Author: On Common Ground News

Serial rapist Samuel McCullum, 57, was sentenced to two life terms without the possibility of parole and a consecutive life term for felony murder and rape. DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston said the serial rapist was convicted in connection with two cold cases in DeKalb in which one woman was killed and another survived. Authorities used a criminal database for DNA to connect McCullum to rapes in DeKalb and Fulton counties. McCullum’s criminal history for sexual assault crimes in Kentucky, New Jersey and North Carolina date back to 1983. Here is a summary of the rape cases involving McCullum:…

Two men wanted for the Nov. 9 home invasion and armed robbery of a 72-year-old Rockdale County man have been arrested. Investigators solved the case three days after the elderly man was attacked. Rockdale County Sheriff’s investigators arrested and charged Christopher Tucker, 39, and Alex Chancey, 17, with the home invasion of Darrell Mote after following up on leads and conducting interviews. The home invasion occurred at a residence in North Rockdale County. The suspects were wearing masks when they assaulted the homeowner, Darrell Mote, and tied him up at gunpoint, authorities said. The suspects burglarized Mote’s home and loaded…

Rockdale Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt is asking for the public’s help with his annual turkey giveaway for seniors. Anyone who would like to provide a turkey to a needy senior is asked to drop off their uncooked bird at Courtesy Ford, 1636 Dogwood Drive, now through Nov. 23, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The giveaway will be held on Sunday, Noc. 14, 3 p.m., at the Olivia Haydel Senior Center, 985 Taylor St., Conyers.

Join the Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce for its legislative breakfast on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at This Is It!, 2853 Panola Road, Lithonia. State Rep. Billy Mitchell will discuss upcoming legislation and its impact on the business community. Members attend the breakfast for free with advanced registration. The cost is $10 for members who do not register in advance and want to pay at the door. Guests are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. To register, visit www.greaterlithoniachamber.com/

The Decatur City Commission passed a non-discrimination ordinance at its Nov. 18 meeting. Decatur is now the 5thcity in DeKalb County and the 6thcity in Georgia to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance including Doraville, Clarkston, Chamblee, Dunwoody, and the City of Atlanta. “Decatur is committed to the values of equity, inclusion and diversity and the adoption of this Ordinance is a tangible way to demonstrate that commitment,” Mayor Patti Garrett said. The non-discrimination ordinance includes federally protected classes and non-protected classes based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The non-discrimination ordinance prohibits local businesses from discriminating based on sexual orientation or…

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit and the U.S. Marshals have arrested the third suspect involved in the fatal shooting that occurred in the parking lot at The Mall at Stonecrest on Sept. 29. Trayvon Ramon Williams, 25, of Decatur, was arrested on Monday (Nov. 18) at an apartment complex located off Covington Highway in DeKalb. Williams was taken into custody without incident and transported to the DeKalb County Jail. Williams is charged with felony murder in the shooting death of Kevin T. Mcleod-Downer. According to authorities, Williams was one of several subjects suspected of being involved in the fatal…

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announces a conviction by jury trial in the murder/rape case against a previously convicted serial rapist. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on Thursday against 57-year-old Samuel McCullum on charges of Murder, Felony Murder (two counts), and Rape (two counts) in connection with two separate DeKalb County cold cases in which one woman was killed and another survived. August 6, 1998- Porter Road, DeKalb County A passerby finds a woman clinging to life on the side of the road in the 1000 block of Porter Road in DeKalb County. The victim, later identified as Monica…

DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann announced that he will retire from his elected office on Nov. 30, 13 months before his term is up. Mann’s early departure means that Chief Deputy Melody Maddox will take the helm as the first female sheriff in DeKalb’s 197-year history and will remain in the position until a special election is held in 2020. Maddox served as Chief of Police for Georgia Piedmont Technical College from 2016 until Mann appointed her chief deputy, second in command, in June. Maddox, who will appoint a new deputy chief after she becomes sheriff, said she is…

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution sponsored by Commissioner Larry Johnson to erect two Equal Justice Initiative historical markers to contextualize lynchings in DeKalb County. DeKalb County supports the Remembrance Project Initiative of DeKalb’s chapter of the NAACP, which seeks to recognize and memorialize incidents of racial terrorism perpetrated throughout the United States and in localities, including DeKalb County. The Remembrance Project is informed by the work of the Equal Justice Initiative, headquartered in Montgomery, which recently opened its Memorial to Peace and Justice and Legacy Museum there. The historical marker will be placed outside of…

On the left, an overgrown storm water drainage pond. On the right, the same location after maintenance is complete. DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has launched a program to enhance maintenance of the county’s 950 stormwater drainage ponds. Over the next year, contractors will leverage $2 million to mow vegetation, repair fences, remove trees and restore ponds to maximum efficiency. “The pond maintenance program is the first step in a $50 million effort to address critical issues in the stormwater system,” said Thurmond. “The growth, economic development and health of the county and its citizens relies on 21st century…