of The Commerce News.
Burglars hit Advance Auto
The Commerce Police Department is investigating the burglary April 18 of Advance Auto Parts, South Elm Street.
Police were summoned shortly before 7 a.m. by the store manager, who arrived at work to find the front door forced open and the lock broken.
Officers cleared the building, during which time they noted that the back door was also forced open and that wiring to the store’s computer and its security system were cut. They also observed merchandise on the floor.
The case remains under investigation.
Police were summoned shortly before 7 a.m. by the store manager, who arrived at work to find the front door forced open and the lock broken.
Officers cleared the building, during which time they noted that the back door was also forced open and that wiring to the store’s computer and its security system were cut. They also observed merchandise on the floor.
The case remains under investigation.
police pile more charges on theft suspect
Last week, Commerce police added two more charges to the account of a 24-year-old man recently arrested on theft charges.
Joshua Rashard Rucker, 614 Traynham Road, Commerce, is charged with theft by taking in connection with a Dec. 9 incident in which a 23-year-old white male told police that he’d let two friends stay at his house and while they were there, a cell phone and two house keys became missing.
The victim called the woman, then Rucker’s wife, who said that Rucker had a cell phone that matched the one the victim described. She warned him to have all of the locks on his house changed “because Josh is a thief and will come back and take whatever he wants.”
The victim later discovered five polo shirts were also missing.
Rucker is also charged with criminal trespass in connection with March 26 damage to a storage unit at a North Elm Street location. The unit was owned by an ex-wife.
Previous charges include theft of items from a house on Clayton Street belonging to a former father-in-law.
Joshua Rashard Rucker, 614 Traynham Road, Commerce, is charged with theft by taking in connection with a Dec. 9 incident in which a 23-year-old white male told police that he’d let two friends stay at his house and while they were there, a cell phone and two house keys became missing.
The victim called the woman, then Rucker’s wife, who said that Rucker had a cell phone that matched the one the victim described. She warned him to have all of the locks on his house changed “because Josh is a thief and will come back and take whatever he wants.”
The victim later discovered five polo shirts were also missing.
Rucker is also charged with criminal trespass in connection with March 26 damage to a storage unit at a North Elm Street location. The unit was owned by an ex-wife.
Previous charges include theft of items from a house on Clayton Street belonging to a former father-in-law.
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