CRIME & COURTS

By: Gainesville Times
HALL COUNTY – About 10 months ago, Hall County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Brad Rounds said he reflected on the state of his fellow first responders seeking to retire. Though he never expected to be a cop, Rounds is reaching his 29th year with the department after joining at age 19.“Yet, our friends that work for the Gainesville Police Department that have 20 and 25 years of service are retiring and making” $30,000 per year or more, Rounds said. Rounds made the decision to reach out to an Atlanta law firm, Buckley Beal, regarding an issue of frozen pension benefits in the county.“As soon as the word got out, people came out in droves ... because we’re all in the same boat,” Rounds said. Now Rounds and an expected group of 100 current and retired employees have filed an estimated $75 million lawsuit against the Hall County Board of Commissioners. County Attorney Bill Blalock and spokeswoman Katie Crumley both said they cannot comment on pending litigation. Rounds and four other current and former county employees are named in the lawsuit as plaintiffs. The alleged freeze in pension benefits occurred in 1998, when the lawsuit claims the county “made no additional employer contributions for plaintiffs to the ‘trust fund.’” Rounds said the 1998 freeze was an issue where everybody wanted something done but no one would step up to the challenge. While working in a field with daily risks, some officers are staying in the workforce because they don’t have the money to retire, Rounds said.“You’re going to have people working for the county that shouldn’t be in these capacities because of their age and their physical abilities,” he said. According to the lawsuit, Rounds’ monthly pension benefit would be $2,567 under the plan’s formula. Under the freeze, however, his monthly pension benefit is only $389 per month, according to the lawsuit. County commissioners were served with a copy of the lawsuit at their meeting Thursday, with a block of some 30 employees sitting with attorneys Michael Kramer and Ed Buckley. No words were exchanged beyond Hall County Fire Services volunteer chaplain Mike Taylor’s invocation calling for issues to be resolved civilly.“While we were there, other employees that are still in this defined benefit (plan) or in this lawsuit were out in the streets working,” Rounds said. Rounds said the ultimate goal would be to come to the table with the commissioners to resolve this without having to go to court.

By: FCN Regional Staff
DAWSON COUNTY -- Dawsonville residents will be able to view a television episode Monday that details the investigation of two murders that occurred in the county in December of 2009. A new series on Investigation Discovery, "Murder Calls" uses real-life 911 calls to frame stories of how investigators pieced together information to solve murders. The Jan. 23 episode, entitled "Down by the River," features a 911 call made to Dawson County dispatch on Dec. 19, 2014. The call was made by 22-year-old Jennifer Budrawich, whose body was pulled from the Amicalola River the following day. The body of her husband, 35-year-old Paul Budrawich was found in the river on Dec. 21. Both had been shot and killed and their murderers were on the loose. Jennifer Budrawich's stepfather Jesse James Kilgore and his nephew Benjamin Kelly Mullinax were quickly apprehended and sentenced for the murders of the couple. Interviewed for the episode were then-Sgt. Jennifer Wright of the sheriff's office criminal investigations department, District Attorney Lee Darragh and then-Maj. John Cagle. The episode airs Monday at 10 p.m. on Investigation Discovery. Residents can check here to see what channel the episode will be featured on. The episode contains actual audio of the 911 call. Due to the disturbing content, viewer discretion is advised.

By: Isabel Hughes
SOUTH FORSYTH – The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has issued a “business watch” after four business were broken into overnight Thursday. Los Maguey Mexican Restaurant, Coco’s Cuban Restaurant, Bling and Bang jewelry and gun shop and Gold & Silver N2 Cash were robbed between the hours of midnight and 7 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, according to Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. The businesses are located in south Forsyth on Bethelview Road, Buford Highway, Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Atlanta Highway.“The criminals targeted all the glass doors at these four locations,” Rainwater said. “They were all glass doors that were broken out, and the suspects crawled through the broken windows.” As of mid-afternoon Friday, Rainwater said at least three suspects were involved in the robberies, where unknown amounts of cash were taken from each location.“We have video of three people at one of the businesses, but we believe [all] the robberies were committed by the same people, given the time span,” he said. “It looks like the [suspects] were going from one business to the next.” No one has been taken into custody, and the sheriff’s office is trying to obtain other video that is expected to show exactly when the robberies occurred, Rainwater said.

