Published: 03 January 2012
• Investigators with the Holly Springs Police Department have arrested two metro-Atlanta residents on multiple charges stemming from their alleged involvement in a bomb hoax at Home Depot Christmas Eve. According to Det. Greg Bettis, officers that were dispatched to the Old Ga. 5 location around 11:20 a.m., Dec. 24, located the device and evacuated the store. Bettis said the Cobb County Police Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit was called to the scene for assistance. “The EOD unit performed an on-scene analysis of the device and determined that it was a non-working replica,” he said. Bettis said the device was constructed out of household items in order to create a “facsimile of an explosive device.” Sam Cornett, 20, and James Roberts Jr., 33, were arrested Dec. 28 and charged with terroristic threats and a hoax device, according to Cherokee County jail records. Cornett was released on a $1,880 bond Dec. 29; Roberts was released Dec. 28 on a $1,880 bond, jail records show.
• Deputies with the Cherokee County Oak Grove Precinct arrested two Acworth residents, as well as a man from Woodstock on burglary charges Dec. 22. Shawn Rotko, Pamela Rotko and Travis Gravely were accused of stealing scrap metal and miscellaneous metal from a vacant home off Springwood Lane. According to the report, deputies were given a description of the vehicle the three suspects were last seen leaving the residence in, and upon conducting a traffic stop observed the missing metal items in the bed of the truck. In addition to metal, the three allegedly stole a tub, ceiling fan and stand-up metal lockers from the location.
• Woodstock police charged Michael Evans, 45, of Cartersville, with felony theft by shoplifting after he was caught attempting to return an item that had never been purchased for a store gift card in the amount of $417. According to the report, Evans was seen by Walmart’s loss prevention officer enter the store on Dec. 26 with one item and receive a return sticker for that particular item. Evans reportedly was then seen entering the store’s automotive section, where he picked up a welder and welding hat. The report said Evans went to the return counter with those items, which he never paid for, and returned them for the gift card.
• Canton police responded to a residential burglary off Jefferson Circle Dec. 25. The report said the victim had left the home around 5 p.m., Dec. 24, and arrived home at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 25, to find the back door unlocked and her Xbox console, video games and television missing from the living room. The estimated value of all items was more than $1,000. Police reported no forced entry; however, discovered that an unlocked widow appeared to have been the entry point. Anyone with information is asked to contact Canton police at (770) 720-4883.
