Officers Begin Serving Community

Four new recruits were sworn into the Canton Police Department on Thursday, March 29, 2018. During the ceremony, which was held at Canton City Hall, four (4) Canton Police Officers were sworn in by Judge Thomas A. Roach and each given their new badge. Family, friends and other members of the Canton Police force were in attendance to show their support for the new Officers.


Officers Erin Leonard, Michael Shaw, Zachary Sherer and Christopher Cochran each successfully completed the Officer training course at the Rome GPSTC training facility. Officer Leonard served as Class President and Officer Cochran served as the Vice President.  Officer Michael Shaw was a proud member of the class Color Guard.

"We are very proud of our new Officers and look forward to them gaining more experience in our Field Training Program.  We feel they are an excellent fit for our organization and community we serve.  They all have the right attitude, mindset and heart to engage and protect this great city."

What Every Teen Driver Should Know! “Taught by a Cop”

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CantonPolice

If you know a new or soon to be a licensed driver, please have them attend “Traffic Stop with a Cop” being held on Saturday, April 21, 2018, at Canton City Hall from 11:00 AM- 1:30 PM.  The Canton Police Department has created a class for teens that focuses on what to do during a traffic stop.  The class will also teach very important information that every new driver should know.

 What to expect during a traffic stop

 Constitutional Rights during an officer interaction

 What to do in the event of an accident

 The laws of a class “D” license

 The impact of a citation on a driver’s license and insurance

 Texting and driving consequences 

Lawmakers in some states require driver education classes to teach “appropriate interactions with law enforcement officers.”  Illinois, North Carolina, and Virginia passed a similar law recently.  Mississippi, New Jersey, Texas and Rhode Island also are considering them.  Although Georgia does not require the education, the Canton Police Department believes this class will benefit young drivers by giving them the knowledge of what to expect during the traffic stop.  

Students of the class will get to experience a mock traffic stop as a driver and then see the encounter from an officer’s point of view.  Canton Police hopes the class will allow drivers to be less nervous during a stop and give them confidence by having gone through a role-play traffic encounter scenario.

Chief Mark J. Mitchell stated, “We are extremely excited to offer this educational and insightful program for new teen drivers.  Our goal, and the purpose of this initiative is to relay to young motorists what to expect during a traffic stop, their rights during the interaction and the Officer’s point of view.  We hope this education, along with good communication, are key components to keeping everyone safe during a traffic stop encounter.  Not only do we want those in attendance to know what to expect but we also want anyone who leaves from a traffic stop with one of our Officers to be treated fairly, respectfully and given a voice in the process regardless of whether they received a citation or not.  Our organization strives to practice these principles of Procedural Justice in today’s world of 21st Century Policing.”      

  

Traffic Stop with a Cop is recommended for those that are 14-19 years old. The class will be limited to thirty students.  To apply, please fill out the online registration form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CantonPolice

Class Schedule – 

10:30am Check-in and handouts 

11:00am-12:00pm PowerPoint presentation 

12:00pm-12:30pm Complimentary lunch provided (pizza)

12:30pm-1:30pm Mock traffic stops and demonstration

Law Enforcement Investigate Possible Kidnapping

Update (8:00 AM)
After further investigation, Detectives have determined Ms. Britney Young was not kidnapped from her residence as initially indicated upon Officers arrival. Detectives are still working to determine exactly what occurred, but have established enough evidence to charge Calvin Elliott with Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police Officer (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-395). He also had an outstanding warrant for Failure to Appear from Bartow County. Ms. Britney Young was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-30) and Possession of Drug Related Objects (O.C.G.A. § 16-13-32).

Update (5:00 AM)
Officers have located Ms. Britney Young in Canton and she is safe at this time.  In addition, Detectives along with the GBI have taken Mr. Calvin Elliott into custody at a residence in Pickens County.  


Detectives are working to see exactly what happened in this incident and more will be released when available to include information in reference to pending charges for Calvin Elliott.


Previous Release:
Just after 11:00 pm., on Sunday, March 18, 2018, Officers were dispatched to the report of a burglary in progress at 306 Tiffany Lane.  The female caller advised an ex-boyfriend was attempting to forcibly enter her apartment.  As an Officer arrived at the complex, he observed a black in color vehicle quickly leaving the area and attempted to stop the car but the vehicle fled the scene.  Not knowing if the 911 caller was in the car or not, units attempted to make contact with the complainant at her residence and discovered she was not there.  At this time, attempts to locate the female have been unsuccessful and it appears a Ms. Brittany Young age: 29 was taken by her ex-boyfriend a Mr. Calvin Elliott age: 32.  Both individuals are believed to be traveling in a 2007 Black Acura TL tag # RHC9353.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has been requested to assist with this active investigation.  Anyone with information about this incident is strongly urged to call 911 or the Police Department's main number at 770-720-4883.             