By: Isabel Hughes
SOUTH FORSYTH – A masseuse at a south Forsyth massage parlor has been charged with prostitution after the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover operation on Monday. On Jan. 23, 44-year-old Eun Kang, an employee of BMB Sauna, solicited sexual acts in exchange for cash from an undercover deputy, said Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office ordinance and permits unit had reportedly received complaints in reference to possible prostitution taking place at the business, which was confirmed Monday. Kang was taken to the Forsyth County Jail, where she was later released on a $3,300 cash bond. The parlor’s owner, Jeoung Gyu Shin, is currently out of state but reportedly agreed to meet with the sheriff’s office when he returns, Rainwater said. He may be charged with various county ordinance violations, including: employee records must be maintained at the business; customer service records must be kept at the business; employees required to have a permit from the county; employees must be fully clothed; ordinary beds not permitted; and patrons required to use front door.“Sheriff Ron Freeman has made the enforcement and eradication of any business engaged in illegal sexual activity a priority,” Rainwater said. “He is working with the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners in creating a legal process to revoke the business license of any organization engaged in this type of crime.” BMB Sauna was one of six massage parlors that were supposed to have permanently closed after a massive undercover sting was conducted by the sheriff’s office in March 2016. Of the 15 checked during that sweep, 18 citations were issued. The sting was the result of an ordinance passed by the Board of Commissioners that took effect Jan. 1, 2016 to make it harder for parlors to run businesses not up to county standards and may be covering up illegal activity. Other aspects of the code require businesses to always have a licensed massage therapist on-site during business hours and prohibit them from displaying tinted or blacked-out windows. It was not immediately clear whether the parlor was re-closed on Monday. This story will be updated.

By: Isabel Hughes
FORSYTH COUNTY -- A local electric scam that has previously targeted Forsyth County residents is back again, according to spokespeople with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Around 3:30 Friday afternoon, deputies started receiving calls from residents about calls they are reportedly receiving from someone claiming to be with Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation, a Cumming-based electric services provider, according to Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. On the phone, the scammer allegedly states that if a payment is not made today, power will be cut off to their home, Rainwater said. The last four digits on the phone number are 4254. Rainwater said Sawnee EMC reported “the same thing in Jackson County a few days ago and Georgia Power also said a similar [scam] has taken place as recently as yesterday.”“It’s obvious today they’re targeting Forsyth County residents, and likely because it’s supposed to get cold tonight and people don’t want their heat shut off,” Rainwater said. Tonight’s temperature is expected to get close to 30 degrees. Cindy Badgett, director of external affairs for Sawnee EMC, said customers have, in the past, reported receiving phone calls from someone who identified themselves as a Sawnee EMC employee. The caller reportedly tells customers their power bill is late and that they will be shutting services off in one hour. The caller then allegedly tells customers they can keep their power on if they buy a prepaid Visa card, call back and pay their bill over the phone.“We get these [reports] from time to time, but we definitely do not call and threaten people,” Badgett said, “and we definitely don’t ask them to go out and buy prepaid Visa cards.” Badgett said while the company does give customers a courtesy call if a bill is late, it is long before any service is shut off.“We just don’t operate that way,” she said. “If someone’s bill is late we will give them a courtesy call but we don’t call at the last minute and say ‘you have to pay this or we’ll shut you off.’ We certainly don’t want our members to feel threatened or harassed and if [they are,] that’s a red flag that it’s not us.“If they want to pay their bill with a credit card, they don’t even speak with a customer representative.” Cpl. Pete Sabella, also a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said residents should be wary of this scam as well as others.“If you receive a phone call from a known company and the request does not seem accurate or legitimate, it probably isn’t,” he said. “Most companies don’t request payment via a prepaid credit or debit card.“If there’s any question, hang up the phone and contact the company directly. And of course if you feel you’ve become a victim, contact the sheriff’s office and report it.” Sawnee EMC sent out an email to its customers Friday, warning them of the scam.

