UPDATE: Hunt on for Gunman Who Killed 4 in Gwinnett County

Police in Gwinnett County are looking for a gunman who shot 5 people and killed 4 of them.

It happened Thursday night on Clairidge Lane in Lawrenceville which is off Sugarloaf Parkway near the Gwinnett fairgrounds. Police say when they arrived at the home they found 3 people already dead. A fourth was taken to the hospital where they died. A 4 year old was also found with a gunshot wound but alive. She's been taken to a hospital.
A neighbor told CBS Atlanta she helped put the child in the ambulance and that the child told her her family is dead. She says the child was injured and hysterical.An all out manhunt is underway for the shooter.Police say the shooter is driving a black Dodge Intrepid with Georgia tag AZH-7311. According to police the car has a New Orleans Saints sticker on the gas cap cover and is flying a New Orleans Saints Flag.

Courtesy: CBS Atlanta

Gwinnett Co. Receives Stimulus Funds for Center Construction

Gwinnett County Senior Services has received $1.1 million in federal stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 from HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims to construct Phase I of a new $1.4 million Senior Services Center in Lawrenceville. The remaining funds will be provided by the Community Development Block Grant Program.

“Currently, the staff is spread out over at four different locations. This new building will bring staff together and serve as a one-stop center for seniors and their caregivers,” Linda Bailey, senior services manager, said.

Staff at the Senior Services Center will be able to match seniors with available resources such as home meal delivery, counseling and respite care. There will also be two community rooms that will be used for educational programs and meetings for senior-related issues.

“With baby boomers now reaching retirement age, our senior population will grow dramatically over the next decades. We will not only provide services to more than 2,000 seniors annually, but also their family members and caregivers,” Bailey said.

The new facility is designed as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver building to maximize energy savings when compared to conventional construction. The facility will be built using recycled material from the building that currently sits on the 6.4 acre site. It will also feature energy-efficient windows, a reflective roof and low-flow plumbing fixtures.

“We are grateful for HUD’s support to help us get this center constructed in order to meet the needs of our growing senior population,” Chairman Charles Bannister said. “This project is a great example of one that was ready to go, one that will serve our community, and one that uses sustainable techniques in its deign and construction."

Commission to Hold Public Hearings on Proposed Tax Increase

The Gwinnett County Commission today announced plans to conduct a series of public hearings on a proposed increase in the county’s property taxes.

The public hearings will be held at 4:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. on May 26 and at 10:30 a.m. on June 2 in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center (GJAC) at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. Citizens are also encouraged to attend public information forums that will be conducted one hour before each hearing. The commission is expected to act on the proposal following the final public hearing on June 2.

The commission’s consideration of the tax increase follows its adoption earlier this year of a $1.7 billion 2009 budget that reflected needed increased staffing in the county’s police, fire and emergency services departments, efficiency in government service and long-term financial stability. Over the past 12 years, the Board of Commissioners has rolled back property taxes by a total of 3.98 mills. The rollback was possible in part because the county’s rapid growth generated sufficient tax revenues to cover the cost of expanding service needs. In recent years, however, the county’s growth rate has begun to slow.

“We are undergoing a natural and unavoidable transition from high growth to maturity, and that change holds implications both for the services we provide and the way we pay for them,” said County Administrator Jock Connell. “We have been projecting for several years that 2009 would be the year when service demands would exceed revenues produced by natural growth in our tax digest. I should add that the current economic situation compounds our challenges, but it is not a primary cause.”

The County’s situation is complicated by the fact that the Service Delivery Strategy negotiations with Gwinnett County’s 15 municipalities will require the county to dramatically alter its millage rate and accounting structures. The new rate structure will add four new service districts in order to segregate funding for municipal and unincorporated EMS, fire and police services. The 2009 tax structure will decrease the general fund levy, but an increase in the recreation levy, coupled with the new funds, will result in a 2.87 – 3.31 mill increase depending on where in the county a property is located.

“We recognize that the increase is significant and that it comes at a difficult time economically,” said Connell. “But we would also point out that even with this proposed increase, the owner of an average $200,000 home in Gwinnett County would be paying about $2.50 a day for the full array of county government services, including police, fire and EMS protection; transportation; parks and recreation; libraries; the sheriff’s department and county courts; and health and human services.”

The millage increase to be decided on June 2 applies only to the county government’s portion of the property tax bill, which is slightly less than one-third of the total bill. The remaining two-thirds of the bill that funds Gwinnett County Public Schools will be unaffected by the proposed increase.

At each of the public hearings, Gwinnett County citizens will be given an opportunity to express their views about the proposed tax increase.

Woman Arrested for Alleged Gun Incident at Gwinnett Co. Courthouse

Authorities in Gwinnett County arrested a woman Tuesday who allegedly attempted to bring a loaded gun into the county justice and administration center in Lawrenceville.

According to authorities, Blanche Maxwell, 45, of Snellville, attempted to bring a .380 caliber handgun inside the building around 10 a.m.

Maxwell was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a weapon to a public gathering and carrying a weapon without a permit.

Emergency Managers Seek Input on Hazards

The public is invited to help plan ways to respond to both natural and manmade hazards in the Gwinnett area. A public meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, will offer an overview of the planning process and give the public an opportunity to offer recommendations.

Emergency Services Coordinator Greg Swanson said, “This will be a multi-jurisdictional plan to identify local hazards, assess the risks and plan ways to reduce loss of life and property damage in emergency situations. We welcome any and all input from our residents to help keep everyone safe.”

The final plan will eventually be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review and approval. The public meeting will be held in Conference Room C on the second floor of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.

For more information, call (770) 513-5060.

Police Search for Driver who Flees Auto Fatality

Police continue to search for a driver of a SUV who fled after crashing the vehicle. A passenger, Mario Tucker, 24, of Loganville, died in the crash.

