Latest news with #Madiedo
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
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Facebook Marketplace car theft ring ends in dozens of charges for 2 women, Gwinnett police say
Gwinnett County police have arrested two women in connection to a vehicle theft operation that transported stolen Honda CR-Vs from New York City to sell them through Facebook Marketplace in Georgia, police said. The investigation began in December 2024 when a Gwinnett County resident took his recently purchased Honda CR-V for routine service. 'The technician happened to notice something was off with the VIN number of the vehicle and alerted the customer,' said Cpl. Juan Madiedo with Gwinnett County police. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police set up an undercover purchase with the alleged seller, leading to the arrest of Mayreny Ciprian, who now faces 40 criminal charges. She was found inside another stolen CR-V with an altered VIN in December, police said. 'Little did she know she was actually meeting with detectives that day, but she was taken into custody without any incident,' Madiedo said. Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson learned the investigation expanded Monday with the arrest of 30-year-old Karen Mendez, who faces 19 felony charges for allegedly selling stolen vehicles with forged titles. TRENDING STORIES: EF1 tornado confirmed in Spalding, Butts counties from late night storms Georgia Tech student 'targeted' in deadly shooting at off-campus apartment Rapper Rod Wave arrested after shots fired at his metro Atlanta home Victims often lose both their money and their vehicle when police identify stolen cars. Fredy Juarez lost $10,000 in a similar scheme last year. 'Not everybody is to be trusted,' Juarez warned at the time. 'If you don't put a stop to this, these people will mess up somebody else.' Police believe additional suspects and victims are still out there. They urge anyone who purchased a Honda CR-V through Facebook Marketplace to have their vehicle inspected. 'If there's anything off on the VIN number, if you take a good look at it, please call us,' Madiedo said. Police recommend using designated e-commerce zones at police stations for online purchases, where officers can help verify vehicle information. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Gwinnett homeowner wrestles armed squatter until police arrive
A Gwinnett County homeowner fought off an armed intruder who had been living in his vacant rental property, police said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The homeowner, who asked not to be identified, discovered 18-year-old Travelle Forbes hiding in a closet with a 9mm handgun in a bag when he visited the property with a handyman last Thursday afternoon. 'He was trying to reach out to his bag,' the homeowner said. 'But I would not let him do that. That is why we're struggling.' The two wrestled for approximately 30 minutes until police arrived at the home near Lawrenceville. During the confrontation, the homeowner kept Forbes from accessing his weapon. 'I will not let him go. So we're rolling around, struggling until the cops came in,' he said. TRENDING STORIES: Cobb Co. teacher, wife accused of denying their children food and bathroom, confining them Coweta County mom charged with DUI, endangering 2 children after high-speed chase 'It just smelled funny': Uber drivers unwittingly used as drug mules in metro Atlanta According to arrest warrants, Forbes faces multiple charges, including first-degree burglary, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and theft of services. Court documents show Forbes appeared to have been living in the home, using utilities and leaving evidence throughout the property, including blood in the bathroom and the smell of marijuana. The homeowner said Forbes admitted he wasn't acting alone. 'When I asked him, 'Why did you break this? Who broke my window?' It's all, 'Oh my friend broke it,' he said. Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Juan Madiedo said 'For Rent' signs can make vacant properties targets for criminals. 'Sometimes homes have for rent signs, and some of these thieves and burglars think that, hey, that might be an easy target,' Madiedo said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Police recommend property owners take security measures to protect their properties. 'Go ahead and get some cameras, an alarm system, possibly maybe leave a light on inside the residence, make it look like it's occupied,' Madiedo advised. The homeowner believes the 'For Rent' sign he posted inadvertently invited trouble. 'It means it's a free house for anybody to walk in,' he said. Forbed was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail with a bond set at $18,600.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Gwinnett County teen accused of being dealer linked to deadly fentanyl overdose
A Gwinnett County teenager is the latest Georgian to be accused of being a fentanyl dealer linked to a deadly overdose. When Gwinnett County police came to a neighborhood near Lawrenceville, it was tragically too late for a young man who died from a fentanyl overdose. In just a matter of days, investigators tracked down yet another accused fentanyl dealer using a new state law, as even more tools to combat fentanyl deaths in the state are on the way. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] 'We know Justin's Law helped,' Cpl. Juan Madiedo, Gwinnett County Police Department, told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson. In the house, police say a 21-year-old man died on April 1. Now, 19-year-old Vicki Anderson, is charged with his overdose death. Police said she sold him a pill laced with Fentanyl. Anderson was arrested three days later. TRENDING STORIES: Group of Atlanta students were visiting FSU during campus shooting Paulding County deputy shot, suspect dead after welfare check turns into shootout 'It's World War 3 out here:' Sex offender arrested after SWAT standoff in Cartersville She's been charged under Austin's Law, a Georgia statute that makes it a felony to cause a deadly overdose, even if the dealer didn't know fentanyl was in the drug. It's a tool Gwinnett County police have used 10 times in the past year, more than any other metro Atlanta area police department. 'Police and the narcotics unit has been very aggressive with targeting fentanyl cases around the county,' Madiedo told Channel 2 Action News. Gwinnett County police said their crackdown is working and that, overall, overdose deaths are decreasing. 'But one is too many,' Madiedo said. 'We prefer to have no overdose deaths in the county.' In February, a 14-year-old boy died from a fentanyl laced pill. A 12-year-old survived an overdose the day before. 'Realize that this stuff is very serious and kills very quickly,' Madiedo said. Anderson's arrest happened as another strict fentanyl bill is likely on the way. The Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act is waiting for the governor's signature to make it into law. It would bring tougher penalties for possession, not just dealing fentanyl. 'We want you to talk to your kids, make sure they're aware of the dangers of these drugs,' Madiedo said. The governor's office said the bill is being reviewed just like all of the other legislation that passed this year's session. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