By: Kayla Robins
CUMMING – A former information technology services provider for the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce has been arrested for a reported cyber crime against the organization that resulted in all of its email, calendar, contacts and task management capabilities with Microsoft Outlook 365 to be deleted. James "Jim" Darian Kubicek, 48, of Cumming, who provided information technology services to the Chamber through his company, Kubicek Information Technologies, for about a year, was charged Thursday with theft by extortion, computer theft and computer trespass, all felonies. According to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, he had posted a $13,555 bond from the Forsyth County Jail by early Friday morning. James McCoy, president and CEO of the Chamber, said Kubicek stopped working for the organization “toward the end of last year.” Cpl. Pete Sabella, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said Kubicek was reportedly angry that the Chamber decided to contract another company to provide IT services for 2017 and retaliated by taking data hostage to “prevent the Chamber from accessing its own data.” After a warrant was taken out for his arrest, the sheriff’s office was notified Kubicek was attending a Forsyth County Schools college and career fair at Lanier Technical College as a vendor, Sabella said. He was arrested at the fair out of sight from anyone at the event without resisting, Sabella said.“All files were absolutely safe,” McCoy said. “There was never any exposure. We have safeguards above and beyond typical safeguards.” Kubicek said personal information was never at risk of being exposed and that he believes he did nothing wrong.“[The Chamber] was a client of ours, and they wanted to go with a cheaper service,” he said. He said he pulled sponsorships from the organization after they reportedly tried to cancel a three-year contract after one year and “shut off the services they refused to pay for. I do that with any client that refuses to pay their bill.” He said he has retained a civil attorney who served the Chamber a demand letter for $78,000, for which the Chamber has 30 days to respond or face a pending lawsuit. The Chamber’s McCoy said he has not heard of a letter being received.“I have absolutely no doubt that these trumped-up charges will be dismissed,” Kubicek said. Kubicek said his first appearance is scheduled for March 10 at 9:30 a.m. and that he invites anyone to attend. Kubicek Information Technologies, or KIT, was the presenting sponsor the Chamber’s business expo in 2015. KIT was also named a Best of Forsyth winner in 2016 and 2017, which is an annual readers choice contest put on by the FCN. The Chamber was without Microsoft Outlook 365 for 10 days after the deletion occurred.“As a result of the quick action of the Chamber’s executive vice president, Jimmy Lane, and our new IT services provider, Dime IT, all of the files on our server were secured and there were no breaches of personal information, credit card numbers, etc.“In fact, the server was taken offline immediately until we were certain it could be secured.” He said Dime IT was able to save all their emails and calendar items that existed before Microsoft Office 365 was deleted. The Chamber has already reviewed its IT procedures, McCoy said, including an analysis of protocols for cyber-crimes “both inside and outside of the organization.”“One of the changes implemented is that we made improvements to ensure that if any changes to ownership of accounts with Microsoft Office 365 or any of our IT accounts or our domain are made in the future,” he said, “that we are notified and we will conduct regular audits of those accounts.”

By: Kayla Robins
FORSYTH COUNTY -- A man whose domestic-related incident led to a lockdown at West Forsyth High School in November has been indicted for the fight. Randall Dunford, a Cumming resident who was 45 at the time of his arrest on Nov. 28, faces counts of aggravated assault and battery for reportedly attacking another man with a gun and hitting him, according to a Forsyth County general bill of indictment. Dunford was detained about five hours after deputies began searching for him, which was enough time for social media posts to circulate claiming a possible shooter was at or near the West campus on Drew Road. Deputies searched the woods near the campus while after school activities were still going on after a domestic dispute was called in about 5:45 p.m. Dunford reportedly left the scene before deputies arrived to the location of the incident. Cpl. Pete Sabella, a spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, said at the time that four deputies were placed on campus out of an abundance of caution and that people at the school were never in danger. Dunford was indicted in January by a Forsyth County grand jury. He pled not guilty on Feb. 1. No trial date has been set. Forsyth County Superior Court Judge David L. Dickinson is presiding over the case.

By: FCN Regional Staff
HALL COUNTY - Two suspects are in custody following an armed robbery Tuesday morning at the Dollar General store on Atlanta Highway in Oakwood. Two men wearing masks went into the store near Cresthill Drive and demanded money from the cashier at gunpoint, Oakwood Police Sgt. Danny Sridej said. They took money from the register and then ran from the store. Authorities were alerted and began searching for the suspects, with nearby Interstate 985 closed during the manhunt. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office and Oakwood police joined in the search. The suspects were caught in the woods near the store soon after the incident, Sridej said.“We did recover some money from one suspect,” he said. “The other one — I’m not sure yet.”

