Crime & Safety

Zone 5 Crime: 'No major incidents' in 2012

APD Major Chris Leighty tells Neighborhood Planning Unit-E, "We've had a pretty good first five weeks of the year."

On Tuesday night, just hours after a Fulton County Grand Jury indicted a Stone Mountain woman in the vehicular homicide case that claimed the life of veteran Atlanta Police Officer Gail Thomas, Major Chris Leighty, Zone 5 Commander, told the Neighborhood Planning Unit-E (NPU-E) that “we have no crime issues in Zone 5 right now."

Of course, it was a tragic start to 2012 as Thomas was struck and killed on Jan. 24 on Interstate 75/85 southbound at the Brookwood Interchange. As Thomas was attempting to divert traffic away from a previous crash, she was struck by a vehicle driven by Chasity Jones.

Jones was formally charged Tuesday in a thirteen-count indictment. The charges against her include: Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree (four counts), Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (two counts), Driving Under the Influence of Drugs, Reckless Driving, Failure to Obey Authorized Person Directing Traffic, Spencer Pass Law (two counts), Failure to Maintain Lane and Possession of Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage While Operating Vehicle. 

Find out what's happening in Midtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Midtown Neighbors’ Association (MNA) has set up a contribution page where people can donate financially to Thomas’ family. The contribution page can be found here and the MNA has pledged to match donations up to $500. Tuesday, Leighty again took time to thank the surrounding community for their continued support of the Thomas family and police department.

“I have to tell you with as much gratitude as I can about the outpouring of support that has been received from the Zone 5 communities,’’ he said. “I can’t thank you enough. The contributions to Gail’s daughter, who is a senior at Georgia Southern University; we couldn’t ask for anything more from the communities.”

Find out what's happening in Midtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

With regards to neighborhood crime, Leighty said, “Seventy-three percent of Zone 5 crime is property crime, so remember the Clean Car Campaign. We have not had a major incident…for several weeks and we’re proud of that.”

Leighty also spoke of Friday’s Campus Safety Day on the campus that will include a host of safety activities and learning opportunities that can be viewed here. On Friday, from 10 a.m.  - 2 p.m. Campus Safety Day activities will include:

• K-9 officer demonstrations every hour by Tech Walkway.
• Segway demonstrations from the Ambassadors Force of Downtown Atlanta by Tech Walkway.
• Q&A session with the Atlanta Police Mounted Patrol with their horses near Clough Commons in the  Fourth Street parking lot.
•  Information booths from the Georgia Tech Equestrian Club, Emergency Preparedness, and McGruff the Crime Dog.

A patrol car, made possible with funds provided by Midtown business and community members, will also be donated and it will be shared by the APD and Georgia Tech Police. Patch will have more on that and additional public safety news item soon.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Midtown