Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome said alert residents helped nab a fleeing suspect this morning and while doing so, protected the safety and well being of an innocent child.
According to Newsome, officers with the Cedartown Police Department responded to a call this morning on Main Street by a concerned resident. “This individual called in to report suspicious activity of a person riffling through several other vehicles in that location and entering an auto,” Newsome said. “From that initial call, we were able to issue a BOLO (be on the lookout) for the suspect based on vehicle description.”
Newsome said that another on-duty officer spotted the suspect vehicle a short time later and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. A chase ensued in the area of North Main Street. It ended when the suspect vehicle jumped a curb near the former Portabello’s restaurant, disabling the car. Officers then observed a female, since identified as 33-year-old Carrie Hunter, exit the vehicle carrying a small child. She fled the scene on foot, child in arms, and attempted to elude officers.
“Thanks to some quick thinking and observation by a citizen who was working on renovations at the restaurant during this whole ordeal, the worker saw what transpired and was able to detain the female until our officers were able to take over. Another worker also assisted in caring for the young child while the arrest was made,” Newsome said. “Certainly, we do not want our residents to be put in harm’s way during times like this, but in this case – from the observant individual that alerted us to the initial suspicious activity, to the workers that aided our officers in the apprehension of our suspect, this was a great example of our citizens coming together to aide our law officers. For that, we are thankful. And we are very thankful that the child is safe. Our officers did not know there was a child in that car.”
Newsome said the four-year-old child did not belong to Hunter. The child was identified as the son of Hunter’s boyfriend.
Hunter was taken into custody and charged with obstructing law enforcement, drugs to be kept in original container, cruelty to children in the second degree, entering an auto with the intent to commit a crime, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving, fleeing and attempting to elude, safety belt violation and a probation warrant from Floyd County.
The child, unharmed, was reunited with his mother this morning shortly after the incident took place.