By: Isabel Hughes
Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputies are looking for multiple suspects in connection with a break-in at Polaris ATV store in Cumming early Wednesday morning. Deputies have arrested three suspects so far, but believe more are involved. Around 4:45 a.m., the Cumming Police Department informed the sheriff’s office that there was a burglary-in-progress call at the RGR Motorsports/Polaris ATV store, which is located at 594 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, according to Rainwater. The sheriff’s office is not releasing the names or photos of those arrested due to detectives still working the investigation, said Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. The suspects were reportedly driving a white Dodge Charger and U-Haul truck, but fled the scene in their vehicles when police arrived. One suspect was apprehended after the U-Haul crashed, though two other were able to flee on foot, Rainwater said. The Charger was able to escape. Shortly after the crash, the owner of Polaris, who had reportedly just seen the video of the burglary at his business, called deputies to the area of Atlanta Highway and Highway 20 in reference to the other two suspects, Rainwater said. There, one suspect was detained and the other once again fled, but was later apprehended after “several citizens called us about a suspicious person walking south on Ga. 400,” according to Rainwater. Deputies were able to link the suspicious person to the burglary and take them into custody.“We would like to give a big shout out to our citizens who saw something and said something,” Rainwater said. “This is still a fluid investigation and due to our detectives still pursuing leads, we are not able to release names or photos at this time.” Follow updates to the story at forsythnews.com.

By: Isabel Hughes
CUMMING -- A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with a break-in at the Polaris ATV store in Cumming early Wednesday morning. Deputies arrested three of the four suspects – 24-year-old Brian Cooper, 19-year-old Demarco McPherson and 22-year-old-Quanea Lewis – mid-morning Wednesday and later arrested the fourth suspect, Demetrius Marchman, 27, in Marietta mid-afternoon. Investigators originally thought they were looking for a fifth suspect, but later determined only four were involved. All four men are from Marietta, which is located in Cobb County, according to Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff's office. Around 4:45 a.m., the Cumming Police Department informed the sheriff’s office that there was a burglary-in-progress call at the RGR Motorsports/Polaris ATV store, which is located at 594 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Rainwater said. No merchandise was taken from the store. The suspects were reportedly driving a white Dodge Charger and U-Haul truck, but fled the scene in their vehicles when police arrived. One suspect was apprehended after crashing the U-Haul, though two other were able to flee on foot, Rainwater said.“Officer Matt Arnold with Cumming PD initiated the chase and is responsible for getting the U-Haul so quickly,” Rainwater said. “He was at the right place at the right time.” Marchman, who was driving the Charger, was able to escape. Shortly after the crash, the owner of Polaris, who had reportedly just seen the video of the burglary at his business, called deputies to the area of Atlanta Highway and Highway 20 in reference to the other two suspects, Rainwater said. There, one suspect was detained and the other once again fled, but was later apprehended after “several citizens called us about a suspicious person walking south on Ga. 400,” according to Rainwater. Deputies were able to link the suspicious person to the burglary and take them into custody.“We would like to give a big shout out to our citizens who saw something and said something,” Rainwater said. The men have all been charged with burglary, though additional charges are pending. They are currently being held without bond at the Forsyth County Jail.

By: Isabel Hughes
SOUTH FORSYTH – The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit confiscated thousands of dollars’ worth of methamphetamine and marijuana along with numerous guns after executing a search warrant at a home on Bagley Drive in south Forsyth Tuesday. Deputies arrested two Forsyth County men in connection with the raid: 39-year-old William Marsh Pruett and 43-year-old Jason Kyle Bagwell, according to Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office.“The sheriff’s office is not releasing the amount of drugs [confiscated] due to ongoing investigations,” Rainwater said. Pruett has been charged with: trafficking in methamphetamine; sale of methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession of firearms during the violation of the Georgia Control Substance Act; possession of Schedule III drugs; possession of drug related objects; and theft by receiving a stolen firearm. Bagwell was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug related objects. The firearms found at the home did not have serial numbers, and one had been reported stolen out of the City of Milton Police Department in late December, Rainwater said. Sheriff Ron Freeman, who took office in January, said his administration is making a commitment to impacting the drug trade in Forsyth County.“We are actively targeting those selling drugs to our youth and most vulnerable,” Freeman said. “If you are thinking of selling drugs in Forsyth County, get ready to join the likes of [these suspects].“I have no tolerance for drug dealers in our community.” Pruett and Bagwell are being held without bond at the Forsyth County Jail.

