Two men found themselves in the Fayette County Jail on felony charges because of a failure to obey Georgia’s hands-free law while driving through Peachtree City.
According to reports, a traffic stop took place April 25 in the area of Hwy. 54 and Market Place Blvd., near Home Depot, due to a hands-free violation. The driver “did knowingly and willfully obstruct and hinder law enforcement officers in the lawful discharge of their duties,” the report stated.
It was soon discovered that the driver was a convicted felon and had three loaded handguns in the vehicle within his immediate reach. The passenger had cocaine and fentanyl in his possession and also had outstanding warrants from Henry County for shoplifting.
Alan Braun, 52, of Fayetteville was arrested on the three felony weapons charges as well as obstruction of an officer. Michael Smith, 44, of Macon faces two felony drug counts along with theft by shoplifting, according to the Fayette County Jail log.
Elsewhere in Peachtree City, a police officer on patrol April 22 narrowly avoided being hit head-on by another driver on Hwy. 74 near Westpark Drive. The suspect was going southbound in the northbound lanes, and the officer turned around to pursue and then conduct a traffic stop near the Hwy. 54 intersection. The man, 37, was arrested for driving under the influence.
Police said a juvenile in an April 23 incident threatened to shoot teachers at J.C. Booth Middle School. The suspect was not named in the department’s daily report.
Two other juveniles were caught vaping in a restroom at McIntosh High School. An administration search turned up two vapes which were then turned over to a police officer. A department-issued mobile detection pouch revealed a positive test result for THC on both devices, and the juveniles were charged accordingly.
An April 24 wreck in the vicinity of Hwy. 54 and Market Place Blvd. reportedly involved injuries, and police concluded that the at-fault driver in the crash was driving under the influence. The woman, 59, of Sharpsburg was arrested and taken to the police station to be released to a family friend, according to the report.
Officers responded April 24 to the area of Newgate Road for a welfare check involving a man walking along the road. Someone called police and said the same person was exposing himself, after which police soon located him. The man, 46, of Thomaston was arrested for indecency.
