Latest news with #AcworthPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Acworth police save life of man choking on water bottle cap using LifeVac device
A man having a medical emergency was saved by Acworth police using a LifeVac device on Tuesday morning. Police said it was the second time someone had been saved using the device, and it was even the same officer. According to the Acworth Police Department, officers were sent to New McEver Road where a man was choking on a water bottle cap. Police said the man, identified as Steven Williams, was driving when he started choking, but was able to pull over and call 911 for help. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Acworth Corporal Severtson was the first officer on the scene and 'recognizing the urgency of the situation, she quickly deployed her department issued LifeVac device." Using the LifeVac, she was able to get Williams' airway clear and he is expected to make a full recovery. TRENDING STORIES: College soccer player from Atlanta, son of former CFL star, found dead in his dorm room Man accused of depositing check meant for GA county commissioners into personal account Barrow County Schools superintendent condemns plan to cut funds for SRO program Channel 2 Action News previously reported when Severtson used her personal LifeVac while responding to a nursing home. The effective use of the device was what inspired Acworth police to equip all of their officers with one to be able to perform rescue suction in emergencies. Acworth police said this was the second successful use of the LifeVac device, which all officers were equipped with last year. Both rescues using the LifeVac were performed by Severtson, who saved an elderly patient's life in March 2024 using one. Police said 'the LifeVac Device is a portable airway clearance device designed to help remove an object when a person is choking,' using a one-way valve system to create suction and remove blockages. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Man stunned during Marjorie Taylor Greene's town hall is a Marine veteran, attorney says
The Brief The attorney for a Marine veteran arrested during Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's town hall this week is demanding authorities drop his charges. Johnny Keith Williams was one of three people arrested during the town hall in Cobb County on Tuesday night. The attorney claims that Williams was not treated at a hospital for his injuries after he was shot with a Taser and remained in custody without bond for more than 36 hours. COBB COUNTY, Ga. - The attorney for a Dallas man arrested during a protest of Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's town hall meeting is demanding Cobb County prosecutors dismiss his charges. Johnny Keith Williams' attorney claims his client was not treated for his injuries after he was shot with a Taser during the meeting earlier this week. The backstory Security was tight at Tuesday's event. Only pre-registered attendees who live in Greene's district were allowed to enter. IDs were checked against a sign-up list, and the event location was kept private until registration was confirmed. Law enforcement agencies told FOX 5 that they had made preparations for potential disruptions in advance after crime analysts flagged online posts. Three people were arrested, and six others were escorted out of the building after the town hall started. Officials say the arrests happened after officers reported being threatened. The officers reported experiencing physical resistance and harm while attempting to remove them. "As soon as the Congresswoman began her presentation, several members of the audience became disruptive and created an imminent public safety threat for all in attendance," the Acworth Police Department said in a statement. "Their intentions were clear — to place the members of our beloved police department in a no-win situation in front of numerous media outlets." Greene repeatedly said "Bye" to people being escorted from the room and praised officers' response, saying the appropriate place for those ejected was with more than 100 protesters lining a street outside the community center. "This is a town hall; this is not a political rally; this is not a protest," Greene said. The arrested members of the crowd were identified as Williams, 40-year-old Andrew Russell Nelms of Atlanta, and 28-year-old Dallas resident Kiyana Name Davis. What they're saying Attorney Carolos Rodriguez, who represents Williams, claims that his client was not involved in any protests during the meeting and was "unlawfully arrested." "He is an independent voter and, contrary to Congresswoman Greene's statements, was not compensated for attending the town hall or affiliated in any way with the Democratic Party," Rodriguez said. "Instead, he was invited by the congresswoman's staff to attend and register for the event." The attorney said that his client, who was honorably discharged from the Marines, came to the meeting to learn how Greene was working toward improving access to health care for veterans. After he was shot by a Taser and arrested, Rodriguez claims that Williams was not treated at a hospital for his injuries and remained in custody without bond for more than 36 hours. "Mr. Williams was an undeserving victim of such violence, unlawful use of force, physical injuries, and reputational harm. We are committed to stopping any further injustices and harm done to Mr. Williams perpetrated by the government," the lawyer said. The other side Sgt. Eric Mistretta said officers responded with appropriate force to people who yelled at Greene and resisted removal, although none approached her. Police said in a statement that the people "created an imminent public safety threat for all in attendance." What's next Greene, the chair of the House Oversight Committee's subcommittee on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), decided to move forward with the town hall despite guidance from House Republican leaders, who earlier this year urged members to avoid in-person events amid coordinated progressive protests. "This has been on my calendar for a long time… I love to do them," Greene said. An ally of President Donald Trump, Greene has said she's considering running for U.S. Senate or for Georgia governor in 2026, but has yet to make any public moves toward what would be a bruising race in the politically competitive state. The Source Information for this story came from a release by Attorney Carlos Rodriguez, previous FOX 5 reporting, and the Associated Press.
