The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying a woman who attempted to use stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards at the Walnut Avenue Kroger store. The cards had been stolen just minutes earlier from a vehicle parked at nearby Brookwood Park. The suspect was recorded by store surveillance.

The theft happened September 28^th. The victim was with family at Brookwood Park when she received a text message from her bank alerting her that one of her credit cards had been declined at the Walnut Avenue Kroger for a purchase of more than $200. The victim returned to her vehicle to check for her wallet in her purse and found her wallet was missing. The wallet contained a small amount of cash, four social security cards for the victim and three members of her family, a Georgia driver’s license, two banks cards and a debit card. A Dalton officer retrieved video of the fraudulent transaction at Kroger and saw a black female wearing leggings, a tan shirt, and sandals enter the store and go directly to a gift card display and then to a self-checkout station. The suspect attempted multiple times to purchase a $500 gift card but was denied. A separate transaction for $211.90 was attempted but also declined. A picture of the suspect is included below.

Anyone who knows the identity of this suspect or has information on this case is asked to contact Officer Ethan Pugh at 706-278-9085, extension 9125 or by email at [email protected].

Below: The suspect was recorded by store surveillance

Three promotions of veteran Dalton Police Department officers and the hiring of a new member of the agency were all confirmed Tuesday morning by the Public Safety Commission. The promotions were made to finish filling vacancies left by a line of previous officer promotions and reassignments that began earlier this year with the promotion of new Chief Cliff Cason and the retirement of a member of the department’s command staff.

Mike Wilson was promoted to the rank of captain. Captain Wilson has served the police department for 25 years, joining as a patrol officer in April 1993. He has moved up the ranks in the department serving in a variety of different roles, most recently as a lieutenant in charge of the patrol division’s operations. He is a June 1992 graduate of Georgia Southern University and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University.

Jason Bishop was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. Lt. Bishop is a native of Indiana and previously served as a police officer in Lexington, Kentucky, but he has been a member of the Dalton Police Department since January 2001. He also is a six year veteran of the US Army. Lt. Bishop spent time as a detective before being promoted to sergeant in 2015 and has since served as a supervisor in the department’s patrol division. He holds an associate’s degree in applied science from Georgia Northwestern Technical College.

Chris Zimmerman was promoted to the rank of sergeant and will be assigned to the patrol division as a shift supervisor. Sergeant Zimmerman is a 1991 graduate of Ringgold High School and he has an associate’s degree in applied science from Thomas University. Sergeant Zimmerman has served the DPD since July 2002 and most recently has been assigned to the code enforcement unit.

(left to right) Sergeant Chris Zimmerman, Lt. Jason Bishop, and Captain Mike Wilson pose with Chief Cason after their promotions were confirmed by unanimous vote of the Public Safety Commission

Officer Joshua Bethune recently completed his mandate certification at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center’s Regional Police Academy. Officer Bethune is a native of Ringgold, Georgia and graduated from Ringgold High School in 2013. He didn’t wait for graduation to enlist in the US Army National Guard, however, joining in 2012 and serving until this year.

New DPD officer Joshua Bethune (left) poses with Chief Cliff Cason after his confirmation by the Public Safety Commission

The City of Dalton wants to look its best for residents and visitors alike, and that means making sure that the city’s parks, streets, sidewalks, and land free from litter. The Dalton Police Department is continuing its enforcement of the city’s litter laws with a renewed emphasis on citing people caught trashing the city.

Keeping the city’s gateways and attractions clear of litter is a priority for Dalton leaders, but leaving the city trashed is a problem in any part of town. Dalton patrol officers have been instructed to not to issue warnings for littering and to cite people who they see committing litter violations, including throwing cigarette butts out on city roads. Chapter 94, Article V of the Dalton Code of Ordinances concerns litter and provides for a fine of between $200 and $1,000 for littering violations, with the standard fine amount set at $286 by the city court. Dalton’s municipal court can also assign a violator to community service if convicted.

Help the City of Dalton and the DPD keep our town beautiful and never throw your trash on the ground or the street! Plan ahead and keep a bag for trash in your car or carry one along if you’re going for a long walk or hike or picnic. Wait to throw out cigarettes or other waste until you can get to a trash can or until you get home.

The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify a woman who was recorded by store surveillance using a credit card stolen from a car parked in a gym parking lot last week. The suspect used the stolen card to rack up more than $500 in fraudulent charges.

The theft happened on October 12^th at the Planet Fitness gym parking lot on Walnut Avenue. When the victims returned to their car just after 11:00 pm they found a driver’s side window had been broken out and a backpack that was left inside under a seat was taken. Inside the bag was approximately $240 in cash along with the victim’s driver’s license and a credit card. Before the victim could cancel the card, it was used to make a $504 purchase at the Shugart Road Walmart at 11:14 pm.

