GotZoom
Senior Member
Sure glad there isn't any crime or fires here; the only people who could respond are....busy.....
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Henry County police officer was arrested Friday afternoon and then fired from the force for engaging in an "inappropriate act" with a 16-year-old girl while he was on duty, police officials said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has charged Randolph Cobian, 28, with aggravated child molestation and child molestation, according to the Henry County Police Department.
Mike Turner, the Henry County Police public safety director, said Cobian was discovered at a private residence in the county when the girl's father came home at approximately 5:30 Friday morning.
"Because of her age the matter has been turned over to GBI," Turner said. "The Henry County Police has been working cooperatively with the Flint Judicial (Circuit) District Attorney's Office and GBI to make sure this case comes to a speedy and correct conclusion."
Turner said Cobian, who is single, has been with Henry County for two years and has no record of a citizen's complaint or inappropriate conduct. Prior to his employment within the county, Turner said the officer worked as a trainee with the Cobb County Police Department. Cobian was "immediately terminated" as an employee of the police department on Friday, Turner said.
No specific details were given to identify the nature of the "inappropriate act" in which Cobian and the girl were engaged in when the father found them. Whether or not the two had an ongoing relationship will be part of the investigation now under way, authorities said
According to reports, Cobian was outside his designated geographical zone and was on duty when the incident occurred. Turner said the father saw the police car in his driveway and called authorities after entering his home. Reportedly the father told Cobian to remain in the house until authorities arrived, and he complied. My edit: Dad came home from his night job; saw the police car in his drive-way (DOH), got worried and started to look around. Walked into his daughter's room to see if she knew what was wrong and ...surprise!
When asked how the girl and Cobian were acquainted, Turner said, "That is the most distressing part of this for us."
Officials believe the two have known each other for more than a year when Cobian served as the girl's volunteer swimming coach at an area school, which has been unnamed due to the open investigation. Turner said the officer had asked to volunteer at the school again this year, but school officials had yet to grant approval. The headmaster of that school has been notified of the incident.
"There may be other issues we may need to approach at this school," Turner said. "In this case we cannot discount anything. We have no evidence at this point that there is any other person involved. However, we cannot reasonably discount the fact that because of contacts with other young people that there may not be other issues that may be involved."
Officials also reported that the officer and the girl's family were acquaintances.
"This was a friend," he said. "This was someone who had been in their house and eaten dinner with them. (He) had been trusted to teach their daughter."
Turner said the parents are "understandably angry."
"They are hurt - as we all are," he said. "On behalf of the public safety division, we apologize to this community for the behavior of this officer. It does not reflect the standards of the officers ... that serve this community."
Chief Russell Abernathy said the incident is "an embarrassment to the county."
"All the officers are upset about this," he said. "They're stunned. This is a fellow officer that they trusted and worked with. It's shocking to them."
Despite their peer's alleged actions, Abernathy said the officers "can still hold their heads high."
"They're not the ones who did this," he said. "One officer - who's now a former officer - did the wrong thing. One stumbled ... and he's paying the price. This is something we will overcome. This is just a cancer that's happened, and we removed it."
http://www.news-daily.com/articles/2005/08/06/news/news1.txt
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Firefighter suspended for sexual assault
By Aisha I. Jefferson
A Henry County firefighter was suspended with pay after a 16-year-old girl reported he allegedly forced her to engage in a sexual act during a date Monday night. The accusation comes on the heels of a Henry County Police officer being jailed Friday for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl.
Just after 7 p.m. Monday, the girl reported that firefighter Christopher Thompson, 19, allegedly sexually assaulted her on Old Flat Shoals Church Road in Stockbridge, which, Henry County spokeswoman Julie Hoover-Ernst believes is where Thompson's home is located.
Thompson was not arrested, but immediately suspended with pay in accordance with county policy while the matter is investigated, Hoover-Ernst said. Once complete, it will be submitted to the Flint Judicial Office for review.
"The members of the fire department and I are distressed by this incident because it does not reflect our attitude and commitment to preserving the welfare and safety of the community," County Public Safety Director Mike Turner said in a press release. "If Mr. Thompson is found to be responsible for these actions of which he is accused, his employment will be immediately terminated. Henry County cannot and will not tolerate its employees acting outside of both the law and rules of common decency."
Thompson has been with the fire department for seven months, and is one of 19 firefighters to graduate from the Henry County Fire Academy in May. Thompson was the youngest member of that class.
Hoover-Ernst said she is not sure when a decision will be made regarding Thompson's employment or a potential arrest.
"The investigation will play into that but he is a probational employee in that he's been with the county for less than a year," Hoover-Ernst said. "The county will make an independent decision as to when and whether or not he will be terminated."
Hoover-Ernst said she is not sure how long Thompson and the girl have known each other, and did not disclose the nature of the sexual act.
It is the second incident involving a public safety official over the past five days.
On Friday, Henry County Police officer Randolph Cobian was charged with aggravated child molestation and child molestation, and remains in the Henry County jail without bond. Following his arrest, Cobian, 28, was immediately fired from the police department for engaging in "an inappropriate act" with the girl while he was on duty, police officials said. Turner said Cobian was discovered around 5:30 a.m. Friday at a private residence in the county when the girl's father came home.
Still, Hoover-Ernst said the cases are being handled differently because Cobian was on duty, left his post, and was caught by a third party - the girl's father.
