County reopens bidding process on Polo Fields equestrian center

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Polo Fields equestrian center may have one last chance at life after the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners voted to reopen bidding on the stables at a Feb. 7 work session.

County commissioners voted 4-0 to extend bidding through the end of April. The item was proposed by commissioners Todd Levent and Cindy Jones Mills. Commissioner Alfred John was absent. Levent said interested bidders must cover the costs to restore and maintain the facility, like how the United Futbol Academy uses the soccer portion of the fields.

Commissioner Laura Semanson said the previous issue was not a lack of interest, but it was because the facility cost too much to repair.

Interim Parks and Recreation Director Laura Pate said the county had an eligible bidder, but they had only wanted to lease the facility if the county paid for the repairs.

See COUNTY, Page 7

The nine-member commission, Film Forsyth, was announced Jan. 13 and will assist with sourcing for leads and location scouting for projects in the county’s film industry.

“Our communities in Forsyth have many different unique characteristics, natural settings and a blend of big city and rural community making it an ideal location for productions of all sizes,” County Commission Chairman Alfred John said. “We welcome the TV and film industry to our community and recognize the impact productions have on our local businesses.”

Film Forsyth is composed of county Director of Building and Economic Development Vivian Vakili; makeup

See FILM, Page 7

OPINION

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Deputies arrest man on felony drug counts

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a man Feb. 2 after reportedly finding marijuana and an array of other illegal substances in his car parked in a median along Ga. 400 near McFarland Parkway.

Deputies found Andre Camarena, 32, of Norcross in the back seat of the parked car.

The sheriff’s report states that Camarena appeared to be overdosing, and deputies noticed the smell of marijuana inside the car and a straw with a white powdery substance on it.

Deputies reported finding a bag of cocaine in Camarena’s pocket. In the glovebox, they reported fining 9 grams of marijuana, five MDMA pills, 17 grams of Psilocybin mushrooms, 10 grams of cocaine and 45 alprazolam pills.

The deputies identified Camarena’s driver’s license as having been suspended for DUI in 2022. A deputy conducted field sobriety tests that determined Camarena was under the influence to the extent that he was unsafe to drive.

Deputies transported Camarena to Northside Forsyth Hospital. After being cleared, Camarena was transported to Forsyth County Jail on charges of possession of marijuana under an ounce, MDMA, Psilocybin, alprazolam and drug-related objects, as well as possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. The deputy said it appeared Camarena also took two blood vials from the emergency room with the intent to dispose of them.

Deputies issued two citations for DUI multiple substances and suspended licenses as well.

Suspect in hit and run cited for injuring woman

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a man Feb. 2 who allegedly hit a pregnant woman with his vehicle on Burruss Mill Road then fled the scene.

A caller told deputies they saw the driver intentionally hit the woman with the mirror of his vehicle. The driver then lost control and fled the scene on foot.

Deputies arrested Damian Berryman, 26, of Gainesville after tracking him and pursuing him on foot. Berryman was charged with felony aggravated assault, driving without a valid license, obstruction of law enforcement, reckless driving and hit-and-run resulting in injury.

Deputies arrest suspect in family threat incident

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested a man Feb. 7 charged with threatening to kill his daughter’s family some weeks ago.

Deputies received a call Jan. 2 from a man who alleged his father-in-law, John Colera, 60, of Cumming threatened to kill him, his wife and their 3-year-old son.

The man told deputies he and his family live with Colera and his wife at a home on Colchester Creek Drive.

The caller and his wife, Colera’s daughter, gave the elder couple an eviction notice after they had been having problems. After a second eviction notice was issued, Colera’s wife said her husband got angry and said he would kill his daughter and son-in-law.

Colera’s wife said her husband then grabbed two long guns from the wall. She warned the younger couple of Colera’s threat, the sheriff’s report stated.

The daughter and son-in-law barricaded themselves in a bathroom with their toddler, and then called law enforcement. He told deputies on the phone Colera had left in his truck.

Colera’s daughter told deputies her father has been becoming politically radical- ized and had expressed suicidal thoughts.

Colera is being held at the Forsyth County Jail, charged with felony terroristic threats and acts. Bond has been set at $22,130.

Man reports robbery by three of his students

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A man reported he was robbed at gunpoint inside his home on Vicarage Walk Feb. 2 by three students taking his certified ethical hacking class.

He said the students came to his home at 12:30 a.m., stating that they needed “urgent help,” the police report said, so the man let them in. They entered his bedroom inside the basement, which is where he hosts the $500 classes. The man said one suspect pointed a gun at him and ordered him to disclose where the valuables were kept. The other two suspects began removing items from the home.

After the first suspect threatened the teacher with a stun gun, they all left.

The man said he delayed calling the police because he wanted to give the suspects an opportunity to return the stolen items. He said he attempted to contact the suspects, and they would not respond.

The suspects reportedly stole thousands of dollars’ worth of guns, ammunition, technological devices, accessories and Viagra supplements. They also stole his driver’s license, debit cards, Social Security card and miscellaneous paperwork.

The man said he did not keep records on his students. But he did provide police with their contact numbers and possible addresses. The man described one suspect as a lighter skinned Black male around 35 years old, wearing a purple long sleeve sweater and 5-foot-10 in height.

He described another suspect as a White male around 35 years old, wearing a red Adidas hoodie and jeans and around 6-foot-2 in height.

The last suspect was described as a dark-skinned Black male with a mustache and beard, around 44 years old, wearing a sports jacket and around 5-foot-9 in height. The identities of the suspect have not been verified, the police report said.