DPD Introduces New Officer

The Dalton Police Department presented its newest officer for confirmation at Tuesday morning’s meeting of the Dalton Public Safety Commission. Assistant Chief Chris Crossen presented Officer Keidric Johnson to the commission.

Officer Johnson is a 2009 graduate of Gordon Central High School. Before joining the police department, he worked in local industry, most recently serving as an inspector with Shaw Industries at a facility in Adairsville. Officer Johnson recently graduated from the police academy and is now taking part in the police department’s field training program, riding with and being evaluated by experienced mentor officers.

Officer Johnson stands with Assistant Chief Crossen after being confirmed by the Public Safety Commission

Officer Johnson was confirmed by a unanimous 4-0 vote of the present commissioners (commission member Keith Whitworth was not present).

DFD Honors Firefighter Of The Year

Also at Tuesday morning’s meeting, Dalton Fire Chief Todd Pangle honored Justin Rishel as the agency’s Firefighter of the Year. Chief Pangle said Rishel’s selection for the honor was based on his tireless work ethic and drive to continue becoming a better firefighter.

Firefighter Rishel joined the Dalton Fire Department in January 2003. During his tenure with the agency, he worked his way to being considered as the senior firefighter on his shift according to his supervisors. While unofficial, that designation is a term of endearment that shows the respect he’s earned from his peers thanks to his knowledge and work ethic. Since moving to the department’s Training Division, Rishel has been instrumental in the department’s recruit classes and other training programs.

Firefighter Rishel (right) with Chief Todd Pangle

DFD Unit Citation

Also at Tuesday morning’s meeting, Chief Pangle presented a Unit Citation to the firefighters of Engine 2-A. The citation was related to their life-saving actions in a December 1^st medical call on Ludie Street. Firefighters were dispatched a report of a male patient who was unresponsive without a pulse. When they arrived, they took over CPR on the patient and applied an AED. After a shock from the AED, the patient regained a pulse and began breathing on his own. The patient ultimately had a good outcome after being taken to the hospital.

(from left to right) Chief Pangle with Engine 2-A members Lt. Jeff Viens and Firefighters Justin Cole and Cody Manly

Firefighter Honored For Off-Duty Heroics

Chief Pangle also honored Firefighter III Matt Asbell with a certificate for his heroic actions at a December 30^th structure fire while he was off duty in Chatsworth.

Asbell was driving in Chatsworth when he saw a column of smoke nearby and went to investigate. When he arrived at the house on Emerald Parkway, he found smoke pouring out of the structure. Asbell immediately checked with neighbors to find out if anyone was at home. They were unsure, so Matt checked the doors on the house and discovered they were locked. He then kicked in the front door to make entry. It was a split level house, so Asbell went downstairs to the first floor and performed a primary search. After determining the first floor was clear, he went upstairs and found heat and fire which forced him to back out of the building. Units from the Chatsworth Fire Department were arriving and Asbell met with Captain Joey Torres and briefed him that the first floor was clear and told him where the fire was located. Chatsworth FD then took control of the operation. Captain Torres later contacted Dalton Fire to praise Asbell’s actions in clearing the first floor and enabling them to go straight to locate and extinguish the fire.

Firefighter III Matt Asbell (right) with Chief Pangle

PSC Chairman, Secretary Named

Tuesday morning’s meeting was the first of 2020 for the Public Safety Commission so the members elected officers for the year. Incoming chairman Bill Weaver was re-nominated and confirmed by a unanimous 3-0 vote of the commissioners present. Anthony Walker was nominated to succeed Terry Mathis as the PSC’s secretary which was also confirmed by unanimous vote.

The Dalton Public Safety Commission is comprised of Chairman William B. Weaver, Terry Mathis, Anthony Walker, Keith Whitworth, and Kenneth E. Willis.

UPDATE: This subject has been identified.

The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify a man who is a person of interest in a reported assault. The man was recorded by surveillance in the area of a disturbance and an assault reported to police in October.

The incident happened at the Underwood Lodge apartments on October 12^th. An individual reported to police being assaulted. The incident happened in the complainant’s room. The man in the attached surveillance images from the Underwood Lodge’s security system as recorded leaving the area. He’s a white male believed to be in his early to mid 40’s with a beard, wearing shorts and a navy blue shirt. He was described to investigators as being dirty and possibly smelling of oil.

Below: This person is a person of interest in the reported assault.

The Dalton Police Department is asking for the public’s help to identify a man who shoplifted an impact drill and a CD by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member the Eagles. The suspect was spotted by loss prevention but was already gone before police were dispatched to the scene.

