On May 23, Sgt. Scott, Officer Wong and Officer Phillips responded to a residence regarding a drug complaint.

The complainant, John Pratte, advised that his roommate had been smoking crack cocaine and that she was leaving the house in her green Honda Accord. Pratte described his roommate as a white female named Lynne Lewis. The three officers arrived at the home and were about to approach the residence when a green Honda Accord pulled into the driveway. Officer Phillips explained to Lewis why they had been called and suggested they speak inside.

When all parties were inside, Pratte explained that Lewis smokes crack and buys it from a man in Roswell who even has the nerve to call the house and ask for Lewis. Pratte then explained that he and Lewis were a couple but now he is tired of the drug use and wants Lewis out. Lewis confirmed everything Pratte said was true and explained that she had been smoking crack for about 8 months now, but she does not smoke every week. Officer Phillips asked Lewis what kind of pipe she used and Lewis said she uses a soda can.

The officers searched her car with Lewis’ consent and found nothing. Then the officers searched Lewis’ bedroom with her consent and discovered a Sprite Zero can with two holes punched in the side and ashy residue with some white particulate atop one of the holes. Officer Phillips collected some of the residue, placed it in a baggie and submitted it into evidence at the Alpharetta Police Department. The officers also discovered that Lewis was driving on a limited permit and was cited for driving in violations of the limitations of her permit. If the sample of residue comes back positive for cocaine, Officer Phillips will pursue additional charges for possession of cocaine against Lewis.

Some Sort of Record

On May 23, Officers Giles and Hastings were traveling north on Old Dogwood Road when Giles heard a subject yell “come here son of a ****”. Officer Giles looked in the rearview mirror and noticed a white male stumbling in the roadway with his right thumb in the air as if he were “hitching a ride.” The subject was later identified as Thomas Walker.

When Officer Giles approached Walker, he could smell the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage about his breath and also noticed that Walker had red “bloodshot” eyes and his speech was severely slurred. Walker, who was carrying a 24 ounce can of Miller Lite, confirmed that he was under the influence of alcohol and asked the officers to take him to jail so that he could see Judge Hilliard. Walker explained that Judge Hilliard knew him very well. Walker later changed his mind and asked the officers not to take him to jail. He advised the officers that he was living at the Brookwood Hotel and working as the maintenance man. Walker told the officers he would go to his room and stay inside. The officers cited Walker for public drunkenness.

Forty-one minutes later, Officer Ratliff observed Walker walking northbound on Old Dogwood Road. Walker was in the middle of the street in front of a moving vehicle yelling and screaming. The vehicle was forced to stop and go around Walker. Officer Ratliff already knew Walker was drunk from the previous encounter with the Roswell Police Department. Officer Ratliff stopped Walker and took him into custody for public drunkenness. Walker tried to explain to the officer that he had just gone up to the gas station to get some more beer.

Must have Been Quite A Stain

On May 24, Sharda Palmer was arrested for Simple Battery and Cruelty to Children under the Family Violence Act. Officer Lathem was dispatched to Seven Pines Apartments when a neighbor called in an active fight between Melvin and Sharda Palmer. Officer Lathem spoke with Melvin Palmer who stated that Sharda got angry at their juvenile son because he had a stain on his shirt and they were supposed to be heading to church. Sharda started to yell at their son and Melvin stated that he heard the commotion and went to see what the problem was. Melvin stated that he observed Sharda shove their son’s head and continued to yell at him.

Melvin then intervened and told Sharda not to touch their son like that. Melvin then stated that Sharda went into their bedroom and began arguing with Melvin about how she treated her son. Melvin then described that Sharda jumped on him and began to scratch and hit Melvin with a closed fist. Melvin then grabbed Sharda to try and stop her from hitting him and when he thought Sharda was calm enough he let her go from his grasp.

Sharda then went into their closet and started to throw shoes at Melvin, Melvin confirmed that several shoes struck him during the altercation.

The son had walked into the room during the altercation and witnessed the entire event. Once Sharda was done throwing shoes at him, she left the house and went to her neighbor’s house, and asked her to call the police because her husband was assaulting her. The son confirmed all the events that Melvin had described. Sharda tried to convince the officers that Melvin was physically and verbally assaulting her and that Melvin had brainwashed the son into confirming Melvin’s story. The officers did not believe Sharda and placed her under arrest.

What Comes Between Friends

On May 18, Francine Heath was placed under arrest for simple battery and possession of drug equipment. Heath woke her roommate, Vergina Sandy, to argue about a phone bill. Sandy stated that Heath got upset and pushed Sandy after arguing about the phone bill at 10:50 p.m. The officers met with the witness, Anthony Colon, who observed Heath instigate an argument and push Sandy. Heath was placed under arrest for simple battery. When Officer Avren arrived at the station,­­­­ he was informed that a glass pipe was found in Heath’s purse, and Heath confirmed she uses it to smoke cocaine. Heath was then charged with possession of drug equipment.

DUI ARRESTS

• Grant Taulli, 38, of Marietta, was arrested May 21 on Old Alabama Road for DUI and failure to maintain lane.
• James Merkel, 19, of Alpharetta, was arrested May 21 on Holcomb Bridge Road for Underage DUI, having a cracked windshield and driving on a suspended license.
• Courtney Weingart, 23, of Alpharetta, was arrested May 22, on Nesbit Ferry Road for DUI and failure to maintain lane.
• Jamie Estrada-Lopez, 25, of Roswell, was arrested May 23 on Warsaw Road for DUI, failure to maintain lane and being an unlicensed driver.
• Ashlei Evans, 32, of Roswell, was arrested May 23 on Holcomb Bridge Road for DUI, failure to maintain lane and not wearing a seatbelt.
• Eder Hernandez-Chavez, 27, of Cumming, was arrested May 23 on Holcomb Bridge Road for DUI and being an unlicensed driver.
• Ricoberto Tello-Venegas, 29, of Roswell, was arrested May 23 on Old Dogwood Road for DUI, failure to maintain lane and being an unlicensed driver.
• Tammy Sierra, 43, of Rydal, Ga., was arrested May 24 on Holcomb Bridge Road for DUI.
• Jose Del La Cruz-Ildefonso, 25, of Woodstock, was arrested May 19 on Woodstock Road for DUI, being an unlicensed driver and failure to maintain lane.

 
DRUG ARRESTS

• Shawn Burdge, 32, of Roswell, was arrested May 18 on Mill Creek Place for possession of marijuana.
• Joseph Zimmerman, 21, of Roswell, was arrested May 19 on Holcomb Bridge Road for possession of marijuana and having his tag light out.
• Jessica Page, 27, of Roswell, was arrested May 21 on Singing Hills Drive for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug related paraphernalia.
• Justin Pecot, 21, of Norcross, was arrested May 24 on Dobbs Drive for possession of marijuana.
• Asa Matteson, 21, of Alpharetta, was arrested May 24 on Nesbit Ferry Road for possession of marijuana.
• Austin Petree, 30, of Milton, was arrested May 21 on Commonwealth Circle for possession of marijuana, having windows that are too tinted and for obscuring his tags.