About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2020)
LOCAL The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com Thursday, June 18, 2020 3A 5 Hall men indicted on federal arson charges Five Hall County men were charged by a federal grand jury in an arson case stemming from a Gainesville Police car being torched with a flare gun at the officer’s residence, according to authorities. Those charged were Delveccho Waller Jr., 21, Jesse Smallwood, 21, Dashun Martin, 23, and Judah Bailey, 20, all of Gainesville, and Bruce Thompson, 22, of Oakwood. A Gainesville Police Department patrol car was set on fire June 2 in the parking lot of an apartment complex. “While using the cover of peaceful protests in Gainesville, the defendants allegedly sought out and intentionally burned a police vehicle,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak in a statement. “Those seeking to perpetrate crim inal acts of violence toward our law enforce ment officers should expect to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a witness saw an older model vehicle with no lights parked near the apartment entrance. The witness saw two people from the car approach the patrol car before a “loud bang followed by a bright light” and smoke com ing from the patrol car, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. “We want our community to know we stand with them during their rights to peacefully protest. Sadly, agitators that do not necessarily share the same goals as our community took this opportunity to target one of our officers at his residence. We will not stand for this type of destruction and violence in our community,” said Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish in a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A lookout went out over the radio for the sus pect vehicle, and officers spotted one match ing the description at a nearby gas station and convenience store. “The driver, Jesse James Smallwood, agreed to speak to one of the officers and gave permission for his car to be searched. During the search, officers recovered three spent explosives and a flare gun. Smallwood and his passengers, Waller Jr., Thompson, Bailey, and Martin, were all arrested for the arson,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The indictment includes one count of gen eral conspiracy and one count of arson, where it is alleged the police patrol unit is “used in interstate and foreign commerce, and in activities affecting interstate and foreign commerce.” No attorneys were listed for Waller or Smallwood with either Hall County Magistrate Court or the federal court record database. Attorneys for Martin, Thompson and Bailey did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 0LDJ0E ■ Continued from 1A And a petition to remove Old Joe was being circulated. “You’re on the right side of history, and you’re making history,” Brad Lathem of the Socialist Organization of North Georgia, told the group. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to see everybody out here standing up for what’s right, and what’s right is to get this racist statue out of our town.” Old Joe’s place in the square has been a long time divisive issue. Sometimes testy comments flew in both directions on The Times’ Facebook Live video of the event. In an interview last week, Ralph W. Mills, commander of the Sons of Confederate Veter ans’ Gainesville chapter, said he supports the statue staying put. “I think a memorial to any soldiers should stay right where it is,” Mills said. “That monu ment was put there with great affirmation and celebration — and they were all over the South. ” He added: “It’s just very natural to want to put something up in honor of your sons, fathers, uncles, brothers-in-law and all these others who fought in a war. (The monuments) were not put up there to intimidate black people and that kind of thing. And we have to address the fact that the typical 19th century (person)... would be considered racist by today’s standards.” Confederate monuments throughout the South have been targeted in recent protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Tyler Dalton Moye, 24, of Gainesville, was charged with interference with government property, second-degree criminal damage to property and obstruction in the alleged spray painting of Old Joe during a May 31 protest in Gainesville. The case has been forwarded to the Hall County District Attorney’s Office, according to Hall County Magistrate Court. Man charged with multiple thefts from autos BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A Union City man is facing numerous charges of enter ing auto to commit theft after an investigation in South Hall, according to authorities. Quaves Jermaine Sterling, 22, was booked into the Hall County Jail Wednesday, June 17. Investigators were trying to finalize the charges “with the number for Sterling expected to reach 40,” Hall County Sher iff’s Office spokesman Derreck Booth wrote in a news release. The