On Jan. 6, 2010 at 5:09 p.m. anonymous caller told the Fulton County 911 center that  explosive devices had been placed at an Alpharetta. Several police units responded to the scene of the business in the city’s south end. About 15 minutes later, a man brandishing a handgun entered the Flagstar Bank on Windward Parkway on the north side of Alpharetta and attempted to rob the bank. The initial bomb call was an attempted diversionary tactic.  

Detectives obtained surveillance footage of the robbery used investigative techniques and technology to trace the original bomb threat call. Their gathered information produced new leads that identified a suspect, identified as Steven Sawyer, 35, of Villa Rica. He was placed under surveillance.

Sawyer, who was found to be on a probation status with Georgia authorities, was taken into custody by an undercover team with the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety as he reported to authorities for previous crimes. The department  has expressed its gratitude to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the City of Milton Police Department for their assistance.

Sawyer, who is being held without bail at the Fulton County Jail, has been charged with one count of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated assault with intent to rob and one count of false public alarm. All are felonies.

WESSEL NAMED PACT OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Lt. Robert Wessel of the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety has been selected as the 2009 PACT Officer of the Year.

Neighborhoods involved in the Police and Citizens Together (PACT) program were asked to nominate their PACT officer if they believed he or she demonstrated a Commitment to the program and had gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Wessel, whose PACT neighborhood is Westside Villas, was deemed to have carried out the program perfectly, meeting with residents regularly, attending HOA meetings, documenting concerns, and assisting residents with a number of issues.

“Our neighborhood is across the street from the amphitheater and for the last two years he has worked to help us feel safe and comfortable with the additional traffic in the area,” said resident Melissa Blalock. “We have had to ask him for help with people loitering in the neighborhood on show nights and he has taken care of the problem quickly each time.”

City Councilwoman Cheryl Oakes, who serves as the liaison to the Public Safety Department, said, “As a long-time supporter of our city’s PACT program, I want to personally congratulate Lt. Robert Wessel for this honor as well as thank all the other members of our PACT officers for their support of this program.  The entire PACT program has been so successful for our city and is the model for how our Public Safety Department and our citizens working together as a team can and have made this a great city to live, work and play in.”

Representatives of BB&T Bank will present Lt. Wessel a check for $250 at the Public Safety Department’s annual awards luncheon Jan. 29.

 A committee comprising officers excluded from the program, including Director Gary George and Deputy Director Keith Sanders, evaluated the officers’ performance and selected the winner.

Other nominees for the award included Officers Paul Roberts, James Page,  Chris Massey and Charles Fannon, and Capt. Scott Mechler.

The PACT program is aimed at improving ties between residents and the Department of Public Safety. It is based on the belief that education and communication will result in fewer residents becoming crime victims.

DUI ARRESTS

Amber Delph, 32, of Milton, was arrested Jan. 8 on Ga. 9 for DUI, disorderly conduct, driving with a suspended license, having an open container and hit and run.

Rebecca Marchetti, 20, of Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 6 on Bethany Road for DUI, underage possession of alcohol and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Rosendo Ponce-Federico, 23, of Roswell, was arrested Jan. 10 on Holcomb Bridge Road for DUI, failure to maintain lane and having an open container of alcohol.

Tahnika Dentham, 37, of Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 10 on Holcomb Bridge Road for DUI and failure to maintain lane.

Nathaniel Banks, 19, of Roswell, was arrested Jan. 9 on Norcross Street for DUI, possession of marijuana and failure to maintain lane.

Tyler Dipace, 24, of Atlanta, was arrested Jan. 9 on Pine Grove Road for DUI and failure to maintain lane.

Peter Young, 23, of Marietta, was arrested Jan. 4 on Holcomb Bridge Road for DUI and failure to maintain lane.

David Richards, 38, of Loganville, was arrested Jan. 3 on Nesbit Ferry Road for DUI, following too closely and failure to maintain lane.

DRUG ARRESTS

Travis Moran, 20, of Sandy Springs, was arrested Jan. 4 on Morris Road for possession of marijuana and not having a taillight.

Jacob Feldman, 18, of Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 8 on Birmingham Highway for possession of marijuana.

William Thomas, 17, of Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 8 on Birmingham Highway for possession of marijuana.

Cody Snell, 19, of Alpharetta, was arrested, Jan. 9 on Old Dogwood Road for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Kayleigh Hull, 19, of Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 9 on Old Dogwood Road for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Rachel Piccirilli, 18, of Roswell, was arrested Jan. 10 on Edenwilde for possession of marijuana.

James Lee, 42, of Roswell, was arrested Jan. 9 on Ga. 9 for possession of marijuana, having an expired tag, having no insurance and possession of drug-related paraphernalia.

Estuardo Puga-Castillo, 32, of Roswell, was arrested Jan. 6 on Park Ridge Lane for possession of cocaine and driving with a suspended license.

Tomas Vargas-Liquidano, 36, of Kennesaw, was arrested Jan. 7 on Ga. 9 for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, obscuring his tag and being an unlicensed driver.

Barbara Brown, 20, of Roswell, was arrested Jan. 5 on Calibre Creek Parkway for possession of marijuana and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.