More information will be released when available. 

Brittany Young

Saving a Life Becomes Group Effort

On Saturday, March 10, 2018, at 12:11 pm., Officers responded to the report of a person down on the I-575 northbound off-ramp to Hickory Flat Highway (Exit # 16).  Three (3) units quickly arrived and found thirty-eight (38) year old male Mr. Austin Alan Gelder to have no pulse and not breathing.  On scene, the caller, Ms. Sherri Blalock-Whitten, advised Officers she was giving the individual a ride to the hospital because he was feeling very ill.  In addition, another passerby had stopped and was administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to the person down as Officers arrived.

Cpl. Jose Souto, Officer Kyle Harahus, and Officer Daniel Mendoza immediately began rendering aid to the lifeless male by taking over CPR, administering breaths from a manual respirator and utilized an assigned Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

The dedicated Officers worked as a team for several minutes as they coordinated chest compressions along with the use of the respirator and administered three (3) shocks to the patient’s heart from the AED before Cherokee Fire Medics arrived on scene.  Upon Medics arrival, they continued to work on Mr. Gelder and transported him to Northside – Cherokee Hospital as Officers cleared traffic for the ambulance.  Responding Officers later learned that Mr. Gelder was in recovery and in stable condition at the hospital due to their immediate life-saving efforts, quick response of the caller to 911 and the passerby who stopped to administer CPR.   
 
Chief of Police Mark J. Mitchell said, “Our Officers and these kind Samaritans were extremely calm, caring and worked as a team, which directly resulted in saving a human life.  We are extremely grateful that Mr. Gelder is on his way to recovery.  As proven before, the diligent mindset, attitude and heart set of our Officers, partnership with our citizens and the addition of the AED devices to our fleet strengthens our abilities to protect, serve and improve the quality of life for our community.”
The agency is coordinating the attendance of both Good Samaritans and Mr. Gelder or members of his family to the City Council Meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 5, 2018.  Chief Mitchell will present the department’s Life-Saving Award to the involved Officers and Good Samaritans at that time. 

Can you identify this good Samaritan?

The department is currently working to obtain the name of the Good Samaritan who stopped and conducted CPR because she quickly left the scene before Officers obtained her information.  Please see the attached photo of the unknown passerby. We ask if anyone has any information pertaining to this individual to contact us via our social media pages or call the Police Department at 770-720-7883.  Furthermore, please let her know that she can also contact us via our social media pages or call the main number listed above.

Law Enforcement Arrest Fleeing Entering Auto Suspect

On Friday, March 9, 2018, just after 2000 hrs., Officers were dispatched to the report of a suspicious person who attempted to open a vehicle door at the Panda Express located at 1401 Riverstone Parkway. As units responded, dispatch further advised the complainant relayed that a male wearing a black hoodie tried to open her car door as her son sat in their vehicle while she was picking up food at the restaurant. The shift Lieutenant arrived at 2008 hrs. and located an individual who matched the description of the suspect standing on the shoulder of Reinhardt College Parkway near the intersection of Riverstone Parkway. 

The Lieutenant began talking to the male who appeared to be under the influence of something but did give the Supervisor his name and date of birth. As a back-up Officer arrived, the suspicious person fled on foot across Reinhardt College Parkway toward Longhorns. Both Officers gave chase and again located the male running back toward Riverstone Parkway through the parking lot. A Georgia State Patrol Trooper who was in the area joined in the foot pursuit, caught up to the male and took him into custody without further incident. Once under arrest, the suspect was found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana, drug-related objects and an unmarked pill bottle containing suspected Xanax pills.

Later, after the scene was clear, another call was received by a complainant at the Panda Express in reference to their vehicle door being open, ignition on and a strange cell phone left in their car. A subsequent investigation by Officers and the on-call Criminal Investigation Sergeant revealed that the suspect admitted to attempting to enter a vehicle and actually did enter another car near the Panda Express where he did leave his cellphone behind.

Chief of Police Mark J. Mitchell added, “I commend the efforts of the citizen who contacted us about this crime, the work of our Officers and want to thank the Georgia State Patrol for their support. The combined teamwork was vital to the suspect’s arrest and goes a long way toward improving the quality of life for those we serve.”

Suspect Information
Steven Neil Walker age: 34 of Jasper, Ga.

Charges
Entering Auto
VGCSA Possession of a Schedule IV Drug
VGCSA Possession of Marijuana Less than 1 oz.
Obstruction of an Officer (M)
Possession of Drug Related Objects