Winder Police Say Thief Poses as Maintenance Employee — Do You Recognize This Man?

The Winder Police Department is seeking the public's help identifying a suspect in recent thefts at area businesses.

The thief enters commercial businesses posing as a maintenance employee and then steals women's wallets, according to a Winder Police Department news release. The department is asking for the public's help in identifying the suspect.  The victims were targeted between noon and 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, and each of the witnesses gave similar descriptions of a man who entered the businesses claiming to be someone sent by the building owner to perform services such as carpet cleaning and pest control. Police say the man was given access to office areas after telling employees he needed to inspect the area for the work he was going to perform. Employees, who were out of their offices, discovered their wallets missing from purses and desks …

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Gun Safety Class for Women Right on Target for Georgia Club Residents

Demand for the female-only course, offered by the Winder Police Department, is growing.

A women's-only gun safety course hosted by the Winder Police Department has been a hit with local residents. This past weekend, about a dozen female residents of The Georgia Club community received instruction from Lt. John Blocker and Officer Chris Cooper with the department.  “This class is fun for us to teach because the ladies are generally more receptive to instruction," Blocker said in a news release on the class. "They are less intimidated when they are in a group of like-minded females and it seems to make for a more fun learning environment for them."  This is the third class the police department has hosted since 2012 and the demand keeps growing.  “I got the idea after speaking to a female citizen who wanted to protect herself …

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Winder Resident Tells Police He Asked Woman to Leave His House and She Went 'Psycho'

The house guest reportedly tore several items off a bedroom wall and put a hole in one before police were called.

Officers with the Winder Police Department arrested a woman March 5, 2013, after a Winder resident said he had asked her to leave his house and she went "psycho."  Police responding to the residence found the woman "curled up into the fetal position, hiding her face," according to an incident report. The resident accused the woman of having torn several items off a bedroom wall and putting a hole in one when he asked her to leave.  When an officer spoke to the woman, she said she didn't want to look at police because they were devils that kept her in jail. According to the incident report, the woman appeared to be under the influence of a narcotic substance, as she seemed disoriented and her conversation did not make sense at times.  …

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Winder Police Make Arrest in Armed Robbery Case

The robbery occurred Jan. 19 at Best Package Store in Winder.

A Monroe man is facing charges related to the Jan. 19 armed robbery of a Winder package store.  The Winder Police Department arrested 25-year-old Scott Dujvan Hazel on Friday, March 8. He is charged with one count of armed robbery.  Hazel was arrested after police circulated still photos from surveillance video from Best Package Store and received information from the public identifying Hazel as the suspect.  The Winder Police Department thanks the public for assisting in the investigation. Subscribe to Barrow Patch’s newsletters, follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook.

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Teen Facing Aggravated Assault Charge After Police Say He Stabbed Brother During Family Gathering

A 16-year-old Winder resident reportedly stabbed his 21-year-old brother in the stomach.

Winder Teen Faces Charges After Police Say He Stabbed Brother

The stabbing reportedly occurred during a family gathering.

A 16-year-old Winder resident is facing an aggravated assault charge after allegedly stabbing his 21-year-old brother in the stomach.  The stabbing reportedly happened about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, at a residence in the 200 block of Russell Road, where a family gathering was being held.  According to a news release from the Winder Police Department, the victim was involved in an argument with his 16-year-old brother that turned physical. Police say the dispute moved to an area within the home where other family members were not present and the teen had a knife that is believed to have been taken from the kitchen, where the argument began. Officers were called to the scene when the older brother went outside to get his father while …

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Arrests Made in Connection with Winder Burglary Ring

Officers with the Winder Police Department found multiple flat panel televisions and other electronics that had been reported stolen in the area at a suspect's residence.

Two women, as well as a juvenile, are facing charges after the Winder Police Department says it uncovered a burglary ring.  Zenobia Griffin, 27, and Dacquiri Huff, 20, have been arrested in connection with approximately seven recent burglaries, as well as several attempted burglaries. A 16-year-old juvenile is also facing charges. According to a news release, officers were investigating the recent thefts when they were led to Griffin's home.  "While speaking to Ms. Griffin, police observed a television in her residence that was believed to be stolen," the news release reads. "The detectives left Ms. Griffin’s home and obtained a search warrant. They returned to Ms. Griffin’s home to execute the search warrant and were able to recover …

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Driver's Vehicle Goes Airborne, Strikes Privacy Fence Before Suspect Flees from Winder Police on Foot

The suspect was apprehended in a Winder subdivision.

A Stone Mountain man was arrested Jan. 18, 2013, and faces several charges after police say he refused to pull over for a traffic stop, took out a street sign and struck a wooden privacy fence.  Gary Bernard Thompkins, 50, of 481 Hambrick Road, Apt. 7, in Stone Mountain, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, fleeing or attempting to elude police officer, no insurance, no license plate or decal, damage to private property and damage to public/city property.  According to an incident report, an officer with the Winder Police Department attempted to stop the vehicle the suspect was driving after observing it crossing the center line. When the driver refused to stop, a chase ensued, during which the suspect reportedly …

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Winder Police Searching for Armed Robbery Suspect

The department is asking for the public's help in identifying the male suspect.

The Winder Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating a suspect in a weekend armed robbery.  At 1:47 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, officers responded to a package store on McNeal Road, where a black male described as having a large build wearing all dark clothing, sunglasses and a stocking hat brandished a handgun and demanded money from the employee. The male is also described as having a well-groomed, goatee-style beard.  The suspect left the store on foot with approximately $350 to $400 in cash and headed toward a shopping center parking lot across the street.  Anyone with information regarding the identity of this individual or other information regarding this incident is asked to call Detective Wayne Samples at 770-867-2156…

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Winder Crime Blotter

Video Surveillance Shows Aaron's Employee Stealing Cash, Man's Gas Can Logged into Evidence after Arrest

The following information was taken from incident reports from the Winder Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following are summaries of recent incidents to which officers with the Winder Police Department responded. On Jan. 15, an officer was dispatched to Aaron's in Winder and viewed video surveillance footage that showed an employee removing money from a cash register. According to an incident report, the employee was behind the store counter and used his right hand to reach in the register and pull out large amounts of cash, placing the money is a back pocket before clocking out and leaving the store. A total of $440 was reported missing from the register.  An officer was dispatched Nov. 9 to the McDonald's on North Broad Street in reference to a male asking customers for money. The officer made contact with the suspect, who, according to …

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