Ax-Wielding Man; Trans-Prostitute Drug Dealer and Other Midtown Crimes

Editor's note: The following crime update is from the Midtown Security Alliance, which has shared it with Midtown Patch.

CAR BREAK-INS ON THE RISE

• Our contacts with APD have advised us that car break-ins have surged in recent weeks. When looking at the crime map for Midtown, pretty much the entire MPSA service area except for Charles Allen Drive and Vedado Way are blanketed with dots for car break-ins. In the rest of Midtown the streets are not even discernible for the car break-in dots. One the one hand car breakins are historically the most frequent crime occuring in the neighborhood. They are also among the most difficult to catch, as the suspects can break into cars relatively quietly and easily. Unless caught red-handed in the act, it is logistically difficult to watch for these. The culprits typically break into the curb side of the car rather than the street side, making it nearly impossible for anyone driving along - police or not - to readily see that a car has been broken into. What's more: this problem is largely driven by habits of leaving valuables in cars especially in plain view.
• There is an inkling of good news in all of this. APD investigators have identified several suspects, and asked us to share this list. Also noteworthy is that some of these are also among the street hustlers on Cypress Street.  We have posted mugshots at the web version of this post.
  • Demarco Presley has had 33 prior arrests. His criminal history includes various theft offenses, fraud, drug offensess, Disorderly Conduct, street prostitution [Cypress Street type from what we can tell], Robbery, many cases of Entering Auto and unauthorized person in parking lot. Most recently, he was arrested 2-12-13 for Entering Auto and Forgery, and released time served 2-23-13. APD reports that he was observed in the Midtown neighborhoods by an off-duty unit working an event at Piedmont Park, and is known to hang around Parkway & Parkway.
  • Roderick Goldwire has 27 prior arrests mostly for drugs, but also for Burglary, Theft by Taking, Entering Auto, Aggravated assault on Police Officer, Armed Robberies (2000-2002), among others.
  • Robin Brown has had 74 prior arrests according to APD, mainly property crimes.  Loiters and prowls mostly in Midtown area – north of North Ave and as far east as Monroe Drive. His history includes several convictions for Entering Auto, two convictions for Theft by Receiving Auto, along with lots of alcohol violations, street prostitution [Cypress Street type], prowling, peeping Tom, and Unauthorized person in parking lot [Paybox pickers]. APD tells us that he had two armed robberies near the beginning of his criminal career (Released to probation on 12-7-12). APD reports no contact since his release to probation, but they are taking a close look at him given that theft from auto has been increasing in the Midtown neighborhood and he likes to work that area.
  • Falandus Gray has had over 40 prior arrests mostly for theft-related charges. He was also arrested on 3/02/2013 for aggressive panhandling on Spring Street, but was released immediately. According to APD, he is a good suspect for car break-ins happening in the area of the Varsity given that he is arrested chronically in that area. He has been arrested. APD also notes several arrests late in 2012 and is known to stay at the Peachtree-Pine "shelter."
  • Marcus Perrino has 62 prior arrests ranging from violent crimes towards the beginning of his criminal career, to multiple theft related crimes in recent years. On May 2, 2013, Marcus Perrino was arrested at 607 Peachtree Street. At the time of his arrest, Perrino was in possession of items which were later determined to have been taken in two theft from auto reports, 634 W Peachtree St and 1072 W Peachtree St. CID has obtained arrest warrants on Perrino for theft by receiving.  Based on his recent contacts with APD, it appears that he stays either at or near 477 Peachtree St (Peachtree-Pine "shelter"), but ranges out to Midtown and the neighborhoods to commit his property crimes. His recent history includes 4 theft by receiving auto, 2 auto theft, and multiple theft by receiving charges.  His record also indicates a number of forgery arrests and theft of financial transaction cards, which are also indicative of theft from auto.
  • Terelle Lynch has had 37 prior arrests. APD is watching him for car break-ins in Downtown and Midtown. [MPSA Note: beat cops have been telling us about this individual for quite some time]. He has been arrested in those areas this year for trying to pick a paybox and unauthorized person in a parking lot. He likes downtown up to Midtown – arrested on 6th st for warrant. He was been observed by undercover units working in the Midtown area, and is known to hang around on and near Parkway Drive and Boulevard.