By: Kayla Robins
A former public information officer for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has been indicted on charges of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student in an incident for which he was arrested in October 2016. Frank Huggins, 73 of Cumming, faces one count each of sexual assault of a student – a felony – and sexual battery – a misdemeanor – for the Oct. 4 incident, according to a Forsyth County Grand Jury indictment report filed on Feb. 13. Huggins is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with the teenager by touching her “inner thigh” while “being a teacher at Lanier Technical College with supervisory authority over [the victim],” who “the accused knew and should have known was a student.” The sexual battery charge stems from Huggins supposedly “intentionally” making “physical contact with the intimate parts of the body of [the victim], without the consent of [the victim].”“Suffice it to say we deny that anything improper occurred,” said his attorney, Rafe Banks III of Banks, Stubbs & McFarland LLP. “It illustrates the old adage that the DA can indict a ham sandwich if they chose to.” According to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office at the time of his arrest, the incident reportedly occurred while she was driving with Huggins in his capacity as a driving instructor with the college. Huggins served the sheriff’s office from 2001 to 2010 as a member of former Sheriff Ted Paxton’s command staff and as a spokesman for the agency. He retired in 2010 as a captain.“Detectives confirmed the victim’s allegations using video and audio evidence from camera footage recovered from inside the vehicle,” a spokesman for the agency said at the time. Huggins has “no prior arrest history” in Forsyth County. Forsyth County Superior Court Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley is presiding over this case, for which no trial date has been set.

By: Kayla Robins
SOUTH FORSYTH – A former math teacher from Lambert High School was recently arrested for having a relationship with a 17-year-old female student. John David Ubriaco, a 33-year-old from Dawson County, was charged on Feb. 24 with two counts of felony sexual assault, according to Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. Ubriaco, who goes by his middle name, had resigned from his position at the school on Nichols Road on Tuesday, Feb. 21, according to Jennifer Caracciolo, spokeswoman for the school system.“He had worked at Lambert since August 2016 and did not teach prior in other Forsyth County schools,” she said. Caracciolo said the district is unable to comment further “since this is a personnel issue and a criminal investigation.” The sheriff’s office’s school resource officer unit and major crimes unit investigated the incident. Ubriaco is being held at the Forsyth County Jail without bond.

By: Isabel Hughes
FORSYTH COUNTY – A 27-year-old Forsyth County resident was arrested Wednesday on heroin charges after the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit concluded an investigation. Tyler Ellis Parker was charged on Wednesday, March 1 with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of heroin and possession of drug related objects, according to Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office.“[Parker] lives here and was selling here and this is the second time he’s been in our jail for similar charges,” Rainwater said. Rainwater said the sheriff’s office is not releasing the amount of drugs or their value, due to other ongoing investigations. Parker is being held without bond at the Forsyth County Jail.

By: Kayla Robins
CUMMING – Eight years after a 24-year-old Forsyth County resident was murdered while volunteering for the Peace Corps in west Africa, the four men accused of killing her were set free. A court in Benin acquitted all four men on Feb. 25 of the 2009 murder of Catherine “Kate” Puzey, who graduated from high school in Cumming and whose parents both worked for Forsyth County Schools.“Kate made a tremendous impact on our world,” District 27 state Sen. Michael Williams said. “She served those who were truly in need. She entrusted her government to protect her and it did not.” Puzey taught English for the Peace Corps in the west African nation and was killed a month after she reported that another teacher had been molesting students at the school where they taught. She had tried to email the tip anonymously.“Word of her involvement in naming the sexual predators was ultimately leaked,” Williams said. Puzey’s mother, Lois Puzey, and Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) attended the trial. Inhofe went in the place of Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson who could not attend due to a recent surgery.“Senator Isakson has led the fight for justice for the Puzey family,” Williams said. “Justice that was ultimately denied in a short, two-day trial.” While the acquittal may be a disappointment to her family, to Isakson and to those following her story, federal legislation now provides better security and protection for Peace Corps volunteers. Isakson spent much of his career after Puzey’s death fighting for the legislation, which then-President Barack Obama signed into law in 2011 as The Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act.“The legislation protects whistleblowers [and] victims of violence and sexual assault within the Peace Corps,” Williams said. Lois Puzey, who taught for the school system from 2006 to 2010, and her husband, Harry, a former substitute teacher for the district who has since passed away from cancer, fought alongside Isakson since their daughter’s death for answers from the Peace Corps. Their story was even featured in a re-election ad campaign for Isakson in 2016. The Peace Corps issued a three-paragraph statement on the trial.“Along with her family and friends, we continue to mourn the loss of Kate and we offer them our deepest sympathies during this difficult time,” the statement said. “Today and every day, we honor Kate, whose memory is never far from our minds as we continue to build a strong, more effective Peace Corps.”

