Officers Promoted

During a promotion ceremony held Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at Canton City Hall, three (3) Canton Police Officers were promoted to higher ranks within the police department. Each of these Officers recently participated in a promotional process, were selected for promotion and to take on more leadership responsibility within the organization.

Chief Mark J. Mitchell presented the Officers with their Attention to Orders and their family members pinned their new supervisor badges on their uniforms.

Corporal James McPherson was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He has been with the Police Department for over three (3) years and previously spent six (6) years with the City of Kennesaw Police Department.

Officer Mary Turner was promoted to the rank of Corporal and has been with the Police Department for two (2) years.

Officer Jesse Ray was promoted to the rank of Corporal. He has been with the Police Department for over four (4) years and previously spent over five (5) years with the City of Gainesville Police Department.

Bank Robbery

On Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at approximately 10:51 AM, the BB&T Bank Located at 152 Prominence Point Pkwy, reported a robbery.  The suspect walked into the bank and demanded money.  No weapon was shown.

The suspect left with an undisclosed amount of money in a possible light blue older Ford Thunderbird or Mercury Cougar from the bank toward Marietta Hwy.

Anyone with information is asked to call 678-493-4080.  All calls are confidential and you may remain anonymous.

Bank security photos:

Dumpster Days

For the past two (2) Saturdays, the Police Department’s Code Enforcement Division, in partnership with the City Public Works Department, Waste Management Systems and Revolution Church, has   conducted an event coined, “Dumpster Days.”  This new program has been a huge success in         different segments of our community.  Large refuse roll-off containers were delivered first on August 6, 2016 to the Canton Village Shopping Center parking lot off Marietta Rd. followed by additional containers that were delivered to an area near the Canton Paw-Park off Juniper St. on August 13, 2016. 

Additionally, during the event on August 13^th, Revolution Church sent over one-hundred (100) volunteers to help clean up the area near and around Juniper Street.  Furthermore, the Church provided , hotdogs, jump houses for children, Spanish Interpreters to speak with citizens and even provided haircuts to those who are less fortunate that live in the area. 

As a result of this joint initiative and everyone’s hard work, the Dumpster Days events removed eleven (11) fully loaded roll-off containers full of refuse and eleven (11) dump truck loads of trash.  The junk that was removed from these segments of our community included mattresses, sofas, large appliances, over ninety (90) tires and a multitude of other waste from residential yards, ditches and wooded areas.  In all, over thirty-one (31) tons of rubbish was removed from these locations in our City.   

Furthermore, this new program in the future will be held one (1) Saturday a month in locations that are identified by Code Enforcement through complaints, enforcement and patrols as areas that have issues with trash, refuse and junk in and around streets, wooded areas and residences.  At this time, the Police Department’s Code Enforcement Officers are working to identify upcoming event dates and urges our citizens to monitor the City’s website, Facebook page and the agency’s social media pages for updates and further information.    

Chief of Police Mark J. Mitchell stated, “This program is an excellent example of how partnerships and working together can make a huge impact on our community.  I cannot commend our Officers, Waste Management Systems, the City Public Works Department and Revolution Church enough for their dedication, effort and passion with this project.  Furthermore, the combined focus and work to clean up these parts of our community will go a long way toward reducing the potential for criminal activity which greatly increases the quality of life for the citizens we serve.”

Homicide Investigation

Update July, 29, 2016 at 11:08 AM:

The family of the victim has been notified in the homicide that occurred on Thursday, July 28. The victim has been identified as Edel Cortes Mendoza, 41 years old of Canton Georgia.

The suspect, Ylarrio Garcia Jarquin, 41 years old of Canton Georgia was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center and charged with Murder (O.C.G.A 16-5-1).   

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At approximately 7:40 PM on July 28, 2016, Officers responded to a person shot at 491 Marietta Road (La Taqueria Oaxaquena). During the initial investigation of the scene and area, a male suspect was located inside the perimeter that was established upon initial response and arrested.

The male victim was taken to the WellStar Kennestone Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. His name will be released after family members and loved ones have been notified.

This is an active investigation and more information will be released when available.

The City of Canton Police Department would like to thank Georgia State Patrol, Georgia State Patrol Aviation Unit, Cherokee County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit, and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.

