Author: On Common Ground News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) announced today that the City of Stone Mountain, GA has been awarded $92,985 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The funding is part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Safer Outcomes: Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement grant program. The grant will support training initiatives designed to equip law enforcement officers, support personnel, and associated mental health professionals with the skills needed to de-escalate crises safely and effectively. Stone Mountain is among 42 agencies nationwide receiving a portion of the $15.4 million in award dedicated…

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA–County government officials confirmed today, Dec. 12, that the county’s lawsuit against BioLab Inc. has been filed in the Northern District of Georgia’s Federal Court in Atlanta.  The county has retained the law firm of Napoli Shkolnik, which filed the complaint against Bio-Lab, Inc., KIK International LLC, and KIK Consumer Products Inc., in response to the catastrophic chemical fire that erupted on Sept.  29, 2024, at the Bio-Lab facility in Rockdale County.   Pictured: Attorney Shayna E. Sacks, a partner in the law firm,of Napoli Shkolnik, speaks to media at the Oct. 21, 2024 press conference to announced Rockdale County’s…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Gwinnett County Police detectives have charged three people in connection with over 100 storage unit burglaries.  Shusune Arrington, 21, of Union City, and Teshauna Lovett, 26, of Atlanta, were arrested at the site in a U-haul at the storagefacility. The third suspect, Niquay Dexter, 33, Atlanta, fled the scene on foot, police said. A warrant has been issued for Dexter’s  arrest.       On Dec. 4 and Dec. 6, over 60 storage units at 2044 Old Norcross Road were burglarized.  Police learned of the break-ins after several victims reported the burglaries. Detectives began investigating and located a suspicious U-Haul truck…

STONECREST, GA—The City of Stonecrest is inviting the community to help spread some holiday cheer by participating in its toy drive for need y kids. New toys for children of all ages may  be dropped off at Stonecrest City Hall through Dec. 20, 2024.  The toys will be given away on Saturday, Dec. 21, beginning at 1 p.m. at Privi, which is located at The Mall at Stonecrest. City Council members Tara Graves and Alecia Washington are partnering with Kinnect LLC to host the holiday event.

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – A DeKalb County man accused of following and killing a motorist in a road-rage shooting will spend life in prison.  Michael Charles Jackson, 61, was found guilty of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in the January 2022 shooting of 46-year-old Don Wardlaw. Jackson was sentenced to life in prison plus 15 years without the possibility of parole. He chose to represent himself rather than hire a defense attorney.  On Jan. 27, 2022, police found Wardlaw’s car wrecked in a yard off…

ATLANTA, GA – Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) announce that Edward “Dave” Adams has received the Georgia Governor’s Public Safety Award in the “Outstanding Contribution to the Profession” category. Governor Brian P. Kemp personally awarded Adams with the honor at a ceremony held recently at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth.  Adams currently serves as State Safety Manager in Georgia DOT’s Crash Reporting Office. He joined the department in August 1999 and has devoted his career at Georgia DOT to enhancing traffic safety for all Georgia drivers. Adams was recognized for his efforts by Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R.…