By: Isabel Hughes
CUMMING -- A man was recently arrested for methamphetamine and other charges after he reportedly attempted to sell the drug to an undercover deputy and was later found with $5,700 worth of drugs at his Cumming home near Lake Lanier. Samuel Scott Carrington, 51, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 24 and charged with: possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession of methamphetamine; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of GHB; and possession of drug related objects, according to Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office’s narcotics unit had been investigating Carrington since the beginning of the year and reportedly found the drugs and paraphernalia at his home off Pilgrim Mill Road while executing a search warrant.“He’s been dealing and he was charged with that and distribution,” Rainwater said. “He had 31 individually packaged bags of meth, each 1 gram, so that’s where we got him for distribution. He also had various drug related items like scales.” Rainwater said investigators also caught him reportedly dealing the drug directly. Each gram of the drug is valued at $100, adding up to about $3,100 for meth alone, Rainwater said. Carrington was also in possession of 10 ounces of GHB, a common “date rape” drug, with a street value of about $2,000. The marijuana was valued at $600, bringing the total amount of drugs to about $5,700. Carrington has no prior arrests in the county and was taken to the Forsyth County Jail, where he is being held without bond.

By: Isabel Hughes
Two women employed at separate massage parlors were recently arrested for soliciting sexual acts from an undercover Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Myong Kim, 61, of Columbus, who works at Edge Massage Therapy LLC, which is located at 765 McFarland Parkway, Suite C, was charged with prostitution on March 2 after the sheriff’s office conducted an undercover operation, according to Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office. Junge Blanton, 59, of Lawrenceville, who works at Pine Health Club and Spa, located at 102 Colony Park Drive Suite 500 in Cumming, was also arrested for prostitution the same day. Edge Massage was cited in January for various business-related ordinance violations after reportedly being found in noncompliance with county codes. In 2009, two women who worked at Pine Health Club and Spa were charged with prostitution after the sheriff’s office conducted an undercover operation. The recent operations began in February after the sheriff’s office received a tip regarding illegal activities occurring at the parlors, Rainwater said. In March 2016, the sheriff’s office, under then-Sheriff Duane Piper, conducted a massive undercover sting that targeted parlors and either shut down or cited more than a dozen that violated a local ordinance. Of the 15 checked during that sweep, 18 citations were issued, though neither Edge Massage nor Pine Health Club was investigated at that time. Rainwater said while the two businesses were not shut down in this most recent crackdown, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners may choose to take that step.“This [operation] only concentrated on the criminal side of things, but our ordinance and permits division will follow up,” Rainwater said. “It will be up to the county commissioners to suspend or revoke the [parlors’] business licenses.” Both women were transported to the Forsyth County Jail and posted a $3,320 bond.

By: Isabel Hughes
SOUTH FORSYTH -- A south Forsyth man has been detained in connection with a woman who was found dead in a south Forsyth home Monday evening after Forsyth County Sheriff's Office deputies received 911 calls about a suspicious person on Gallatin Way. Around 6:42 p.m. March 6, deputies began receiving more than one 911 call about "a male acting suspiciously in [the Wyndam Park] subdivision," according to Cpl. Pete Sabella, a spokesman for the sheriff's office. "When deputies arrived on scene, they encountered him at the [first crime scene]," Sabella said. "Based on that part of the investigation, that led us to his residence, where a deceased female was located." The man was the detained as the Major Crimes Unit and other emergency personnel responded to the neighborhood near the Old Atlanta Road and McGinnis Ferry Road intersection. Sabella said the road is not blocked. How the deceased and the man who was detained know each other were not immediately clear, and neither were their ages. Sabella said there is no remaining threat to the neighborhood. The Forsyth County News is on scene. Follow ForsythNews.com for updates.