Cobian will make an appearance in Magistrate Court on Aug. 24.
http://www.henryherald.com/articles/2005/08/10/news/news1.txt
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Henry County police officer was arrested Friday afternoon and then fired from the force for engaging in an "inappropriate act" with a 16-year-old girl while he was on duty, police officials said.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has charged Randolph Cobian, 28, with aggravated child molestation and child molestation, according to the Henry County Police Department.
Mike Turner, the Henry County Police public safety director, said Cobian was discovered at a private residence in the county when the girl's father came home at approximately 5:30 Friday morning.
"Because of her age the matter has been turned over to GBI," Turner said. "The Henry County Police has been working cooperatively with the Flint Judicial (Circuit) District Attorney's Office and GBI to make sure this case comes to a speedy and correct conclusion."
Turner said Cobian, who is single, has been with Henry County for two years and has no record of a citizen's complaint or inappropriate conduct. Prior to his employment within the county, Turner said the officer worked as a trainee with the Cobb County Police Department. Cobian was "immediately terminated" as an employee of the police department on Friday, Turner said.
No specific details were given to identify the nature of the "inappropriate act" in which Cobian and the girl were engaged in when the father found them. Whether or not the two had an ongoing relationship will be part of the investigation now under way, authorities said
According to reports, Cobian was outside his designated geographical zone and was on duty when the incident occurred. Turner said the father saw the police car in his driveway and called authorities after entering his home. Reportedly the father told Cobian to remain in the house until authorities arrived, and he complied. My edit: Dad came home from his night job; saw the police car in his drive-way (DOH), got worried and started to look around. Walked into his daughter's room to see if she knew what was wrong and ...surprise!
When asked how the girl and Cobian were acquainted, Turner said, "That is the most distressing part of this for us."
Officials believe the two have known each other for more than a year when Cobian served as the girl's volunteer swimming coach at an area school, which has been unnamed due to the open investigation. Turner said the officer had asked to volunteer at the school again this year, but school officials had yet to grant approval. The headmaster of that school has been notified of the incident.
"There may be other issues we may need to approach at this school," Turner said. "In this case we cannot discount anything. We have no evidence at this point that there is any other person involved. However, we cannot reasonably discount the fact that because of contacts with other young people that there may not be other issues that may be involved."
Officials also reported that the officer and the girl's family were acquaintances.
"This was a friend," he said. "This was someone who had been in their house and eaten dinner with them. (He) had been trusted to teach their daughter."
Turner said the parents are "understandably angry."
"They are hurt - as we all are," he said. "On behalf of the public safety division, we apologize to this community for the behavior of this officer. It does not reflect the standards of the officers ... that serve this community."
Chief Russell Abernathy said the incident is "an embarrassment to the county."
"All the officers are upset about this," he said. "They're stunned. This is a fellow officer that they trusted and worked with. It's shocking to them."
Despite their peer's alleged actions, Abernathy said the officers "can still hold their heads high."
"They're not the ones who did this," he said. "One officer - who's now a former officer - did the wrong thing. One stumbled ... and he's paying the price. This is something we will overcome. This is just a cancer that's happened, and we removed it."
http://www.news-daily.com/articles/2005/08/06/news/news1.txt
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Firefighter suspended for sexual assault
By Aisha I. Jefferson
A Henry County firefighter was suspended with pay after a 16-year-old girl reported he allegedly forced her to engage in a sexual act during a date Monday night. The accusation comes on the heels of a Henry County Police officer being jailed Friday for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl.
Just after 7 p.m. Monday, the girl reported that firefighter Christopher Thompson, 19, allegedly sexually assaulted her on Old Flat Shoals Church Road in Stockbridge, which, Henry County spokeswoman Julie Hoover-Ernst believes is where Thompson's home is located.
Thompson was not arrested, but immediately suspended with pay in accordance with county policy while the matter is investigated, Hoover-Ernst said. Once complete, it will be submitted to the Flint Judicial Office for review.
"The members of the fire department and I are distressed by this incident because it does not reflect our attitude and commitment to preserving the welfare and safety of the community," County Public Safety Director Mike Turner said in a press release. "If Mr. Thompson is found to be responsible for these actions of which he is accused, his employment will be immediately terminated. Henry County cannot and will not tolerate its employees acting outside of both the law and rules of common decency."
Thompson has been with the fire department for seven months, and is one of 19 firefighters to graduate from the Henry County Fire Academy in May. Thompson was the youngest member of that class.
Hoover-Ernst said she is not sure when a decision will be made regarding Thompson's employment or a potential arrest.
"The investigation will play into that but he is a probational employee in that he's been with the county for less than a year," Hoover-Ernst said. "The county will make an independent decision as to when and whether or not he will be terminated."
Hoover-Ernst said she is not sure how long Thompson and the girl have known each other, and did not disclose the nature of the sexual act.
It is the second incident involving a public safety official over the past five days.
On Friday, Henry County Police officer Randolph Cobian was charged with aggravated child molestation and child molestation, and remains in the Henry County jail without bond. Following his arrest, Cobian, 28, was immediately fired from the police department for engaging in "an inappropriate act" with the girl while he was on duty, police officials said. Turner said Cobian was discovered around 5:30 a.m. Friday at a private residence in the county when the girl's father came home.
Still, Hoover-Ernst said the cases are being handled differently because Cobian was on duty, left his post, and was caught by a third party - the girl's father.
Cobian will make an appearance in Magistrate Court on Aug. 24.
http://www.henryherald.com/articles/2005/08/10/news/news1.txt
