Archived News

Burglary suspects arrested in Tucker

The DeKalb County Police Department arrested three juveniles on Jan. 17 in connection with a string of home break-ins near Brookhaven.

Officers saw a beige Ford Expedition fitting the description of a vehicle seen leaving the scene of multiple burglarized homes and stopped the car along Briarwood Way. Police arrested three Hispanic juveniles who were inside the car. 

According to police, the stolen items found in the car included flat screen televisions, laptops, iPods and a gun.  Detectives said they believe the items were taken from residences along Plaster Road earlier in the day.

Detectives said they believe the juveniles, ages 11, 14 and 16, are connected to at least 15 burglaries in the Brookhaven area since December 2011.

The 14- and 16-year-olds are being held at the Regional Youth Detention Center in Decatur.  The 11-year-old was arrested, but has since been released. 

Former DeKalb police officer charged with tipping off drug dealers

Gabriel Hoskins III, 39, of Atlanta, was indicted by a federal grand jury and arrested on Jan. 19 on charges of unlawfully accessing government databases and tipping off drug dealers to a pending federal search warrant. 

U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said in a release that Hoskins, a former DeKalb County police officer and most recently a reserve patrolman with the Clarkston Police Department, served as the courtesy officer at an apartment complex in Atlanta.  While working at the complex Hoskins befriended certain individuals who were involved in trafficking marijuana. 

On two occasions, at the request of the marijuana traffickers, Hoskins used his law enforcement position to have names and vehicle tags run through the National Crime Information Center database, according to Yates.

In June 2011, Hoskins, through his role as courtesy officer, learned that federal agents were planning to execute a search warrant at the drug dealers’ apartment. According to officials, Hoskins shared this information with the drug dealers so they could avoid detection and remove any incriminating evidence.

Each charge against Hoskins carries a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Trial set for DeKalb man accused of pimping minors

Jury selection for a DeKalb County man accused of pimping minor girls begins Monday, Jan. 23, in Judge Gregory Adams’ courtroom at 9 a.m., according to the DeKalb District Attorney’s office.

Erik Djon Ferguson was indicted on 17 felony counts, including pimping for a person under 18 years old and conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of children.

Student arrested for bringing pellet gun to middle school

DeKalb County School System Police have arrested a 14-year-old student who brought an air pellet gun to Druid Hills Middle School on Jan. 19.

DeKalb County School spokesman Walter Woods said school staff found the weapon in the student’s backpack at approximately 3:45 p.m. The teen was charged with carrying a weapon in school.