Georgia Briefly — Feb. 13, 2016

Pair charged in fatal raid on bond

ATLANTA (TNS) — Two men charged in connection with the raid that preceded the death of a Riverdale police officer have been released on bond, Channel 2 Action News reported Saturday.

Maj. Greg Barney was killed Thursday morning, allegedly shot by a man evading a no-knock search warrant being served at an apartment complex across the street from the Riverdale Police Department. The man accused of shooting him, Jerand Edward Ross, was also wounded and remained hospitalized Friday. He has been charged with murder.

On Saturday, Channel 2 reported that two more men had been arrested in connection with the raid — and subsequently released on bond.

The station reported that 26-year-old Joey Cartrell King Jr., who was charged with drug offenses and possession a weapon during the commission of a crime, was released on a $30,300 bond. Clayton County jail records show King, a Stockbridge resident, was released at 8:15 p.m. Friday, about 24 hours after his arrest.

The station also reported that 25-year-old Robert Dixon Jr., who was charged with three drug offenses in connection with the raid, was released on a $22,600 bond. Clayton County jail records show Dixon, a Riverdale resident, was released just before 1 a.m. Saturday.

A court official reportedly told Channel 2 that the part-time judge who granted King and Dixon’s bonds was not informed their charges were related to the raid that led to Barney’s death.

Macon man arrested in bank robbery

MACON (TNS) — Authorities arrested a Macon man Saturday morning in connection to a Byron bank robbery that took place Friday, according to a news release.

Kenneth Wayne Williams, 54, was taken into custody in Macon by deputies of the Bibb Sheriff’s Office and officers of the Byron Police Department. He was in the Peach County jail Saturday on a charge of robbery.

Williams is accused of robbing the CB&T bank Friday afternoon. Authorities say a man walked into the bank and handed the clerk a note demanding money before fleeing toward Interstate 75 in a Toyota Tacoma.

Bicyclist, 14, hit by car, killed

ATLANTA (TNS) — A Grady High School freshman died Friday afternoon after being hit by a car a day earlier.

Alexia Hyneman, 14, was riding her bike home from a school theater performance when, according to Atlanta police, she “proceeded through the intersection” at 10th Street and Monroe Drive and was struck by a vehicle. A witness told police that traffic had “begun to move” on Monroe before Hyneman was hit.

The crash happened around 9:15 p.m. Thursday and Hyneman died just before 3 p.m. Friday, according to a post on her mother’s Facebook page.

“She was the most amazing and beautiful soul, full of life and loved by so many more than I knew,” Marla Elizabeth MacLean wrote. “I miss her unspeakably.”

The driver who struck her reportedly told police he didn’t see the girl. Atlanta police Sgt. Warrent Pickard said Saturday that the incident remains under investigation, but that the “preliminary report indicates the driver was not at fault.”

“No decision has been made regarding charges,” Pickard said.

Legislation would create island city

BRUNSWICK (TNS) — State Rep. Jeff Jones is making it official, serving notice in The Brunswick News Saturday that he is sponsoring a bill that will lay the groundwork for St. Simons Island to become a city.

The bill establishes the charter for the new city and sets a referendum on the incorporation question.

That said, Jones cautioned Friday afternoon that he still has many questions about the ripple effects that cityhood for St. Simons Island would have on Brunswick and the rest of Glynn County. He added he would be surprised if the bill made it to a vote in the Georgia House of Representatives by the end of this year’s state General Assembly in Atlanta.

Jones, R-St. Simons Island, is sponsoring the bill at the request of Citizens for St. Simons Island and Sea Island. It includes Sea Island in the incorporation, but the resort island’s inclusion in the bill is subject to change, Jones said.

The grassroots group believes city-hood is the best way to control hot-button issues, such as overdevelopment, code enforcement and preservation of the tree canopy on the islands.

Jones said he agreed to sponsor the bill with the understanding that it would not go to a vote until at least the 2017 General Assembly. He agrees with several members of the Glynn County Commission who insist that an independent study needs to be conducted to determine what effects incorporation will have on the rest of the county.

Union criticizes outgoing fire chief

AUGUSTA (TNS) — As Augusta Fire Chief Chris James heads out the door to a new job, members of the local firefighters union issued a letter Friday criticizing him for a contract he negotiated to buy several fire trucks they claim require constant maintenance.

The Augusta Professional Firefighters Association claims members warned James years ago about the purchase of eight KME “prototype” fire trucks costing $6 million that now require frequent maintenance. James last week accepted a job as assistant manager of York County, S.C.

In the letter to Augusta Commission members, the association details how an apparatus committee formed in 2012 developed extensive specifications for the purchase of new fire pumpers and aerial ladder trucks.

Despite the committee’s recommendation to purchase other brands and models with other specifications, weeks later members found James in a “closed-door meeting” with KME representatives. Learning of the meeting, several vendors declined to bid, the letter states.

The letter cites numerous continual malfunctions associated with the new trucks and links to videos showing interior drip pans leaking water, ladder defects and other issues.

James, who leaves for York County in March and received six months’ severance pay, did not answer a call seeking comment.

City Administrator Janice Allen Jackson said she planned to review the exhibits and evidence cited in the letter. After the issues came to light last year, the city terminated the KME contract, she said.