Citizens on Patrol Lead to Arrest Outside REI Perimeter Store

Four members of Sandy Springs' Citizens on Patrol unit (COPS) were recognized during training and credited with alerting officers of suspicious activity that ultimately led to the arrests of persons committing or about to commit a felony. 
 
Jon Lewis, Nelson Kramer, Mark Anderson, and Rick Stafford were recognized. 

Anderson and Kramer, observed two men acting suspicious in the parking lot of REI on Perimeter Center West. They observed the pair move to the 1155 Mount Vernon area and continue looking into cars. The COPS unit reported the activity to a nearby officer who subsequently arrested the men for prowling and loitering.
 
The officer credited the pair saying had they not spotted the suspects and reported the activity, it's likely that one or more cars would have been broken into. 

COPS members Lewis and Stafford are also responsible for the apprehension this week of a hit and run driver who attempted to flee an accident scene on foot. COPS members saw, followed, and reported the suspect's location which led to his arrest. 

Over the past year, Stafford and Lewis are also credited with locating persons and vehicles on separate radio lookouts. Their actions are credited with the arrest of a shoplifting suspect and narcotics suspect. 

COPS members utilize three patrol vehicles, providing residential out-of-town checks as well as business checks during the day and nighttime hours. COPS units also handle a number of traffic-related details including accident scenes, road hazards, and safety checks. 

All COPS members are graduates of the Sandy Springs Police Citizen's Police Academy and have completed 12-weeks of COPS training and field training. 

For more information on the SSPD Citizens on Patrol program, contact Officer Jeff Holmes at jholmes@sandyspringsga.gov.

Courtesy Sandy Springs Police Facebook page