The theft happened on January 16^th at the Walmart on Shugart Road. The suspect, who wore a white #11 Georgia Bulldogs football jersey, black ball cap, and dark rimmed eyeglasses over his lyin’ eyes, entered the store and left with the Eagles CD and a red Hyper Tough brand impact drill. The suspect didn’t take it easy after possibly realizing he was seen by store security. Instead, he apparently threw down the empty drill box and the CD in the parking lot before taking it to the limit in a blue Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck and fleeing the scene.

Police are asking anyone who recognizes the suspect to help them arrange a visit to the Whitfield County Jail for the suspect where, unlike the Hotel California, he will not be able to check out any time he likes. If you know the suspect’s identity, please contact Officer Mefford by email at [email protected] or call 706-278-9085, dial 9 and enter extension 604.

Below: The suspect was recorded by store surveillance

Without warning, two gunshots rang out inside a Dalton grocery store and shattered a peaceful September morning. A witness driving past the Tienda Ruiz store on Murray Avenue heard the gunfire and stopped in time to see a man run out of the store and escape down nearby Matilda Street. Too frightened to get a good look at the suspect, this man instead stopped his car and ran inside to find a man unresponsive on the floor, dying from a gunshot wound.

31 year old Timoteo Ruiz-Leon was gunned down at 10:21 am inside the Tienda Ruiz at 1000 East Murray Avenue nearly 18 years ago on September 13^th, 2002. His murder was never solved, but investigators from the Dalton Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have never given up their hunt for the killer.

Each year, the police department reviews and renews the investigation of a number of cold cases that remain open. As part of a new review of this investigation, Dalton detectives are asking for any information that the public may have on the murder.

“We have physical evidence from the scene, but we’re looking for that one piece of information to break the case open,” said Detective Chris Tucker who is investigating the case. He was a patrol officer with the department in 2002 but did not work on this case at the time. “A lot of times, suspects will brag about being involved in this kind of crime to get street cred and we think there are people out there who know who is responsible.”

Investigators believe that robbery was the motive for the crime. The store, which closed in the years since and is now a salon, cashed checks for customers and therefore had cash on the premises. Police are unable to estimate how much money the suspect might have been able to get away with. Investigators do know that the suspect used what they’re calling a “large caliber weapon” in the crime.

While the first witness didn’t get a good look at the suspect, a second witness inside a nearby store told police at the time that she saw a “light skinned” male run from the business after she heard the gun shots. She was unable to tell police the ethnicity of the suspect, only that he had light skin. The suspect was wearing a black knit cap pulled down over his ears and navy blue shirt and pants.

“This is a case that still gets talked about in this town, and somebody knows who this person is,” Detective Tucker said.

Anyone who has any information about this case is asked to please contact Detective Chris Tucker at 706-278-9085, extension 9-165.

Below: The Tienda Ruiz store as it appeared on the day of the murder in 2002

The Dalton Police Department and Dalton Fire Department are partners in the mission to keep our city safe 365 days a year. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for a healthy red vs blue rivalry and this week, the public gets a chance to choose sides and help out in the battle for bragging rights while also helping to save lives.

On January 10th, the Police Department and Fire Department are teaming up with Blood Assurance and hosting competing blood drives. The first 25 donors with appointments at each location will be entered into a drawing for a Walmart gift card.

The Police Department’s Blood Drive will run from 7:00 am until 11:00 am at the Police Services Center at 301 Jones Street. We’d tell you when and where the Fire Department is holding theirs, but why would you even want to know? Come to the PD!

To schedule an appointment to donate blood with the Dalton Police Department, visit donor.bloodassurance.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/120894.

The Dalton Police Department arrested the former director of the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership on Thursday after an investigation of embezzlement at the nonprofit. 53 year old Gregory Jack Dent is charged with one felony count of theft by taking. So far, the investigation has found that Mr. Dent misappropriated more than $80,000 from the organization for his personal use over a period of three years.

The investigation of Mr. Dent began in December when a member of the Healthcare Partnership’s board of directors reported the theft to the police department. The nonprofit discovered financial irregularities during an audit of the organization’s 2018 books that was completed in November 2019. The organization fired Mr. Dent before the Thanksgiving holiday and then contacted the police department on December 4^th.

Detectives determined that Dent began to use funds from the Healthcare Partnership in 2017, continuing through 2019 to the time of his firing. Dent had worked for the nonprofit organization since 2014. Investigators determined that he used the stolen funds for personal use not related to the business including travel, meals, clothing, and other personal expenses.

Dent was taken into custody on Thursday after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest. The investigation of this case is continuing.