Summer crime

PUBLIC SAFETY

Atlanta police chief outlines summer crime plan

BY AMY WENK

Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant plans to combat summer crime by putting more officers on the streets, addressing gun violence and targeting nightclubs.

“Every summer we begin to see some increases in crime,” said the chief. “That’s due to a number of schools being out, the number of social activities we have throughout our city.”

While the police department tries to hire 250 more officers, the chief said administrative personnel would be shifted to help boost daily patrols. He also plans to increase the number of weekend commanders.

As he said in early June, Bryant is restructuring the police department, giving more resources to its gun assault unit. “We have to do a better job of being able to find out where these guns are coming from and cut that avenue off,” he said.

The police department also plans to better investigate and inspect nightclubs. Bryant said over 50 officers were trained to supplement those efforts.

In addition, he said the police department would leverage partnerships with various law enforcement agencies to disrupt gang violence. “Gangs in the city of Atlanta really have their tentacles in every aspect of every kind of crime you could imagine,” Bryant said.

The police chief is also focused on the city’s youth. He said one officer per zone would be dedicated to youth engagement programs, and video surveillance will keep a watch on areas kids tend to congregate, such as Lenox Square Mall.

But Bryant said, “violent crime cannot be fought with just police alone.” He plans to promote community policing efforts. “It takes all of us to be partners in public safety.”

Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant. (Special)

Brookhaven police make arrest in Peachtree Creek Greenway stabbing

During a June 10 press conference, Brookhaven police announced they had made an arrest in connection with the stabbing of a pregnant woman on the Peachtree Creek Greenway. (Sammie Purcell)

BY SAMMIE PURCELL

The Brookhaven police arrested a man accused of the stabbing of a pregnant woman on the Peachtree Creek Greenway.

According to the Brookhaven Police Department, 30-year-old Christopher Jones was arrested on June 10 in connection with the June 5 stabbing of an unnamed woman on the Peachtree Creek Greenway. Jones has been charged with aggravated assault, aggravated battery, and cruelty to children in the first degree.

Police said Jones was identified by a tipster who recognized a photo captured by city security cameras along the Greenway. Working with other police departments, BPD located Jones, who was arrested near the MARTA Arts Center Station in Atlanta.

BPD spokesperson Lt. David Snively said that Jones admitted to the stabbing, but investigators are still looking into what events led up to the incident. He also said investigators have determined that Jones has a history of mental illness and is unhoused.

“We believe that mental illness did play a role in this case,” Snively said.

Snively said the victim – whose family has requested she remain unidentified – was pregnant and walking with her 3-year-old son, who was uninjured, at the time of the stabbing. The victim gave birth by an emergency C-section.