Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by Georgia HomePLACE, a project of the Georgia Public Library Service.
About Walker County messenger. (LaFayette, Ga.) 187?-current | View Entire Issue (May 20, 2015)
Wednesday, May 20,2015 ONLINE: catwalkchatt.com EMAIL: walkercountymessenger@walkermessenger.com LaFayette, Ga. Vol. 126, No. 20 Founded in 1877 — Walker County’s oldest continuous business Five sections, 48 pages ■ 75 cents To report ° news or Gordon Lee's Andrew Towns captures a second GHSA state pole vault title. Sports/B1 Check out Catoo- saWalkerNews’ Face- book page. It’s a great place ■ for you to post items of | interest (such as upcoming events), discuss what’s happening in our community and in the news, or just send us a message. And don't forget to "Uke" us! CATOOSA WALKER NEWS Ongoing investigation by the FBI of its own agent hinders action in “Craigslist” cases Cobb County Superior Court judge Grant Brantley looks on as Angela Russell is sworn as a witness on Friday, May 8, at the Catoosa County Courthouse. (Chattanooga Times Free Press pool photo/Tim Barber) By Adam Cook acook@npco.com There’s quite the Catch-22 going on in the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit regarding a number of pending child sex cases. The fate of the cases remains stalled due to an ongoing FBI investigation of one of its own agents, one happens to be the linchpin to the whole saga. Cobb County Superior Court judge Grant Brantley was appointed to hear pre-trial motions in the cases in early March 2013 after all four Catoosa County Superior Court judges with the LMJC — which serves Catoosa, Walker, Dade and Chattooga counties — recused themselves from hearing any pre-trial motions in cases known as the “Craigslist Cases.” Those “Craigslist Cases” are child sex-related cases that were initially handled by the now-disbanded FBI Northwest Georgia Crimes Against Children Task Force, which was headed up by FBI special agent Ken Hillman, who continues to be the main cause for all the delays. All the cases fell on Hillman’s watch, with the validity of the cases coming into question and falling Catch-22, page A6 Inside: 24-pages honor our high school seniors May 20, 2015 HJalkrr (£mmtu lllrssrnarr Rossville standoff ends with arrest ?8 : co 855 2 < ^ ft UJ < (Or- CD 5 Today's kid's page is all about alligators News/A9 By Josh O’Bryant jobryant@npco.om An East Ridge man arrested last week in Rossville follow ing a police standoff remained in Walker County's jail Monday, May 18, on a $10,951 bond. Authorities on Wednesday, May 13, arrested Timothy Bernard Pam, 31, who now faces 21 counts of obstruct ing of ficers, as well as charges for pos session of a firearm by a convicted felon and theft by bringing stolen Police surround a residence Wednesday, May 13, on Brown Avenue at West Oak Street in Rossville. (Walker Messenger photo/Josh O’Bryant) Timothy B. Pam property into the state. According to Ross ville Police chief Sid Adams, the arrest stems from Pam’s being pulled over in a traffic stop about two weeks ago while allegedly driving a stolen vehicle. During that stop, Pam, a convicted felon, had a handgun in his pos session. He tossed the weapon into the vehicle and fled on foot, Adams said. U.S. Marshals, by pinging his cell phone, eventually located the suspect at a residence on Brown Avenue at West Oak Street in Rossville. Authorities, including Walker Coun ty Sheriff’s Department, Georgia State Patrol Post 41 in LaFayette and Rossville Police Department, went to the residence on May 13 to aid the federal mar shals in arresting Pam, sheriff Steve Wilson said. Authorities sur rounded the residence and tossed about 20 rounds of tear gas through windows. Of ficers forced their way into the building and found Pam hiding in a hall closet under a mat tress and blankets.He surrendered without incident. Pam’s girlfriend, Tiffany Zapata-Rangel, left the residence in a vehicle and was pulled over. She told po lice that Pam was not at the resi dence. Tiffany She has Za P ata been charged with hindering the ar rest of a felon. Her bond was set at $5,000. Down Home Days = happy days “We’ve had a great day—great weather — great for the vendors, great for the club and great for the community, ” said Chickamauga Lions Club president Lee Miller about the club-sponsored festivities held Saturday, May 16. GL's Melissa Duran signs to play softball at LaGrange College. Sports/B1 Large crowds filled the streets all morning, thinned only after the ear ly afternoon parade and returned as shade spread across downtown and musical entertainment contin ued on the Cove Road Stage. More photos by Josh O'Bryant and Mike O'Neal can be found on page A8. r