Building Relationships

On July 22, 2016, the City of Canton hosted a unity meeting and invited members of the local clergy, Police Chief Mark Mitchell, and Mayor Gene Hobgood.  Due to recent national events, the focus of the meeting was to discuss continued efforts to build trusting relationships between the Police Department and the citizens it serves.  Participants noted that the relationship between the Police Department and the community is very good, but there will always be opportunities to improve communication, feedback, and follow-up in order to further strengthen the trust that is being cultivated between the community and its officers. 

As a result of the meeting, plans have been made for the future production of educational literature and a video that shows citizens what to expect during a routine traffic stop.  The goal of this effort will be the ability to show the process, procedure, role, and responsibility of both the officer and citizen during a traffic stop encounter. 

Meetings such as this that improve relationships between the City of Canton, the local Police Department and the community provide valuable insights and feedback for all parties, while building a foundation of trust and success for the future.

From left to right: Pastor Tyrone Gates, Pastor Gregory Hughes, City Manager Billy Peppers, Mayor Gene Hobgood, Bishop Bobby Montgomery, Ms. Pat Tanner, Rev. Lemora Dobbs, Chief Mark Mitchell

From left to right: Mayor Gene Hobgood, Pastor Gregory Hughes, Ms. Pat Tanner, Bishop Bobby Montgomery, Rev. Lemora Dobbs, Chief Mark Mitchell, Pastor Tyrone Gates, City Manager Billy Peppers.

Canton Police and GBI Investigate Double Homicide

Update 4:15 PM, July 23, 2016

The families of the victims have been notified in the double homicide that occurred on Friday, July 22, 2016. The victims have been identified as siblings Omar Ruiz (23 years old) and Antonia Ruiz (27 years old) both of Canton GA.


Update 1:00 PM, July 22, 2016

Oscar Tierrablanca, 28 yrs. old from Dallas, Ga. has turned himself into authorities.  This individual is a suspect in the double homicide that occurred earlier today and is the father of the female victim’s 18 month old child.  It has been determined that the two victims were brother and sister.  The victims will be identified after family notifications have been made.

Oscar Tierrablanca will be booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center and charged with two (2) counts of Murder (O.C.G.A 16-5-1).   

  

Update: 8:40 AM, July 22, 2016

A suspect of the double homicide is in custody and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department are still actively working this case.  The bodies of the victims will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy. Further updates will follow when available.

On Friday, July 22, 2016, at approximately 1:30 AM, Canton Officers responded to Laurels at Greenwood Apartment complex (1215 Hickory Flat Hwy, Canton, GA.) to an assault call at building 3000.  Upon arrival, Officers found a Hispanic male and female lying in the breezeway of the third floor from apparent stab wounds. The male was deceased and the female was transported to Northside Hospital – Cherokee where she was later pronounced dead.  No suspects were located.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was contacted and is working alongside CPD Detectives in the case.  The investigation is active and ongoing while GBI Agents and Canton Detectives pursue leads.  Anyone who has information is encouraged to contact the Canton Police Department at (678) 493-4080 or the GBI Tip Line at 1-800-597-8477.

Canton Police Partner with Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Academy

Its summer vacation and these long breaks from school could take a toll on the skills students worked so hard to learn during the school year. The Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Academy Summer Reading Program provides children with free books to help them maintain their reading skills over the summer. The program promotes a love for reading and learning and provides an opportunity for the community to come together. Parents also learn some skills that can help their children with reading skills. While participating in the summer reading program, children will learn such skills as critical thinking, social skills and the ability to speak in front of groups of people.

By partnering with the Canton Police Department, children and their families will be able to make connections with our officers and build community trust. “Children and families make connections with the police and get to understand that they are caring community leaders who are family oriented and love children” says Gwen Freeman, Parent Involvement Facilitator, of Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Academy . The police presence will serve to build relationships by spending time and listening to the families and break down any previous negative experiences or stereotypes associated with police amongst the community. Police presence at the summer reading program will also demonstrate the important “community advocate” role that officers serve through bringing the community together and creating a safe environment for everyone.

The Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Academy Summer Reading Program is open to all children and everyone is invited to participate. However, the school's Title I programs is intentional in taking reading into communities that lack transportation or that do not have the means to get to a Public Library. The program is for the benefit of all students and adults regardless of race or language which includes English Language Learners.


Feel free to stop by any of the following Hasty Elementary Fine Arts Academy Neighborhood Visits listed below and join in on the reading and fun!


July 1, 2016 @ 7:00PM – Heritage Park behind the YMCA

July 9, 2016 @ 7:00PM – Etowah River Park Near Hasty Elementary

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.” -Anthony Burgess