Man Fired Gun During Attempted Carjacking: Indictment

WOODSTOCK, GA — An Atlanta man has been indicted on charges related to an attempted carjacking in the parking lot of a Woodstock apartment complex. Kenneth Otis Bethea was indicted last week by a Cherokee County grand jury on charges of aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, obstruction, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and criminal damage to property in the second degree, court records show.

A co-defendant, Satin Marie Blakely, was also indicted on one count each of hindering apprehension of a criminal and possession of marijuana less than an ounce. Bethea, who was 29 at the time of his arrest, was wanted in connection to an incident reported around 3:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at The Heights at Towne Lake Apartments on Buckhead Crossing.

According to Woodstock police, Bethea allegedly pointed a handgun at the occupants of a vehicle during an attempted carjacking at The Heights at Towne Lake Apartments at 1359 Buckhead Crossing. Bethea approached a 2011 BMW in an "aggressive manner," tried to open multiple doors of the car and brandished part of a firearm after he realized the doors were locked, according to warrants obtained by police.

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The occupants of the car fled the scene, but were re-approached by Bethea at the exit gate of the complex. The defendant allegedly aimed the firearm of the two occupants, pointed the gun towards the sky, fired off two rounds and once again stalked towards the car while pointing the weapon at the two victims, the warrants add.

While reaching for the vehicle, Bethea allegedly used the gun to scrape the hood of the car and shattered the front passenger window while the occupants left the area, the warrants go on to state.

Woodstock police converged on the area in an effort to hunt for the suspect. Police canvassed the complex, and knocked on the door of Blakely, who told officers Bethea was not at the residence. However, according to the warrants, Bethea was at the unit earlier, and escaped capture by jumping from the third-story apartment unit window. Those warrants go on to state that Blakely allegedly moved Bethea to Blue Ridge where the pair lived until they got into a domestic dispute. Bethea was taken into custody following a SWAT standoff stemming from the altercation.

Bethea, who was previously convicted of felony breaking and entering in North Carolina, is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Dec. 13 in Courtroom 2C at the Cherokee County Justice Center.

Photo: Kenneth Otis Bethea. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff's Office