News Briefs for Tuesday, Feb. 26
Local News:
Justice served to the Olde Pink House Restaurant perpetrators
Kevin Dale Brooks, 27, and Brian Jones, 24, were convicted Monday for the crimes that led to the incident at the Olde Pink House Restaurant on May 17, 2012
Charges included armed robbery, false imprisonment, burglary and aggravated assault on Earl Hamilton, 60, at his home, 1108 Milton St. Jurors also convicted Jones on a charge of theft by taking of a Cadillac SUV belonging to the elder Hamilton’s girlfriend, Erica Grant, as Jones attempted to elude police at the Milton Street address. Jurors also convicted Jones on a charge of theft by taking of a Cadillac SUV belonging to the elder Hamilton’s girlfriend, Erica Grant, as Jones attempted to avoid police at the Milton Street address.
Jurors acquitted both men on an aggravated-assault charge against Hamilton’s 12-year-old son, Earl B. Hamilton. Brooks was also cleared of charges on kidnapping by forcing the elder Hamilton to drive his Jaguar to Bull and Broughton streets the morning of May 17.
When a Savannah-Chatham police detective fired a gunshot into the car, Brooks fled and hid in the Olde Pink House Restaurant on Reynolds Square. He was detained by Savannah-Chatham police SWAT team members and a K-9 dog after a standoff which paralyzed that area of downtown for hours.
Both defendants were returned to the Chatham County jail pending sentencing.
Brooks can expect anything from 1-20 years or life for the armed robbery and additional terms for his other convictions. As a repeat offender, Jones faces a mandatory life prison term.
New crime prevention officers appointed by the SCMPD
The SCMPD assigned Officer Bryan Harrell of the West Chatham Precinct and Advanced Patrol Officer Christopher Kersey of the Islands Precinct as the newest Crime Prevention Officers.
Duties include identifying high crime areas and crime patterns, then developing plans to reduce them. After reviewing incoming police reports, CPOs formulate plans for officers to combat crimes unique to their designated patrol area. Each precinct appoints a CPO to educate area businesspeople and residents on how to prevent crime. They also represent the precinct at public meetings.
Both officers’ ultimate goal is to unify the public and police force. “I believe in community policing,” said Kersey. “They have more eyes than we do. They see crime happening before we do.”
“I want the community as a whole to know the police department is approachable. I want the community … to be more aware of their surroundings and look out for one another,” Harrell said.
National News:
Chuck Hagel claims title of U.S. Defense Secretary
The nomination of the former Nebraska senator as defense secretary was subject to harsh criticism from some fellow Republicans over his past statements on sensitive political and national security matters. After attempts to filibuster his nomination, a voting on Tuesday in the Senate confirmed him, 58-41, as the upcoming U.S. defense secretary. But with only a handful of Republican votes in his corner. Hagel will be sworn in on Wednesday, taking the place of Leon Panetta. A former Senate colleague, President Barack Obama, called Hagel a patriot who “fought and bled for our country.” Obama said he will count on Hagel’s “counsel and judgment” as the United States ends combat operations in Afghanistan and stays “ready to meet the threats of our time.”
