Facebook post leads to arrest
Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 11, 2016
A convicted felon who was on probation was back in jail Tuesday after trying to sell a gun online.
Kenneth L. Jones Jr. of West Point was arrested by LaGrange police after he allegedly posted a for-sale ad on the Facebook page Troup County Yard Sale, which caught the attention of LaGrange police investigators.
Jones was allegedly trying to sell a .44-caliber revolver, and posted pictures of him handling the weapon, according to police. Convicted felons are barred under Georgia law from possessing firearms.
Police investigators searched Jones’ name against a database of felony probationers and found a match. Officers went to his last known address and were unable to find him, but told a family member to have him report to his probation office. When Jones later reported, he was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
He was taken to the Troup County Jail and booked. It is unclear is Jones has an attorney.
More information on Swanson Street robbery
A police report details descriptions of two men who robbed a couple of women at gunpoint in the 700 block of Swanson Street on Monday.
One of the robbers is described as standing about 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing about 120 pounds, with dark complexion and short, cropped hair. He was wearing blue or black gym shorts and had a colored T-shirt wrapped around his head.
The other robber is described as standing about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, about 140 pounds, also dark complexion and short, cropped hair. The second robber was wearing similar clothes to the first, but the victim described him as having “bug eyes.”
The victims told police the two assailants, described as black men between the ages of 16 and 22, approached them while they were on the front porch of a house about 11:30 p.m.
One of the robbers placed a gun to a victim’s head and demanded money. When she said she didn’t have any money, the robber took her cell phone.
After taking the phone, the robbers walked down Swanson Street toward Park Avenue before running out of sight.
The women were unharmed.
Authorities urge anyone with information to call LaGrange Police at 706-883-2603.
Man fires shots at alleged prowler
A man who lives in the first block of South Page Street fired at least two shots at a person allegedly trespassing in his backyard early Tuesday morning.
The man told police a neighbor called him and said someone was prowling in his backyard, so the man grabbed a handgun and went outside with a flashlight. He told authorities he saw the prowler raise his hand as though he had a gun. The homeowner fired two shots, but no one was injured.
The homeowner was unable to give police a good description of the prowler, but said he was wearing dark clothing.
No one called 911. No charges were filed.
Woman arrested on charges of animal cruelty
A Whiting Street woman was arrested on charges of animal cruelty Monday after police found an emaciated dog at a property with utilities registered in her name.
LaGrange police and code enforcement officers went to the home in the 200 block of Tuggle Street, but found it vacant. Officers used the city’s utility database to find the person under whose name the utilities were registered.
Due to a previous interaction with the suspect, police knew she lived on Whiting Street. They went to the woman’s home and charged her with animal cruelty, but the woman said the dog belonged to her children’s father. The woman was unable to give the father’s first name or date of birth.
The dog was taken to the animal shelter and given food and water.
