Quick Poll

The Georgia DOT says the Highway 34 Bypass widening project & its contractors will get a 6-month extension to complete the job. Will the GDOT complete the project in 6 months or will it need another extension?

Blogs

Angela McRae

Tea with friends

Deberah Williams

Everyday Finesse

Lorrie Lynch

Who's News

Published Tuesday, September 01, 2009 in Local

Burglary suspects found in traffic stop

By Alex McRae

The Newnan Times-Herald

Three Meriwether County men were arrested by Newnan Police officers and charged with the burglary of a Corinth Road residence after officers stopped a car containing the three suspects for traffic violations.

According to the Aug. 25 report filed by NPD officer Jason Kempf, NPD Officers Keith and Caswell stopped a Pontiac Grand Prix on the Newnan bypass after noticing the car's vent window was broken.

When a records check showed the tag belonged to a Toyota, not the stopped Grand Prix, officers asked the driver, later identified as James McConnell, of Luthersville, to step out of the car.

When McConnell was advised the car was suspected of being stolen, he said the car belonged to a friend.

At that point officer Keith saw one of the two passengers trying to hide something near his seat. McConnell was asked for permission to search the vehicle and said, "Go for it," according to the report.

Front seat passenger Brian L. Michael, Luthersville was advised to leave the vehicle, as was back seat passenger, William A. Tyree, of Luthersville .

A search of McConnell's person turned up several rings and other pieces of jewelry. Officers also located a pair of latex gloves in McConnell's back pocket. McConnell told officers he had used the gloves to fix a transmission, though the gloves were clean and free of grease and grime.

During the search, officers also located a cloth bag containing several pieces of jewelry and a camouflage bag containing several boxes of shotgun shells.

Passenger Michael was asked who the jewelry belonged to. He said it was his girlfriend's but could not provide her phone number.

At that point officers believed the vehicle may have been involved in a recent burglary and called NPD Detective Sgt. Rick Mires to the scene. During questioning by Mires, one of the suspects admitted to breaking into a house on Corinth Road shortly before the traffic stop.

All three suspects were placed in custody and taken to the Coweta County Jail, where they were charged with two counts of burglary each.