Boston Globe
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Two protesters at Marjorie Taylor Greene town hall are subdued with stun guns
Back inside the room, Greene was unfazed as she greeted attendees at the event, in Acworth, Georgia, northwest of Atlanta. She thanked the officers, drawing applause from the crowd of about 150 people. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'If you want to shout and chant, we will have you removed just like that man was thrown out,' she said. 'We will not tolerate it!' Advertisement Minutes later, as Greene started to play a video of former President Barack Obama discussing the national debt, police forcibly removed and used a stun gun on a second man, identified later as Johnny Keith Williams of Dallas, Georgia, who had stood up and started to heckle. Over the next hour, as Greene trumpeted the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency to shrink the government and played clips of herself railing against witnesses in committee hearings, police officers escorted at least six people from the room, according to a spokesperson for the Acworth Police Department. Three people, including the two who were subdued with stun guns, were arrested. Advertisement In between disruptions at the event, Greene applauded the Trump administration's deportation efforts and praised Congress for passing the Laken Riley Act, a measure that requires the detention of immigrants accused of certain crimes. Greene crowed about the DOGE team's push to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development. Instead of taking questions directly from the audience, she read and answered prescreened questions from a slide deck. 'Why is MTG supporting Musk and DOGE and the slashing of Medicaid, Social Security offices, libraries and more?' read one question from a person identified only as Sarah. 'This is outrageous.' 'Well, Sarah, unfortunately, you're being brainwashed by the news that you're watching,' Greene replied, to whoops and cheers from the crowd. Mike Binns, a constituent who was escorted from the room after he yelled at Greene, said the event felt more like a 'political rally' than a town hall. Outside, several hundred protesters lined the street, waving signs that bore phrases such as 'Pro America, Anti Trump' and 'Resist!' Asked if she thought using stun guns on protesters at the event was an appropriate response, Greene reiterated her praise for the law enforcement officials. 'You know who was out of line? The protesters,' Greene said. 'There was a place designated outside for the protesters because we support their First Amendment rights.'
CBS News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Protester tased at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's town hall
A town hall hosted by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia was repeatedly disrupted by protesters Tuesday evening, with local police arresting three people — including one who was tased inside the venue. Within minutes of Greene entering the venue in Cobb County, Georgia, audience members began interrupting her and a handful of scattered disruptions continued through the night. About six people were removed from the event space by police officers, three of whom were arrested, the Acworth Police Department confirmed to CBS News. Early in the event, one protester struggled with police who tried to remove him, telling officers to get their hands off him. Police then used a taser on him. Acworth police later said officers used a taser on a second attendee. Greene reacted to the disruptions by thanking police and saying "we will not tolerate" heckling. Shortly after a protester was tased, she said, "This is a peaceful town hall." After the event, the congresswoman told reporters she's "very thankful" for how police handled the protests, calling the attendees "out of line" and saying, "this isn't a political rally or a protest." "I'm glad they got thrown out. That's exactly what I wanted to see happen," she said. Two of the arrestees were charged with obstructing a law enforcement officer and simple battery on a law enforcement officer, while a third faced a vulgar language charge, according to Acworth police. The department said in a press release its officers were "threatened, physically resisted, and harmed" while removing protesters. Greene held the event in metro Atlanta after scores of other lawmakers — including Republicans and some Democrats — have faced angry constituents and raucous protests at local town halls in recent weeks, often focused on President Trump's policies or billionaire Elon Musk's sweeping federal cost-cutting efforts . Also on Tuesday evening, Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa was heckled by constituents at a town hall, The Associated Press reported. Some lawmakers, like Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, have reacted by shifting to virtual town halls. Greene opted for an in-person event Tuesday, but attendees needed to sign up in advance and confirm that they're constituents, and the location wasn't shared publicly. Greene also took questions that were submitted in advance — a policy she told reporters was meant to ensure she can read people's questions.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
Georgia mom recounts terrifying moments man almost kidnapped her son at Walmart
A Georgia mother has her two kids home safe after someone tried to kidnap her two-year-old son during a trip to Walmart last week. Caroline Miller told Atlanta's WSB she took her four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son to the store on Cobb Parkway in Acworth last Tuesday to get some last-minute items for an upcoming vacation. She said her daughter wanted to ride the motorized wheelchair, but when they were almost done shopping, she said it stopped working in one of the pharmacy aisles. She said that's when 56-year-old Mahendra Patel approached her asking for help finding Tylenol. 'When I pointed my arm out this way to say this is where it was, that is when he reached down, put both of his hands on Jude, and grabbed him out of my lap,' Miller said She said it happened so fast. 'I'm like 'No, no, not a, what are you doing?' He pulled him,' Miller said. 'I pulled him back. We're tug of warring.' She said Patel then walked off, bought the Tylenol, and left. Police say security cameras caught the entire exchange. 'We saw him checking out, but before we could really do anything, he was gone,' Miller said. Three days later police arrested Patel. 'We were able to see what car he got into, we used our flock cameras in the city, was able to get a tag number and track him down,' Sgt. Eric Mistretta with the Acworth Police Department said. Miller would like to see Walmart have stronger security. However, she said it's important for mothers to know self-defense and to always be vigilant. She also said she taught her kids what to do in dangerous situations. 'She knows to scream now,' Miller said. 'He knows to kick and bite to get away.' Patel is now in the Cobb County Jail on kidnapping, simple assault, and simple battery charges.
