Georgia News Roundup

Girl, 1, nearly drowns in pool

MOULTRIE (TNS) — A 1-year-old Colquitt County girl who was rushed to a Macon hospital after a near-drowning incident at a pool at her home was expected to make a full recovery.

Daymira Gusmely, the mother of the toddler, reported that the girl, Amy Molano, was in the pool with her 4-year-old brother at about 3:44 p.m. Wednesday when the incident occurred in the 200 block of Selina Drive.

Gusmely told officials that she turned away to get a ball, and when she turned back to the pool the baby was under the water. She removed the girl from the water and began giving her CPR.

The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services investigated and was satisfied with the care of the children in the household, Colquitt County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Chris Robinson said. The little girl was on a respirator on Friday, but it was expected to be removed over the weekend and she will be monitored for a few days.

She is expected to make a complete recovery and not to have any lasting health issues related to the incident, Robinson said.

Woman charged with impersonating lawyer

ATLANTA (TNS) — A North Carolina woman who pretended to be a lawyer at the Towns County Detention Center in April was arrested earlier this month, officials said.

Melissa Sue Arrendale, 46, of Hayesville, North Carolina, had been under investigation for months, the Towns County Sheriff’s Office said.

Towns County is about 100 miles northeast of Atlanta.

Arrendale was arrested and booked into the Towns County Detention Center on June 13, but subsequently released on bond.

She is facing felony charges of forgery, making false statements and writings, and one count of practicing law without a license.

The case will be forwarded to the Towns County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Wrestling match takes a deadly turn

ATLANTA (TNS) — An Atlanta man is charged with murder after a playful wrestling match turned fatal, the Walton County sheriff said.

Daniel Tabor Reed, 38, allegedly shot his friend about 1 a.m. Saturday at a house in the Walton County Woodlake neighborhood, Sheriff Joe Chapman told Channel 2 Action News.

The name of the man killed has not been released, pending notification of next of kin.

Both men are former Marines, Chapman said.

Chapman said the two friends were wrestling playfully, but their fighting escalated and “one then went at the other.”

Reed was being held in the Walton County jail.

Abandoning child said ‘out of character’

ATLANTA (TNS) — A woman accused of leaving her 4-year-old at Atlanta’s airport is receiving medical treatment.

Police said Miranda Hakimi Harvey drove nearly 700 miles before leaving her daughter with strangers and walking away. Investigators said they later found Harvey at an Athens hotel.

Authorities still haven’t said what brought Harvey to Atlanta or why the mother may have abandoned her daughter.

Her shocked family told Channel 2 Action News the allegations are out of character.

Harvey’s cousin, Amanda Hakimi, told the news station that Harvey grew up in Gwinnett County and graduated from the University of Georgia in 2010.

“She’s a wonderful mother,” Halimi said. “What happened was a surprise for everyone.”

Athens-Clarke County police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez said a guest at The Graduate Hotel called 911 after recognizing Harvey.

“She believed this person was the person she saw on TV the night before,” Rodriguez said.

Police asked Harvey basic questions, but she couldn’t answer them.

“At that point, they realized that she seemed to be disheveled, she seemed to be confused, gave her medical treatment as far as calling an ambulance,” Rodriguez told Channel 2.

Harvey may have been struggling with the recent death of her father, her family said, adding that she dedicated her life to children.

“Miranda actually helped disabled children,”Hakimi said. “She went to school for and helped disabled children.”

Atlanta police are working to determine if criminal charges will be filed against her.

Man charged with father’s homicide

AUGUSTA (TNS) — A Richmond County man is dead and his son has been charged with murder.

The fatal shooting took place late Saturday night in the 2600 block of Vernon Drive, and 60-year-old Ronald Kearse was pronounced dead at the scene at midnight, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen.

Deputies were called to the scene around 11 p.m. after reports of shots being fired.

His son, Perry Christain Kearse, 25, fled the scene but was taken into custody at 2:30 a.m. Sunday by Richmond County Sheriff’s Office deputies. He has been charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

The investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff’s office.