investigation started late Tuesday, June 16, in the Reunion residential develop ment after numerous entering auto calls. “According to the initial examination, Sheriff’s Office detectives believe there were approximately 50 such cases in the development, with roughly 30 credit and/or debit cards among the stolen items,” Booth wrote in a news release. Sterling was found in a vic tim’s pickup truck around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 6000 block of Cedar Springs Lane, Booth said. He was arrested after a short chase on foot, and deputies had help with officers from the Braselton and Flowery Branch police departments. “Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office also continue to follow leads for other potential suspects in the crimes,” Booth wrote. Flowery Branch budget, tax rate up for initial votes Flowery Branch’s proposed budget and tax rate for 2020-21 are up for initial votes at the City Council meeting Thursday, June 18. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at City Hall, 5410 W. Pine St. The votes will take place after public hearings on the budget and tax rate. Public hearings on both also are set for 9 a.m. Thursday. Final votes are set for June 25. The city is proposing a $5.1 million budget in fiscal 2021, which begins July 1. The current budget is $5.2 million. While property tax revenues are generally the same in the proposed budget, there are revenue losses elsewhere, such as in local option sales taxes, which are dropping from $1 million to $750,000, or by 25%. Local governments have had to wrestle with lost revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s proposed tax rate is staying the same, but, if approved, that would mean a hike for residents with rising property values. The city is proposing to keep the rate at 3.264 mills, with 1 mill equal to $1 per $1,000 in assessed property value. Under that formula, a $250,000 home would be taxed at $326.40. Flowery Branch City Council What: public hearings, votes on proposed 2020 tax rate, budget When: 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, June 18, and 6 p.m. June 25 Where: Flowery Branch City Hall, 541OW. Pine St. Rising home values are increasing property tax revenues for the city. To keep the revenue amount the same as in 2019, the city would have to drop the tax rate to 3.178 mills. Jeff Gill HOSPITALITY ■ Continued from 1A “The good news is that, as businesses have been able to reopen, (the jobless) fig ure is more in the 25% range, so we are definitely rebounding,” Dickson said. “And hopefully, our businesses and our patrons will respect the guidelines that have been set forth... in order to be able to stay open. “Just because we’re emotionally tired of the pandemic doesn’t mean it’s gone. The more our local businesses are able to adapt and adhere to the restrictions, the fewer closures we’ll have to go through later.” The CVB is working with businesses on such tasks as putting in social distancing signs. “We’ve made 400 masks for front desk workers, housekeepers and others on the front lines in tourism, and all that is to be able to help our businesses stay open and be vital during this transition time,” Dickson said. There are some bright spots in the tour ism economy, including talk of a federal tax credit for Americans taking vacations, she said. Otherwise, people are looking for trips closer to home. “Even in the midst of this depression situation, destinations like Lake Lanier are feeling a kind of (boost),” Dickson said. “Our inquiries for information about travel have never been higher. The pent- up demand... is so high for travel that now we’re having to figure out how to respond to that and help connect the dots for people.” Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic Welcomes New Endocrinologist We are pleased to welcome Dr. Esther Lee to the Department of Endocrinology. Dr. Lee earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA and her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, VA. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA; and her Fellowship in Endocrinology at Tufts Medical Center at Boston, MA. Prior to joining the Diagnostic Clinic, Dr. Lee worked at Emory Clinic in Atlanta. Dr. Lee is Board Certified in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine. She is a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and The Endocrine Society. Dr. Lee is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, please call 770-536-9864. 1240 Jesse Jewell Pkwy, SE • Ste 500 • Gainesville, GA Highpoint Medical Center 1270 Friendship Rd • Ste 100 • Braselton, GA Dr. Esther Lee www.ngdc.com • 770-536-9864 JOIN OUR TEAM! GREAT BENEFITS, COMPETETIVE PAY, JOB STABILITY! DIRECT HIRE- FULL TIME $14.00 - $18.00 PER HOUR + BENEFITS Apply Online: www.kubota-kma.com Or In Person: 8:00 AM- 2:30 PM Mon- Friday 2715 Ramsey Road Gainesville, GA 30501 1001 McClure Industrial Drive Jefferson, GA 30549 KUBOTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
