Pepper spray allegedly used to disrupt local businesses

Published 10:23 am Thursday, February 1, 2018

Four minors and Devontay Copeland, 20, were arrested for disturbing employees and customers at the Burger King on New Franklin Road and Chick-fil-A on Commerce Avenue Friday after 9:40 p.m.

According to the police report, the group entered Burger King and squirted pepper spray in the dining room area. The store manager told police that numerous customers were forced to leave the restaurant.

Video footage from Burger King showed six individuals in the dining area huddling around each other, pulling something out and then scattering to various doors, according to the police report.

Police were then notified that a group of five individuals were causing a disturbance at the Chick-fil-A by screaming profanities and threats at employees and jumping on their vehicle.

According to the police report, an officer noticed it was the same group of juveniles from the Burger King security footage.

Officers approached the juveniles and asked them if they still had the can of pepper spray. Three of them gave the officers cans of the spray and all five were taken into custody.

The four minors were taken back to the LaGrange Police Department, issued criminal trespass warnings from both Burger King and Chick-fil-A and were released to their parents, according to the police report.

Man arrested for drunk driving, hitting three vehicles

Eddie Sigers, 44, was arrested for drunk driving after hitting three vehicles and leaving the scene near Vernon Street Friday, according to a police report from the LaGrange Police Department.

The first hit and run allegedly occurred at the intersection of Roanoke Road and Vernon Street around 2:05 p.m.

The first driver whose car was hit told police he was sitting at a red light when Siggers’ vehicle did not stop and struck his rear bumper. The driver said he got out of his vehicle to look at the damage and that Siggers sat in his truck before accelerating around the vehicle and leaving the scene.

The driver told police he called for an ambulance for his pregnant girlfriend who complained about pain in her abdominal area.

The woman was transported to WellStar West Georgia Medcial Center, according to the police report.

Officers were called in a few minutes later about another hit and run on Vernon Street and Broad Street involving the same vehicle, according to the police report.

An officer witnessed Siggers vehicle strike a Pontiac in the rear and turn left on Panther Way from Vernon Street. According to the police report, officers found him outside a residence at the 600 block of Virginia Avenue.

An officer noticed Siggers’ breath smelled like alcohol. He told police he struck multiple vehicle and had consumed three beers. According to the police report, he refused to take a breathalyzer test and sobriety tests.

Siggers is charged with following too closely, hit and run (injury, death, damage), driving with an expired driver’s license and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Warehouse burglarized

The Sejong Warehouse on Redding Drive was allegedly burglarized and $1,800 worth of technology was taken from it between Sunday at 11:54 p.m. and Monday at 6 a.m.

A manager told police when he came to the warehouse on Monday, he discovered that two 55-inch flat screen television valued at $800 each and a 16-inch computer monitor valued at $200 were missing.

According to the police report, security footage showed two men walking through the warehouse with flashlights between 11:54 p.m. and 12:15 a.m.

Vehicles entered

Two vehicles were entered into separate incidents Thursday and Friday near LaGrange College.

A vehicle was allegedly broken into and a GPS system valued at $150 and $50 cash was taken between Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Friday at 11 a.m. The owner told police that when she returned to her vehicle the front and middle consoles were open as well as the glove box.

Another vehicle was allegedly broken into and a Google Chromebook was taken from Friday between 11 a.m. and 11:50 a.m. The car owner told police that when she returned to her vehicle, someone threw two rocks through the back-passenger window.

According to the police report, the Chromebook tablet valued at $300 belonged to LaGrange College.

Cars damaged

The back window of a vehicle was allegedly smashed in with a rock at the Lee’s Crossing Apartments between Thursday at 7 p.m. and Friday at 5:30 a.m. The damage was estimated to be less than $500.

All information in this report is gathered from official law enforcement and public safety reports and releases. Reach the LaGrange Daily News at (706) 884-7311.