* Teen wrecks stolen car, caught near elem. school

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News | Peachtree City

Teen wrecks stolen car, caught near elem. school

Tue, 04/22/2008 - 4:14pm

By: The Citizen

UPDATED STORY

A 16-year-old from Fairburn was arrested Tuesday morning after he wrecked a stolen vehicle in Peachtree City and bolted from the scene, sparking a school-closing manhunt, police said.

The juvenile, whose name is not being released, may have also been armed as police said they found a loaded 9mm gun inside a backpack that was located near where he was found in the Fairfield subdivision off Wisdom Road.

The incident began at 8:10 a.m. Tuesday when a Hyundai Sonata was reported stolen from 104 North Meade Drive in the Wynnmeade subdivision, police said.

Officers saw the vehicle leaving the subdivision and were directly behind it at the intersection of Ga. highways 54 and 74.

As the Hyundai turned north on Hwy. 74, the officers attempted a traffic stop near Aberdeen Parkway and the vehicle sped away from them, wrecking just north of Wisdom Road.

The suspect then fled on foot and eluded capture for over two hours before he was arrested in the Fairfield subdivision by Peachtree City police and Fayette County sheriff’s deputies, police said.

Meanwhile, nearby schools were put on lock-down as a safety precaution. Peachtree City Elementary School is just a few hundred feet from the arrest scene.

The canine unit and Hawk One helicopter unit from the sheriff’s department assisted in the search.

The juvenile suspect reportedly lives on Brook Way in Fairburn, police said.

Speaking of nutcases dropping in...

Submitted by River on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 9:00pm.

There is some nutcase in an ultralight that keeps flying very low over Whitewater HS. He usually circles very low over the school for a few minutes, then departs towards Fayetteville. I'm talking below 100 feet altitude. On one occasion, it looked like he was going to land on the roof.

The ultralight looks like a go-cart with a red/black parachute wing overhead, and it is moving extremely slowly, maybe 20-30 mph.

Apparently, ultralights like this one are unregulated; however, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this guy has some abnormal fascination with hovering over a high school. Also, it would only take one good gust of wind to collapse that parachute, and he would come crashing down on top of a school full of kids.

Surely, there is some law against this.

It's not like an ultralight

Submitted by Spyglass on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 9:32am.

is going to damage anything. A riding lawmmower/golf cart out of control is more dangerous.

I too saw him over Lake Peachtree and areas around this past Monday. Looks pretty cool and basically harmless to me.

Over Lake Peachtree is where he belongs

Submitted by River on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 4:17pm.

My only objection was to him repeatedly circling over a high school in session. If he had just passed overhead and kept going, it wouldn't have bothered me at all. But he circled overhead for a few minutes, and descended like he was going to land on the roof. With all the terror threats lately, we don't need anything that looks like a potential attack.

Personally, I think he was ogling the girls who were outside at the time. However, the longer he loiters overhead a school, the more likely that something bad will happen.

NOTE to Cyclist: I talked to an FAA rep today, and he said this was a definite violation of flight regulations, and to take a picture of the guy if he comes back, so they can prosecute him. Thanks again for the info.

River,

Submitted by Cyclist on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 4:39pm.

Glad I could help.
-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Harmless unless...

Submitted by carbonunit52 on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 10:04am.

something gets caught in the open propeller. I think they should only be operated over the open ocean, about 12 miles out. Of course, maybe I just don't like to see anyone having more fun than I am having.

It did look fun, for sure...

Submitted by Spyglass on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 2:23pm.

But I think I'l try Hang Gliding first, and see how I like it. Smiling

Hang Gliding

Submitted by carbonunit52 on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 3:20pm.

When hang gliding first became popular, way back, I read a book on the subject. The first line was "Do not fly any higher than you care to fall".

ultralight

Submitted by wulfman on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:48pm.

River,

There was a ultralight circling low over lake Peachtree around 7:30pm Monday. Looked like he headed off toward Falcon Field maybe the same guy.

Wulf

Thanks, Wulf!

Submitted by River on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 6:11am.

I'll check into that.

Hey River,

Submitted by Cyclist on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 9:52pm.

Ah, something I can help you with. There is a regualation:

14 CFR 103.15

No person may operate an ultralight vehicle over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons.

A school would quailfy as a settlement due to the number people there.

Call the Atlanta Flight Standard District Office (FSDO) (404) 305-7200 and tell them. If you have a problem getting through let me know.

-------------------------------------------
Caution - The Surgeon General has determined that constant blogging is an addiction that can cause a sedentary life style.

Thanks, Cyclist--you're the Man!!

Submitted by River on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:13pm.

I'll do that. This guy creeps me out.

Expect More of the Same

Submitted by PTC Avenger on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 4:38pm.

Our crime rate is only going to creep higher. I urge responsible citizens to look into acquiring a concealed carry permit. If these good-for-nothing lowlife thugs know that a decent portion of our citizens carry, and aren't afraid to use them if necessary, I guarantee you we will see less of this.

16 year old Fairburn resident in Wynnmead?

Submitted by eldergent on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 6:58pm.

I wonder if he had been dropped off to catch a Fayette County school bus and it was a spur of the moment car theft.

Awesome Job by Peachtree City Police

Submitted by Beach Bum on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 1:48pm.

My hats are off to you guys. You did a great job AGAIN and as usual! Thanks to the Fayette Sheriffs as well!

Good job..

Submitted by Spyglass on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 11:22am.

only better outcome would have been if the thief had resisted arrest and they had shot the sorry so & so.

Thank you!

Submitted by ATLtoPTC on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:32am.

A job well done by the police departments and the school system. Although what is happening to our community - this was the second lockdown for PCES this year?!

Thanks, too, to the Citizen staff for the update!

Awesome Job PTC Police and Fayette Sheriff's Dept.

Submitted by skyspy on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:22am.

I love to see the criminals lose.

and he was armed with a loaded 9mm.....

Submitted by ftp on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 2:06pm.

FYI............

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/
pages/News/Detail?contentId=6365219&version=
1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Thanks for the link FTP!

Submitted by AF A-10 on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 2:35pm.

What do you suppose he had a loaded 9mm for? What would have happened if this woman had confronted him? Yet another juvenile who is LUCKY to be alive! It just takes the right citizen on the other side of this equation to save us tax payers years upon years of room and board. I have ABSOLUTELY NO SYMPATHY for thugs who would put someone else's life at risk for their own monetary gain. Nice job PTCPD.

Kevin "Hack" King
(anyone want two dogs???)

Agree with you, Hack

Submitted by Denise Conner on Wed, 04/23/2008 - 7:32am.

Do you still have those dogs?

wannabe thug

Submitted by ftp on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 3:16pm.

no prob, co-worker e-mailed the link.

It was Mr.Thugs lucky day, had he picked the houses on either side (or when her husband was home) things would not have been in his favor.............. (wink)

That Sally chose a very nice woman with a todler as a victim. Real toughguy.

Good job on catching him PTC/Fayette!!!

CONGRATULATIONS LAW ENFORCEMENT!!!

Submitted by wheeljc on Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:18am.

Fantastic work .....AGAIN!!! Thank you!!

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Teen wrecks stolen car, caught near elem. school

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