Cumming to host law enforcement basketball tournament

By SHELBY ISRAEL shelby@appenmedia.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Dobbs Creek Recreation Center in Cumming will host the 17th annual Great Atlanta Shootout Basketball Tournament March 24-26.

More than 45 teams of law enforce - ment officers, detention officers, corrections officers, firefighters, probation officers, active U.S. Armed Forces members and law enforcement officers’ spouses will compete in four divisions at the tournament.

The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau welcomed players to stay in any of Alpharetta’s 30 hotels to enjoy the city’s attractions during the competition.

“We are thrilled to welcome back the Great Atlanta Shootout to Alpharetta,” Visitors Bureau CEO and President Janet Rodgers said. “A

See BASKETBALL, Page 12 ing permit expediter with Georgia Peach Permitting, had submitted the original request for the 1,362-squarefoot structure on behalf of the homeowners. At a Feb. 28 County Planning Commission meeting, Rainwater said the structure would be used as a guest house or residence for an in-home caregiver, not as a rental.

More than 10 residents of the subdivision attended that meeting to oppose the application, expressing concerns

See FORSYTH, Page 4

Northview High School presents Interschool Genetics Symposium

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Alpharetta Bee Company provides sweet deals

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Man cited for fraud using company card

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth deputies arrested a man March 7 who allegedly used his employer’s debit card to withdraw more than $400 while with the company in 2021.

A woman at Masterpiece Doors in Alpharetta informed deputies May 6, 2021, she had given fellow employee Lomack Pridgen, 24, of Alpharetta, the company debit card and instructed him to get fuel at Murphy Express on Atlanta Highway May 5, 2021.

The woman said Pridgen filled up two company vans for a total of $110.85, and he returned the card to the office. She said while reviewing the company’s banking records, she noted two withdrawals from ATMs the day Pridgen had the card.

Pridgen had withdrawn $303.50 from Suntrust Bank and $103 from Murphy Express. When the woman called the bank to close the debit card, the branch manager informed her Pridgen had also attempted to use the card for four other withdrawals that were denied.

The company determined Pridgen had made the unauthorized withdrawals and attempts, and he was dismissed.

Pridgen is being held at the county jail with four felony charges of fraudulent use of transaction card. Bond is set at $3,630.

Deputies charge man with assault on girlfriend

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Deputies arrested a Cumming man March 11 who allegedly assaulted his girlfriend while he was intoxicated.

Sheriff’s deputies received a thirdparty call March 10 in regard to a fight that had occurred on Columns Drive. At the residence, deputies spoke with Dylan Allen, 36. According to the sheriff’s report, Allen smelled strongly of alcohol, and he was slurring his words and struggling to maintain his balance, the report states.

Allen was reportedly uncooperative and refused to answer questions. Allen’s girlfriend told deputies she lived with him, and they had been arguing. She called her son-in-law to come help her, and the two men had fought.

She said she and Allen had had multiple arguments in the past, and she preferred to call her son-in-law rather than law enforcement, the report states.

The woman said Allen allegedly put his hands around her throat, and she had felt her airway being restricted. She and her son-in-law also said Allen had used abusive language toward her, and Allen had been throwing beer bottles on the ground outside. Deputies reported seeing bottles and shattered glass on the first and second floor walkways of the apartment building.

The woman and her son-in-law reportedly declined to file a statement. Allen was arrested on charges of felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Conyers man charged for possessing drugs, gun

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County deputies arrested Aderemi Osinowo, 32, of Conyers March 9 after they reported finding packages of marijuana in his vehicle.

Deputies followed Osinowo’s vehicle from Atlanta Highway onto Ga. 400 southbound after Osinowo had cut lanes to merge onto the highway. His registration had returned suspended and with no valid insurance. Deputies then conducted a traffic stop near Majors Road.

Osinowo handed deputies his driver’s license through the rear passenger window, and deputies reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Osinowo told deputies he knew that he had insurance, but he did not have a valid insurance card on him.

Deputies informed Osinowo they smelled marijuana. Osinowo reportedly said he had CBD, and that other people smoked in his car. Deputies conducted a probable cause search and reportedly found a Glock handgun under the driver’s seat, as well as two large, sealed packages of marijuana.

Osinowo was charged with misdemeanor driving with suspended registration and failure to maintain insurance, as well as felony possession with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies.

Personal checks altered for different amounts

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. — A woman reported to Johns Creek Police March 6 that on Feb. 27 someone wrote a check on her account for $1,100.25.

The check was written to her bank, Navigant Credit Union, at a branch in Florida.

A second transaction occurred March 6 in the amount of $7,500. The woman said the second check was a check she wrote. However, it was originally made out for $40 and mailed through the U.S. Postal Service Feb. 11.

The check was dropped off at the Publix mail drop off on State Bridge Road with another person’s name on the check. The check number was not valid, the police report said.

It appeared the check had been “cleaned,” the report said, and the thief wrote their information on it.

The woman said she did not authorize the amounts, and the checks had been altered.