Latest news with #GwinnettCountyBureau
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Man accused of road rage incident that led to helicopter chase ‘just wanted to scare' driver
A road rage shooting Friday evening escalated to gunfire and a dramatic helicopter chase that ended with an arrest at the suspect's home in Gwinnett County. The incident began near Buford Drive and South Lee Street near Buford, according to police reports, when two drivers got into a confrontation that quickly turned violent. 'One of the drivers honked at the other driver. Some gestures were given. Verbal threats might have been spoken, and one of the drivers produced a handgun and shot at the other,' said Cpl. Juan Madiedo, with Gwinnett County police, told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson. The victim called 911 to report being shot at by another driver at around 4:45 p.m. Officers responded to the area near Interstate 985 and Buford Drive. Police had an advantage in tracking down the suspect thanks to their Air 1 helicopter. TRENDING STORIES: Man tries to carjack 2 victims, police say. Then a good Samaritan jumped in to help GA ringleader of fraud scheme sentenced for creating fake recruiting websites to steal identities Police investigate double shooting that left men injured in Greenbrian Mall parking lot 'Our aviation unit happened to be up in the air at that time. They were quickly dispatched to that call and were able to find the suspect vehicle and not only guide officers to it, but assist in the apprehension of the suspect,' Madiedo said. Video from the helicopter shows the suspect's blue Volkswagen Atlas being followed through a residential neighborhood before the chase ended at Arthur Brodeur's home on Newbridge Circle. Police arrested Brodeur, 62, and found a loaded handgun. They said they also found spent shell casings in his vehicle. The victim told police that he thought the suspect hit his vehicle during the incident, and he tried to get him to pull over. Brodeur told officers that the other driver was getting too close and he 'just wanted to scare him to get [the victim] to leave him alone,' according to the police report. Madiedo warned drivers about the dangers of road rage escalation. 'We know people are armed out here, and that's fine, but please avoid confrontation, if at all possible, and always call 911 if you feel threatened,' he said. Brodeur faces a felony aggravated assault charge and remains in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman accused of dragging Gwinnett officer wants to see the body camera footage
A Gwinnett County woman who was accused of dragging a police officer with a car and starting a SWAT standoff is fighting her charges and trying to clear her name. Shawndia Rogers told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson that there is evidence that would set the record straight, if police will release it. In January 2024, police say Rogers dragged an officer behind her car for more than 15 feet, in what they described as 'a very dangerous situation.' [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police responded to a shots fired call at a tractor supply store on Athens Highway and detained her husband. He was never charged. When she says she challenged officers about needing to see her driver's license, she was also detained. 'I put my hands on the steering wheel and was reaching for my door, and I'm telling them I'm scared and uncomfortable,' Rogers described. But police say she resisted and Tased her several times. When one officer tried to get into her car, Rogers says she drove off, but denied causing the officer minor injuries. 'It's automatic fight or flight. I'm not gonna let you kill me,' Rogers said. TRENDING STORIES: Homeowner accused of shooting mother bear in north GA mountains Atlanta police lieutenant accused of groping rideshare driver South Fulton mayor charged with criminal trespassing The chase ended at her home in Grayson where Rogers barricaded herself in a home with four children before surrendering. Johnson was there in January 2024 as police surrounded Rogers' home and waited on her to turn herself in. Police say Rogers was armed and made threats to shoot officers. A window at the home remains damaged from the incident. Now out on bond, she told Johnson that she spends her days sifting through legal documents trying to fight her aggravated assault and obstruction charges. 'I thought they was trying to kill me. I didn't do anything for you to tase me,' she said. Rogers, who spent more than two months in jail before being released on bond, now represents herself in court. She has filed federal lawsuits claiming her rights were violated and is fighting eviction from the same home where the standoff occurred. Rogers admits she regrets one aspect of the initial encounter with officers: 'I would have just given my memorized license number at the time.' Police and prosecutors have not released body camera video from the incident. The Gwinnett County Police Department declined to comment on the ongoing case. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lilburn begins $75 million downtown transformation
Downtown Lilburn began its ambitious transformation on Tuesday as officials and developers broke ground on 'Porch Line,' a $75 million mixed-use project aimed at revitalizing Railroad Avenue. The development, which passed by a narrow 3-2 city council vote in 2023, aims to balance growth with the city's small-town charm in the rapidly expanding Gwinnett County community. 