A Dalton investigator was able to retrieve video of the transaction. The suspect is a heavy set white female who wore a white v-neck t-shirt and a black jacket with black thick rimmed glasses. The suspect left in a dark colored SUV crossover. Pictures of the suspect and the vehicle in which she left the store are included below.

Anyone with information on this crime or the identity of the suspect is asked to please contact Detective Brian Shirley at 706-278-9085 extension 9189. The Dalton Police Department also urges residents to be mindful and never leave valuables behind in their vehicles. Take your valuables with you or secure them in a locked trunk whenever possible.

Below: The suspect and the suspect’s vehicle were recorded by store surveillance

Unfortunately, due to the forecast of bad weather, this event has been cancelled. There is no information available about rescheduling the event at this time.

For many people, the only interactions they’ll ever have with a police officer or firefighter will come under stressful conditions on a very bad day. The Dalton Police Department wants to change that. On November 8^th, the agency will once again host its annual Community Night Out celebration to bring first responders from across Whitfield County together with members of the community they serve in a fun, festive environment. The event is designed to build partnerships between first responders and the public.

The event will be held at the Mack Gaston Community Center on Fredrick Street from 6:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Visitors of all ages will get a chance to take an up close look at the police cars and fire trucks used by Dalton police officers and firefighters as well as other Whitfield County and state agencies to keep the community safe. Officers and firefighters will also be on hand to distribute safety information to visitors. The police department will be grilling hot dogs for visitors to the event while supplies last.

This is the ninth year that the Dalton Police Department has hosted a Community Night Out event to give the community a chance to meet and interact with the city’s first responders in a relaxed, informal setting. In previous years, the event coincided with the National Night Out in August, but it has since been moved to later in the year to avoid the late summer heat.

Below: Visitors of all ages meet Dalton police and firefighters at the 2016 Community Night Out celebration

The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify a woman who attempted to shoplift $700 worth of merchandise from Walmart on October. The suspect as stopped by the store’s loss prevention staff and fled the scene. Pictures of the suspect are included with this release.

The incident happened on October 4^th at the Shugart Road Walmart. Shortly after 8:00 pm, the suspect and another male were shopping in the store and loaded a shopping cart with merchandise totaling $700.00. The male walked out of the store carrying nothing while the female suspect started to put the items from the cart into Walmart shopping bags. She then pushed the cart down a line of vacant checkouts and towards the front door. After she passed the last point of sale and tried to leave the store, a loss prevention employee stopped her. The suspect let go of the shopping cart and fled, leaving the scene with her male companion in an older model silver Cadillac.

The suspect is a white or possibly Hispanic female with short dark hair. She wore blue capri pants and a dark black and blue shirt with sandals.

Anyone who recognizes this woman or who has information on this crime is asked to please contact Officer Ben Porter at 706-278-9085, extension 9579 or by email at [email protected].

Below: The suspect was recorded by store surveillance (click images to see larger versions)

The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify two people who used a stolen credit card to rack up nearly $600 in fraudulent purchases at area stores. The suspects were recorded by store surveillance.

The victim in this case told police that he lost his wallet while shopping at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on October 7^th. The victim did not realize that he left his wallet at the store until the next day when he was contacted by his bank to check on suspicious charges being made from his bank accounts. The victim’s bank cards were used to make purchases of $128.10 at a Dollar General, $283.09 and $56.23 at the East Walnut Avenue Walmart, and a $118.74 purchase at JJY Liquor Store.

An investigation found surveillance footage of the fraudulent purchases at the Dollar General and Walmart. One suspect, a black male wearing a light colored shirt and black athletic shorts, was present and made purchases at both locations. At the Walmart, a white female suspect with dark hair and wearing a black tank top was with the first suspect and produced a stolen card from her pocket to make the first purchase. The pair then went outside together and the woman came back inside to make a second purchase. The pair then got into a black passenger car driven by another black male and left the scene. A picture of the two suspects is included with this release.

Anyone who recognizes either of these suspects is asked to please contact Officer Katia Gonzalez at 706-278-9085, extension 9545 or by email at [email protected].

Below: The suspects were recorded by store surveillance.

A violent domestic dispute on Friday night in Dalton escalated to an accidental shooting that put a mother into the hospital and her two sons in jail. 21 year old Leonardo Rivera and 26 year old Alonso Rivera were both arrested shortly after the incident.

