Arsonist torches Christmas trimmings at LaGrange apartment

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 18, 2015

Public safety reports

Staff report

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Someone tried to damper the Christmas spirit after setting a Tall Pines Apartments resident’s wreath on fire early this morning.

Police came to the apartments at 150 Turner St. after a resident was awakened by a neighbor knocking on their sliding glass door then bedroom window. The neighbor said someone had set the wreath alight, according to a police report. The residents were unsure who may have torched the trimmings. The decoration was valued at $20, but the door of the apartment was not damaged.

Detectives were seeking a suspect and asked anyone with information to contact the LaGrange Police Department at 706-883-2603 or Troup County Crime Stoppers at 706-812-1000.

Suspect in more than 13 burglaries arrested

The Meriwether County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that during a multi-department investigation, Coweta County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man suspected in 13 burglaries in Meriwether and more in other counties.

The two sheriffs’ offices and Newnan police had been investigating a higher than normal rate of burglaries in the area starting in October, Meriwether County Sheriff Chuck Smith stated in a press release. After locating some of the stolen property in a College Park pawn shop, investigators obtained security footage from the store and were able to identify a suspect, Antonio Eugene Harris Jr., 24, whose last listed residence was in Senoia.

Harris also had an outstanding parole violation warrant, Smith stated, and investigators believe he used several different vehicles in various burglaries, which were rentals from Atlanta and others obtained from people in Newnan. Harris also had been staying in multiple locations, making him difficult to locate, Smith said in the release.

During a traffic stop Dec. 11, Coweta deputies identified Harris as the driver of a vehicle and arrested him. He was charged Wednesday with 13 burglaries in Meriwether County and was being held in the Coweta County Jail for charges there.

Eight others were arrested and charged with drug offenses and one burglary charge while conducting the multi-department operation, Smith said.

“I appreciated the effort put forth by my personnel and all supporting agencies to include, but not limited to, the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, Newnan P.D., Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision in making these case investigations and multiple arrests a success,” Smith stated in the press release. “This has been a collaborative effort put forth by all involved.”

Jewelry burglary arrest

Troup County Sheriff’s investigator Mike Caldwell on Thursday announced investigators have arrested and charged Maria Teresa Holdbrooks, 59, of Troup County, after she allegedly took about $30,000 in jewelry from an elderly victim.

Investigators were able to recover most of the stolen property and it was returned to the victim, according to a press release.

Thefts

• A resident of Lee’s Crossing Apartments at 119 Old Airport Road reported Thursday that a burglar broke into his apartment and took nine shirts valued at $80, a pair of Red Nike Air Max shoes valued at $100, a pair of black Vans shoes valued at $50 and tan Vans shoes valued at $50, Smith & Wesson M&P 22 LR gun valued at $400 and Playstation 4 video game system with controller valued at $400.

• A thief took a HiPoint 9 mm semi-automatic handgun valued at $129 from a man’s car Thursday. He was unsure when the gun was taken and had been to several areas around the city throughout the day.

• A LaGrange woman reported Thursday that someone took her debit card and used it a motel, overdrafting her account by almost $185.

All information in this report is gathered from official law enforcement and public safety reports and releases. It is the policy of the Daily News to list the names of people charged with felonies.