Archived News

Driver faces multiple charges, including DUI, after daughter dies in crash

A driver on Highway 78 has been charged with DUI, vehicular homicide in the first degree and failure to maintain a lane following an accident in which his 15-year-old daughter was killed.

Anthony Johnson was driving a Chrysler Pacifica eastbound on Hwy. 78 west of the Stone Mountain Park entrance when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed, according to DeKalb County Police, who report that in addition to 15-year-old Corliss Johnson, who was found dead, an 11-year-old girl, an 8-year-old boy and a 9-year-old boy were inside the vehicle when police arrived. The 11-year-old was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The boys also were transported to the hospital, where one was held for observation and the other released. Police have determined that Anthony Johnson is the father of all four children.

Police said that after the accident the driver had been unable to locate his cell phone. He took the two young boys and walked to a restaurant in Gwinnett County. Gwinnett authorities notified DeKalb County Police about the accident. Investigators have not determined what time the accident occurred, but DeKalb County Police were notified by Gwinnett authorities at approximately 10:45 p.m.

Law enforcement seeks information on man believed to be killer

The DeKalb Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Squad and the U.S. Marshal’s Special Task Force are seeking information that will lead to the capture of Marcus D. Ventress.

Ventress is being sought in connection with the May 26 death of Ryan Guider, whom he allegedly shot several times in the chest with a small caliber handgun.  Ventress is described as a 28-year- old Black male who is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds.  The killing was said to be an act of vengeance as sources say that Guider burglarized the home of Ventress stealing jewelry, cash and drugs and punching Ventress’ mother.

Ventress is also wanted for aggravated assault in connection with an act in which he allegedly fired a .22 caliber handgun into an apartment at 5810 Treecrest Parkway.  Sources state that he shot into the apartment because it was thought to be the residence of Guider. 

Ventress has had other legal encounters and should be considered armed and dangerous, according to the Sheriff’s Office.  He served a six-year sentence in federal prison on a drug traffic charge and has been imprisoned in Indiana on a cocaine possession charge.  He is currently on parole and probation for these charges. 

Anyone with information on Ventress should contact the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office at (404) 298-8200 or Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-TIPS (8477).

Downtown Decatur listed in National Register of Historic Places

The Decatur Downtown Historic District, roughly bordered by North McDonough Street on the west, East Howard Avenue on the south, Hillyer and Commerce streets on the east, and East Ponce de Leon Avenue on the north, recently was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  The City of Decatur sponsored the nomination and a consultant prepared the nomination materials.

The district was listed in the National Register at the local level of significance because its commercial and residential buildings are representative of architectural styles and types built in Georgia cities from the end of the 19th century through the middle of the 20th century.  Decatur has many good intact examples of commercial architecture that date from its period of greatest growth during the late 19th century into the 1960s.  Many prominent Atlanta area architects designed buildings in Decatur.

Neighborhood initiative award recipients announced

DeKalb County Commissioner Larry Johnson, along with the other members of the Community Cabinet, recently presented checks in the amount of $250 to eight community, homeowner and civic associations. 

Awardees were The Belvedere Civic Club – Ann Brown, president; Camelot Community Action, C.J. Jimerson, vice president (Frank Billups who served as president, died in April); Concerned Neighbors Association – Robert Dennis, president; Glen Haven Community Association – Linda Austin, president; The Greater Towers Community Association – Jocelyn O’Neil, president; Gresham Hills Neighbors Association – Jared Neal, president; Spring Valley Civic Association – Deborah Brunson, president; and Rainbow Creek Homeowners Association – Teresa Hardy, president.

The Neighborhood Initiative, an idea developed by Johnson “seeks to recognize those communities who quietly go about the business of making DeKalb a great place to live work and play,” according to an announcement from Johnson’s office. The next round of awards will be in September.