'This changes everything. This is going to be the epicenter of everything that happens socially in our city,' Mayor Johnny Crist told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The project features 269 luxury apartments in a five-story building with upscale amenities including a sky deck, fitness center, co-working space, pet spa and pool courtyard. An estimated 94% of units will have two bedrooms or fewer, limiting school impact, according to city projections. A six-level parking garage will include 700 spaces, 300 for public use and 400 for residents. The public portion is funded through a $6.7 million non-taxable bond paid by Tax Allocation District revenue. The development includes 20,000 square feet of retail space, featuring a food hall designed to attract restaurants and boutique shops to create a walkable downtown atmosphere. TRENDING STORIES: Risk of damaging winds, hail, possible tornadoes from severe storms tonight Fight outside McDonald's in DeKalb County ends in shootout, police say This metro Atlanta city is ranked No. 1 on new 'Best Places to Live in the U.S.' list RangeWater Real Estate will make $10.4 million in payments to the city over 22 years in lieu of taxes, helping fund additional police officers without raising millage rates for residents. The project faced significant community opposition in 2023, with some residents fearing it would undermine Lilburn's character, while supporters see it as necessary for economic vitality. 'We're not losing our small town charm. This is not the first of 10 big projects,' Crist emphasized. 'Only things are going to go up around it that look like it was historic.' Officially hope for a grand opening by November of 2026. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Norcross mayor calls accusations of donation wrongdoing ‘politics'
A Gwinnett County mayor is facing questions over donations collected for a nonprofit that a lawsuit claims doesn't exist. Norcross Mayor Craig Newton, who is at the center of a federal lawsuit filed by a former city employee, says he's done nothing wrong. Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson reports that the suit accuses the mayor of directing staff to deposit donation checks into a 'special fund' then asking donors to resend their money to a foundation tied to his personal home address. The controversy centers on a city-funded event in January 2023. According to the lawsuit, the listed nonprofit that was supposed to benefit from the fundraiser, The Mayor's School and Civic Projects Fund, is not a registered organization under local law. TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta police investigate shooting of 11-year-old Mother who lost 2 sons to fentanyl applauds tougher Georgia law Driver says 'great-grandmother was dying' after leading GA deputies on chase Newton pushed back on the allegations during a city council meeting May 5, calling them politically motivated. 'I know politics when I see it, and this is no different,' Newton said. 'As an ordained Baptist deacon at my church, I know what I would do and what I wouldn't do. Violation of our codes and ethics is something I wouldn't do.' Council members voted to move forward with an independent investigation. The city's legal team has two weeks to appoint an investigator, who will have 45 days to close the inquiry once selected. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In a statement to Channel 2, Newton wrote: 'As a city councilman, I led the effort to establish our City of Ethics Ordinance, which ensures that the values of transparency and integrity are embedded in how our local government operates. 'As the record reflects, I fully supported and voted for the council's decision to proceed with a fact-finding process related to these allegations under the Ordinance. 'I've consistently led with openness and accountability throughout my more than 25 years of service to this city. I welcome this process, and I'm confident it will confirm that neither the city nor I has done anything wrong. In the meantime, I remain focused on the real issues affecting our community, and I believe the truth will ultimately speak for itself.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gwinnett County residents say gas stations are crowding out their community
A plan to turn a pawn shop into a gas station on Jimmy Carter Boulevard is drawing sharp opposition from Norcross-area residents who say their community is already overwhelmed with gas stations. Anne Myers has lived near the corner of Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Rockbridge Road since 1997. To drivers, it might look like just a busy intersection. But to her, it's a neighborhood, and one surrounded by three gas stations at that very intersection. 'We really don't need a 24th or 25th gas station in a two-mile radius,' Myers told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] A proposal from Murphy Oil would turn a current pawn shop into a convenience store with six fuel pumps near Walmart. Residents say the area is already saturated, both with traffic and with businesses that aren't pedestrian friendly. 'The infrastructure isn't going to take it,' Myers said. 'Let's get something in here that doesn't create even a worse traffic problem than we've got now.' TRENDING STORIES: Another Atlanta institution gone: Taco Mac closes original Virginia-Highland location Georgia AG announces Brookhaven woman convicted in $305K Medicaid fraud scheme A woman says 'the nicest young man' sat by her on a flight. She didn't realize he was Travis Hunter The property sits in unincorporated Norcross, where multiple community groups have begun organizing against the plan. According to Yana Lee-Fong, who has lived in the area since 1987, she has counted 35 gas stations within a 14-square-mile radius. 'When you have that many gas stations, it crowds out opportunity for good food markets or fresh produce,' she told Channel 2 Action News. 'Things we actually need.' The engineer behind the project, Kenneth L. Peters with Keck & Wood, Inc., said the new business would not increase traffic. 'We don't really add to the traffic volume,' he said at a Planning Commission meeting last week. 'We capture the existing traffic that's there.' The Gwinnett County Planning Commission has already recommended denial of the project, citing long-term redevelopment goals for the area. The final decision rests with the Board of Commissioners as early as next week. 'There are close to 1,000 people who've signed to say no more gas stations belong here,' Myers said. 'It's about the community. This just is not the right spot.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