According to Gwinnett County police, the accident took place just before 4 a.m. Saturday.

The unidentified driver flipped a Ford Explorer on Paper Mill Road. The SUV slid sideways and came in contact with a guardrail and a utility pole.

Three passengers were ejected, with Tucker being pronounced dead in the vehicle.

Pair of Gunshot Victims Pulled From Burning Home

Authorities responding to an early morning fire today in a home on Cagle Court in Lawrenceville discovered a pair of gunshot victims.

According to police, firefighters arrived on the scene just before 8 a.m. and discovered smoke and flames coming from a second floor.

Once inside the home, authorities discovered a pair of gunshot victims. Police did not disclose the identities of the victims, only to say that there was an adult male and adult female.

Both victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Gwinnett County to Explain Government Purchase Moves

Providers of goods and services who are interested in selling to Gwinnett County government are invited to attend the Purchasing Division’s third annual Supplier Symposium on Thursday, April 16, 2009, to learn about the County’s procurement procedures.

More than 150 vendors are already registered for the symposium. Representatives from various agencies also will be present, including Gwinnett Public Schools, the cities of Lilburn and Atlanta, and DeKalb and Forsyth counties.

“Gwinnett County is a large and consistent buyer," said Purchasing Director Scott Callan. “We’re a stable consumer for businesses and we buy many different kinds of goods and services.”

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville, the morning session will focus on how to do business with the County. In the afternoon, participants will break into smaller groups focusing on construction and capital projects, small business opportunities, and the North Georgia Fuel Cooperative.

“Our commitment to the taxpayers of Gwinnett is to spend their money wisely, so we’re constantly working to increase the number of suppliers vying for our business,” Callan said. The symposium will introduce potential suppliers and vendors to buyers and contracting officers and explain bidding procedures and requirements.

“It’s important to us to encourage more businesses to bid on our contracts,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Charles Bannister, “and this symposium helps show them how.”

Interested parties can find symposium registration information on the county’s home page at www.gwinnettcounty.com. Projects currently open for bidding are also available online along with explanations of bidding procedures under the Purchasing link.

Gwinnett Co. Budget Public Hearing Set for Tonight

Gwinnett County’s final 2009 budget will be presented at a public hearing on Monday evening at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center (GJAC) in Lawrenceville at 7 p.m.

According to county officials, this budget differs substantially from the one originally proposed last December, making this public hearing an important tool to inform citizens of the changes.

The budget incorporates $40 million worth of service-value-responsibility initiatives aimed at reducing the county’s use of reserve funds to balance the budget without jeopardizing the delivery and quality of core services.

The budget will be considered for adoption by the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners on March 3.

Police: Lawrenceville Man Cut Puppy's Ears Off

Police have arrested a Lawrenceville man and charged him with cruelty to animals for reportedly cutting off the ears of his puppy.

Luis Alberto Cabrera-Garibay, 21, of Rocky Cove Trail, was arrested Tuesday evening and remained in jail as of Wednesday. He was also charged with practicing veterinary medicine without a license.

According to authorities when they arrived on the scene, Cabrera-Garibay’s brother informed them his brother cut off their 4-month-old pit bull’s ears. The puppy’s ears were apparently cut and then burned in an attempt to halt the bleeding.

Authorities, who say Cabrera-Garibay was reportedly trying to crop the dog's ears, said the puppy also had burn injuries to the head and inside of its ears.

The puppy, who is expected to recover from its injuries, was taken to Eastside Animal Emergency Clinic for treatment. Doctors said the puppy will need surgery to correct the damage to the ears.

Gwinnett County Expands Future Park on Yellow River

Gwinnett commissioners on Tuesday bought an additional 8.27 acres of land on the Yellow River west of Lawrenceville, providing an access point on Lakes Parkway for a future 38-acre park.

District 1 Commissioner Shirley Lasseter said the move was in line with recommendations in the 2007 Capital Plan Update for Parks that identified a “park gap” in the area. The Yellow River has also been identified as a potential greenway corridor.

The $1.16 million purchase agreement was made with Elite Land Development Corp. The money for passive park land acquisition comes from the 2005 SPLOST program.

“Once again, we need to thank Gwinnett voters for allowing us to preserve valuable greenspace throughout the county,” said Board Chairman Charles Bannister.

While no funding is available for development of the park at this time, the land will be set aside for future park use.

Pastor Allegedly Set Fire to Church to Collect Money

In a new meaning of passing the collection plate, a former Barrow County pastor has been arrested, charged with allegedly setting fire to his own church to collect on an insurance payment.

According to authorities, Quincy Arnold, 49, of Lawrenceville was arrested Tuesday following a three-year investigation.

Arnold, the former pastor of the New Life Deliverance Church in Winder, was charged with arson, conspiracy to commit a crime, party to the crime of vandalism to a place of worship, and insurance fraud. A December 2005 fire at the house of worship sent the structure up in flames.

Arnold posted a $50,000 bail and was released today from jail.

Oops....We Raided the Wrong House

A Lawrenceville couple got quite a surprise Wednesday when the police came knocking.

According to Gwinnett County police officials, they mistakingly raided the wrong home during a drug raid in Lawrenceville yesterday. According to the homeowner, he and his wife were kept at gunpoint for several minutes before officers noted their mistake.

Gwinnett County Police reported they planned to execute a no knock search warrant at a home at 2934 Valley Spring Drive in Lawrenceville, which is an unincorporated area of Gwinnett County. One small problem was investigators mistakenly went to the wrong home.

The search warrant was served as a result of a three month drug investigation, as Efrain Pedruza, 31, was nabbed without incident. The search warrant yielded approximately 24,000 dollars in cash.

Police officials blamed the mistaken raid on human error.