NOTES FROM THE STREETS OF MIDTOWN  

• We are working to identify a very aggressive trans prostitute and possible drug dealer appearing in the area of Piedmont and Myrtle near the intersections with 3rd, 4th, and 5th. This individual, whom we have not yet identified, typically appears during the wee hours of the morning in that area. This one drives a dark blue Honda, tag number BXI 1926, and likes to park and meet people for short transactions. He is known to throw rocks at people, threaten and menace area residents, and follow neighborhood watch with headlights on high beam. Please report this as a suspicious person to 911 if seen. Photos posted at the website version of this post.
• Last week we received a report of someone appearing to be living out of a parked car on Argonne Avenue near 8th Street. It turned out that the car had a dead battery. After watching it for three days, APD put a five-day sticker on the car and it was removed a few hours later. But in researching the individual, we found that this white male has an extensive history of drug offenses and has served in both state and federal prisons. Hopefully it is a one-time thing, but in the past the presence of meth-head types has indicated the presence of ongoing drug activity nearby.
• We have received word that a chronic prostitute and drug addict in the Ponce & Boulevard area has gotten off the streets hopefully for good. We were told that her parents came down from North Carolina to take her home, where she will go through a drug rehab program. We would certainly like to see more of this, but most street prostitutes do not cooperate for long with such efforts and have to be dealt with via police and courts.
• One of the trans prostitutes was robbed recently during the early morning hours. This individual reported being "offered" a "ride" in the area of 3rd & Piedmont, and was taken to the area of 10th & Monroe to be robbed at gunpoint. The robber drove off, leaving the prostitute at that location. A little bit later the prostitute flagged down a neighborhood watch volunteer, who then called the police to come take a report. Afterwards, this individual went straight back to the 3rd & Piedmont area to solicit rides again, and has appeared in that area in the same way on several mornings since, at that location. The prostitute reported seeing the potential john cruising around for a little bit before the incident. This was an unusual robbery, as the suspect was believed to be drawn into the neighborhood by prostitutes. We will identify and learn more about this individual once the report is ready.
• A man was spotted smoking crack on the sidewalk on 6th Street near Piedmont. Another resident told us that he was fondling himself in front of her home on 8th Street. He has also been seen hanging around in the 10th & Piedmont area. McCoy was released from prison last year after serving a sentence for stalking a resident in Midtown. He also generated many reports of fondling himself and exposing himself to area women.
• We have a report of someone walking around the neighborhood with an ax during overnight hours. Hopefully this will turn out to be nothing, but walking around with an ax at 1:30am could use a dose of explanation. Please report this individual to 911 if seen, and then write to us (with approximate time of 911 call and other details) so we can check up on it with our contacts at APD.
  • Here is the report as it was posted to our Facebook page:   I have seen a tall thin black man around Glendale and 8th twice in the past week who is walking around carrying an ax. The first time was last Friday night (May 10) around 1:30am on Glendale Terrace. Luckily I was in a car and not walking. I saw him again at 10:00am this morning (May 15) going up to a house at the corner of 8th and Glendale. I was walking away from him but tried to look back to see if he was just knocking on the door or doing anything suspicious and when I looked back he was leaving the house. I'm not sure if he is a guy who does handy work around the neighborhood or if he is someone I should be concerned about; but the large ax is definitely disconcerting. If I see him again I will call Midtown Blue. Has anybody else seen him or know who he is?
• We found that Andrew Arnett was transferred from a Gwinnett jail to the Department of Corrections, and was immediately assigned a parole date of this month. We immediately sent a parole opposition statement to the Parole Board, but are unsure if it will work. Although his latest conviction took place in another jurisdiction, he frequently appears in our area for drug-related purposes. To date we have never had an offender released that was the subject of our parole opposition statement. He maxes out in August.