Decatur Arrests: Indecency, Marijuana, Auto Theft

Sgt. Jennifer Ross, the public information officer for the Decatur Police Department, provided this information about three recent arrests.

One of the things we have consistently heard while attending recent community and neighborhood meetings and speaking one on one with Decatur residents about the issue of crime, is that many residents would like to hear more about when our officers make arrests.  We have a habit of answering calls, conducting investigations and making arrests and simply moving on to the next call or investigation.  Officers make arrests almost daily in Decatur for everything from traffic offenses to assaults to theft.  In response to the interest that has been expressed, here are a few recent arrests made by Decatur officers.

• On 07/22/13 at approximately 1:46 pm, Decatur officers responded to the Decatur Library in reference to a report of public indecency.  The complainant, a library security officer, reported a male suspect exposed himself to a staff member in the elevator.  The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Justin Worthy of DeKalb County, was arrested and charged with public indecency.

• On 07/23/13 at approximately 3:22 am, a Decatur officer conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of Church Street for disregarding a traffic control device (red light).  Further investigation revealed the driver to be in possession of suspected cocaine and suspected marijuana.  The driver, identified as 24-year-old Jonathan Carle of Fairburn, was arrested and charged with VGCSA (Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act) possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana less than one ounce and disregarding a traffic control device.

• On 07/24/13 at approximately 8:06 am, Decatur officers responded to the parking lot of Kroger in reference to a motor vehicle theft in progress.  The complainant reported her vehicle keys had been stolen from a counter top and a co-worker alerted her that an unknown male was in the parking lot sitting inside of her vehicle.  The complainant located the suspect inside of her vehicle attempting to leave the parking lot and confronted him.  Officers arrived and the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Jerrel Hairston of Atlanta, was arrested and charged with theft by taking and theft by taking a motor vehicle.