Suspect charged with armed robbery, auto theft in Midtown

Don’t forget, there will be a special safety meeting Monday night at , located at 224 Ponce de Leon Ave., to introduce Atlanta Police Major Keith Meadows of Zone 6 to the Midtown community. Major Christopher Leighty of Zone 5 will also be in attendance, as they will speak about recent trends in the immediate community and how they will address them.

Most noteworthy will be enhanced coverage of the Parkway Drive/Boulevard corridor, coordination of coverage of Ponce by two precincts, and recent street robberies in Midtown and surrounding area.

Other key police officers will be in attendance, and Sgt. Bill Cooper, patrol manager of the Midtown Ponce Safety Alliance (MPSA), will provide an update on his recent actions and observations. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and residents are encouraged to come early to socialize.

Tonight will also serve as the annual MPSA meeting, as required by its bylaws. During the last few minutes at tonight’s meeting, members present can take part in the re-election of half of the board (the other will be re-elected/reconfirmed next year).

MPSA is always seeking new board members, and are especially in need of people to help with the membership development and maintenance.

From MPSA via police reports:

On 3/10/12, shortly after 7 p.m., police responded to a pedestrian robbery call at 6th Street near Peachtree. Upon arrival the victim advised that he was walking east on 6th Street approaching Cypress Street. A black male wearing a red hoodie and dark colored pants approached him from behind. The suspect had his hand in his pocket and pointed it towards the victim.  

The victim complied with the suspect's demand for his wallet and cell phone. After removing $8, the suspect gave the wallet back to the victim. The suspect also gave the cell phone back to the victim after looking at it. The suspect told the victim that it was is his lucky day and that he did not want his phone, it was is daughter's birthday and he was just trying to get some money. He then ran north on West Peachtree Street. Police canvassed the area but were unable to locate the suspect. Georgia Tech Police was also notified because the victim is a graduate student there. There were no injuries.

A short while later police officers were dispatched to the Renaissance Hotel at 866 West Peachtree Street in reference to a theft of a purse. Upon arrival the officer met with the victim, who advised that her purse went missing after she set it down briefly in the lobby. Belongings in the purse included an iPhone. She advised that she went into the hotel, set her purse down in the lobby, and forgot it when she left. When she returned to the location, her purse was gone. Investigators are assisting the victim with tracking the phone, and are reviewing surveillance tapes at the hotel.

Almost an hour later, one of the police officers, wrapping up his police report from the second incident, spotted a black male running from the valet at the location and then intercepted and detained the suspect. During the pursuit the suspect threw down a black backpack found to contain the stolen purse with the iPhone. The backpack also contained several items not belonging to the victim in this particular incident, and police suspect that these items may have originated in a car break-in. The suspect also had $8 in singles in his wallet.
 
The valet advised that the suspect somehow acquired keys from them and attempted to leave the location by driving a black Ford Expedition belonging to a guest of the location. The valet area is secured and you can only exit when they open the door or a resident opens it. The valet knew that the suspect in the vehicle was not the owner. The suspect told the valet that it was his uncle's car and to open the door. They refused and the suspect exited the vehicle. As he exited the vehicle a resident came to the location and opened the door. The suspect then ran out the door, which is when the police officer saw him and then apprehended him. There were no injuries during this incident.

Police then contacted the robbery victim and chauffeured him to the location of the last incident, and the victim of the robbery positively identified the suspect as the one who robbed him. All loot was returned to known victims. Police then arrest and jailed the suspect, Eric Morris, on charges of armed robbery, obstruction of officer, theft by taking, and auto theft.