The incident began with an argument at the residence at 727 McGhee Place shortly after 11:00 pm. Leonardo Rivera’s fiancée Esmerelda Rodriguez reportedly became upset that Leonardo was at a party drinking and talking to other women. Leonardo and his brother Alonso began to argue back with the fiancée. As the argument became more heated, Alonso reportedly threatened to hit her, and Rodriguez threatened to call police. Leonardo then took her into a separate room where the argument continued. Rodriguez told police Leonardo picked up a gun at one point and held it to her head, threatening to shoot her. At this point, 52 year old Josefina Suarez, the mother of Leonardo and Alonso Rivera, came into the room and started to fight Leonardo for the gun. During the struggle, the gun fired and hit Ms. Suarez in the abdomen. Rodriguez told police that Alonso then came into the room and began to punch Rodriguez in the face and kick her in the stomach. She is three months pregnant. Both Leonardo and Alonso Rivera then fled from the residence out of a back door. When police responded to the scene, they found Ms. Suarez with a gunshot wound and officers worked to tend to her injuries. She was transported to Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton and was later taken to another trauma center hospital where she is reportedly in stable condition.

Dalton officers immediately began working to locate Leonardo and Alonso Rivera. Alonso was located a short time later hiding at his residence at 1208 Stacey Drive. Leonardo was located and arrested after returning to the residence at McGhee Place a few hours later. Both were arrested without incident. Leonardo was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault (family violence), terroristic threats and acts, and reckless conduct. Alonso was charged with battery, battery against an unborn child, and reckless conduct. This incident is still under investigation and further charges are possible.

The Dalton Red Carpet Half Marathon will return to the streets of Dalton on October 20th. The half marathon, 5K, and 2K races will require several roads to be closed in the morning hours. Dalton Police personnel will be on hand to help direct traffic around the race route, but motorists should plan alternate routes to avoid delays.

Roads and lanes around the course will be closed beginning at approximately 7:45 am and they will remain closed until the last runner is past which could be after noon.

Roads affected by the races will include:

• King Street– closed but voters will need to park at the parking deck
• Selvidge Street– closed from the entrance to BB&T to Crawford Street until 1:00 PM
• Pentz Street– closed from King Street to Crawford Street all day. Closed from Emery Street to Morris Street during the 2k.
• Hamilton Street– closed from Hawthorne Street to Franklin Street (until last runner of 5k passes, then closed at Emery Street on the south end)
• Franklin Street– closed until the last 5k runner exits onto Thornton Avenue.
• Thornton Avenue– outside southbound lane closed from Walnut Avenue to Waugh Street
• Waugh Street– outside eastbound lane closed from Jones Street to Thornton Avenue.
• Jones Street– closed from Waugh Street to Crawford Street
• Crawford Street– closed from Cappes Street to Valley Drive
• Ridge Street– Closed from Murray Hill to Crawford Street
• Lewell Street– entrances to the east side of the cemetery at Cuyler Street and Gen Thomas Drive closed during the half-marathon
• Emery Street– Closed at Tibbs Road and closed from Lewell Street to Thornton Avenue during the 5K and half marathon. Westbound lane closed from Hamilton Street to Pentz Street for 2K.
• Miller Street– Closed from Franklin Street to Emery Street
• Valley Drive– closed from Franklin Avenue to Crawford Street
• Cuyler Street– closed between Thornton Avenue and Valley Drive
• Walnut Aveune– outside, westbound lane closed from Thornton Avenue to Tibbs Road
• Tibbs Road– closed between Walnut Avenue and Shugart Road
• Maple Way/Ella Ln– closed
• Woodvalley Drive / Woodvalley Court– closed
• Shugart Road– outside northbound lane closed
• Chattanooga Road– outside eastbound lane closed from Shugart Road to Old Chattanooga Road
• Old Chattanooga Road– closed until the last half marathon runner is clear
• Thornton Avenue– partial southbound lane closed (6 feet from curb) from Old Chattanooga Road to Trammel Street
• Thornton Avenue– southbound lane closed from Trammel Street to Hawthorne Street
• Hamilton Street– access lane beside the Waugh Street Bridge closed
• Morris Street– closed from Thornton Avenue to Hamilton Street

For more information on the Red Carpet Half Marathon, visit the event’s website at daltonhalf.org.

The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify a woman who took a cell phone left behind by a customer at Office Depot. The woman was recorded by store surveillance.

The incident happened at the Office Depot location at 101 West Walnut Avenue on October 4^th. While making copies, a customer left her cell phone on a counter and accidentally forgot to pick it back up after finishing the task. The customer left the store before realizing she didn’t have her phone. When she came back in moments later, her phone was missing. Surveillance video shows a white female entering the store with a stack of paperwork in her hand. This woman began to make copies of what appeared to be a driver’s license and also other paperwork. When an employee turned their back, the suspect picked up the phone off of the counter and tucked it into her folded papers. The woman then left the store. The suspect was a white female with curly brown hair, approximately 40-50 years old with a heavy set build. She wore a dark purple sleeveless shirt. Pictures of the suspect are included with this release. The phone was a black Alcatel smart phone.

Anyone who recognizes this suspect or who has information on this crime is asked to please contact Officer Jacob Allen at 706-278-9085, extension 9241 or by email at [email protected].

Below: The suspect was recorded by store surveillance.