By: Isabel Hughes
SOUTH FORSYTH -- A south Forsyth man has been charged with murder after his estranged wife was found dead in his home Monday evening. Zhibin Duan, 51, faces charges of murder, aggravated assault and obstruction of law enforcement after Forsyth County Sheriff's Office deputies received 911 calls about a suspicious person on Gallatin Way, which is near the intersection of Old Atlanta and McGinnis Ferry roads. Around 6:42 p.m. on March 6, deputies began receiving multiple calls “in reference to a male being confrontational with residents while walking in the [Wyndam Park] neighborhood,” according to Deputy Doug Rainwater, a spokesman for the sheriff's office.“Once our deputies arrived, they encountered the male on Gallatin Way with what appeared to be blood on his clothing,” Rainwater said. “The male refused to comply with orders to stand still and was secured.“The deputies identified the home where the male resided and due to the circumstances they searched the home, where they located a deceased female." A cause of death has not yet been officially released, but other officials said Duan was reportedly found wielding a bloodied, 5-pound dumbbell. The victim's identity is not yet being released while her family is contacted. It was not immediately clear why the woman was at Duan’s house. They reportedly no longer lived together. An investigation is ongoing. Duan was transported to the Forsyth County Jail Monday night, where he is being held without bond.

By: Kayla Robins
SOUTH FORSYTH -- A Grayson resident who was arrested after a 57-year-old Cumming man was shot during a Craigslist deal at a south Forsyth Kroger parking lot has been indicted by a Forsyth County Grand Jury. Robert Edward Frederick, 32, is accused of armed robbery and three counts of aggravated assault, according to a Feb. 13 bill of indictment. According to the report, Frederick, “with the intent to commit a theft,” took money from the man “by use of a handgun” on Sept. 30, 2016. The Forsyth County News previously reported that deputies responded to the shooting at the Kroger at 1595 Peachtree Parkway about 11:25 p.m., where the victim said he met with Frederick to purchase tools. The victim reportedly told deputies he had made similar purchases from Frederick in the past. The aggravated assault charges stem, according to the Grand Jury’s indictment, from Frederick reportedly making “an assault upon” the victim “with intent to rob,” “with a deadly weapon, to wit: a handgun” and “with a Taser.” Frederick was arrested at his Grayson home on Oct. 7, 2016 when the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and Gwinnett County Police served a search warrant “after a lengthy investigation.” He also faced drug weapons and drug charges in Gwinnett County at the time for small quantities of heroin, cocaine and firearms that were reportedly found. According to reports at the time of the incident, Frederick reportedly jumped into the victim’s truck and allegedly tried to rob him. The victim told deputies he drove his truck across the Kroger parking lot with Frederick in the vehicle, who reportedly shot him in the right side of his ribcage. Frederick then supposedly jumped out of the truck, and the victim drove to the front of the Kroger to call for help, after which he was transported to North Fulton Hospital for surgery on what were described as non-life threatening injuries.“If you’re going to engage in a Craigslist sale, we encourage you to do it at a [police] precinct, a well-lit area or a place [where] there’s lot of people,” said a sheriff’s office official at the time. “Any [such] transaction can be conducted in the parking lot of a law enforcement precinct.”

Hall County first responders sue government for $75M

Dawson County murder investigation to be featured on Discovery Channel

Four businesses near Cumming broken into Thursday night

South Forsyth massage parlor employee arrested for prostitution

Sawnee EMC warns of scam targeting Forsyth County

Former Cumming Chamber of Commerce IT services provider arrested for cyber crime against group

Man who caused lockdown at West Forsyth High indicted for domestic dispute

2 suspects in custody following alleged armed robbery at Oakwood store

Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office arrests 3 in connection with Polaris ATV burglary

Four arrested in connection with Polaris ATV burglary

Meth, marijuana, guns seized during raid of south Forsyth home

Former Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office spokesman indicted for sexual assault of a minor

Former Lambert teacher arrested for relationship with student

Forsyth man arrested for alleged heroin distribution for second time

Men acquitted in 2009 slaying of Peace Corps volunteer from Forsyth

Man tries to sell drugs to undercover cop, found at Cumming home with $5,700 in meth, GHB, pot

Employees at south Forsyth, Cumming massage parlors arrested for prostitution

Woman found dead in south Forsyth home

South Forsyth man charged with murder of estranged wife

Man indicted for armed robbery during Craigslist deal at south Forsyth Kroger