By Melanie Ruberti

Melanie.ruberti@lagrangenews.com

Public Safety Reports

A 17-year-old male remains in the Troup County Jail accused of allegedly posting sexually explicit pictures of an underage female.

Mason Colby Herren, of LaGrange, was arrested on Wednesday by investigators with the LaGrange Police Department.

Herren, a former high school student, was accused of posting the explicit photographs onto a social media website, stated investigators.

School administrators at LaGrange High School noticed digital images of underage juveniles on the cell phones of numerous students around campus, said investigators. They contacted police on Jan. 9.

After a lengthy investigation, detectives arrested Herren and charged him with distribution of child pornography, computer or electronic pornography and child exploitation.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the LaGrange Police Department at 706-883-2603 or Troup County Crime Stoppers at 706-812-1000. Callers may remain anonymous.

Man allegedly assaults woman

A woman told LaGrange police her boyfriend hit and punched her while a 10-year-old girl was in the room inside their home in the 800 block of Callaway Avenue just before 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

The victim told officers her boyfriend became angry when her cellphone started ringing and demanded to know who was calling her, the report read.

The man then allegedly grabbed the phone out of the woman’s hands and began slapping and punching her in the head, according to the police report.

The victim stated her boyfriend then grabbed a butcher knife.

The woman allegedly told the little girl to go hide in a closet while she ran out of the house, the report said.

The man reportedly followed her into the street where he allegedly continued to hit the woman and “swung the knife in her direction,” the report stated.

The victim was not seriously hurt in the incident.

Police are investigating.

Shoplifting

Two women were caught on surveillance cameras shoplifting from the Sock Shoppe located inside LaGrange Mall at 1501 Lafayette Parkway.

The store manager told LaGrange police she found about 80 theft sensors lying on the floor in the children’s section of the shop.

When the manager reviewed the surveillance footage, she saw two females enter the store, go into the children’s section and leave the shop 30 minutes later with four large bags of items, according to the report.

The value of the items stolen was estimated between $640 – $1,200.

Police are investigating.

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.

Reach the LaGrange Daily News at 706-884-7311.