Suspect congratulates cop for finding gun

A man congratulated a Braselton officer for finding a well-hidden gun during a traffic stop in which methamphetamine was also found.

Braselton police were helping a Hoschton officer during a traffic stop on Ga. Hwy. 53, when the Winder Police Department was asked to bring a K-9 unit to possibly find drugs in the suspect’s vehicle.

The dog alerted police of a positive “hit” on the vehicle and the officers began searching the suspect’s vehicle.

Methamphetamine was found in a bag inside an address book in the vehicle, police said.

While looking at the vehicle’s radio, a Braselton officer said its installment seemed suspicious.

The officer removed a panel near the radio and found a hidden handgun. The weapon was given to a Hoschton officer.

The suspect later asked the Braselton officer how he found the weapon, according to an incident report. The officer said he had been trained to find hidden compartments in vehicles.

The suspect “gave me a big smile and looked away,” the officer wrote. The suspect also said, “Good job, good job, d**n it.”

Hoschton police charged Randall T. Brown, 30, 3670 Lavilla Drive, Powder Springs, with possession of methamphetamine, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, possession of firearms during a crime, speeding and license restriction violation.

Hoschton police said they also found night vision goggles, gloves and an extremely large number of cell phones in his vehicle. All of the items are possible indicators of thefts or burglaries, police said.

Graffiti suspects mark another building

Another Braselton building was spray painted with graffiti, according to police.

The former Mitsubishi building — located on Cherry Drive — was targeted by graffiti suspects on June 22. The building is located next to Zion Baptist Church, which was spray painted with pro-marijuana and anti-war messages earlier in June.

This time, the messages included obscene language aimed at police, the United States, Jesus and God. There was also numerous smiling faces, skulls with cross bones, “666” and other unknown symbols painted on the building, according to an incident report.

Police responded to the building after a burglar alarm sounded. A doorknob was broken off one of the building’s rear entrances.

An officer said when he was driving to the building, he noticed a gold or tan Chrysler Sebring convertible with a headlight out leaving Jesse Cronic Road and turning onto Ga. Hwy. 124. The building has a rear entrance to Jesse Cronic Road.

Braselton Incidents
The following incidents were reported to the Braselton Police Department last week:

•dispute at a Spirit Falls Court address, where a man said he believes that his neighbor went onto his property and dumped grass clippings in a gully behind his house.

•entering a motor vehicle with intent to commit a theft at Haverty’s, Broadway Avenue, where a woman said someone stole her purse from her vehicle when it was parked in the distribution center’s parking lot. The woman left her windows rolled down because of the extreme heat. The grounds crew at Haverty’s found the woman’s purse behind a building. The wallet, along with two credit cards, a debit card, a store credit card, driver’s license, Social Security card and checkbook were missing.

•theft by taking at a Mossy Oak Landing address, where a woman said someone stole her son’s bicycle, valued at $600.

•damage to property at a Loowit Falls Court address, where a woman said a concrete truck damaged her yard and sidewalk during a project. The woman had not given permission for the truck to be on her property. A contractor fixed the sidewalk, but not the yard to her satisfaction. The contractor contacted other contractors to repair the yard, but they never arrived at her house. The contractor called the woman several times asking to finish the job so he could get the remainder of his money. The woman said once the repairs are done, she would give him his money. The woman thought the contractor was hiding in a nearby vacant house.

•financial transaction card theft at CVS, Spout Springs Road, where a woman said her credit card had been “cloned.” The woman said someone tried to charge $117 at the store. She also noticed several other unknown transactions on her credit card for the past two months.

•theft by taking at the Chateau Elan Legends Clubhouse, where a woman said she left her purse on a golf cart and went inside the clubhouse. When she returned, it was missing. The woman said $200 in cash and a $488 check from Chateau Elan were inside of the purse.

•stolen vehicle recovered on Ga. Hwy. 53, where a man said during a traffic stop that his vehicle was initially reported stolen in Gwinnett County several weeks ago. The man said once his girlfriend returned the vehicle, he called Gwinnett County police to report that the vehicle wasn’t missing. The vehicle was still registered as a missing vehicle, according to emergency dispatchers.

•domestic dispute at a Piedmont Avenue address, where a mother and daughter hit and bit each other during a dispute. The daughter stayed at a friend’s house for the evening.

•damage to property on I-85, where a man driving on the interstate said his tire came off his vehicle and hit a guardrail. The tire bounced back and hit another vehicle, which was damaged.

Braselton Arrest
The Braselton Police Department made the following arrest last week:

•Richard Lynn Landers, 64, 7056 Saratoga Drive, Flowery Branch, failure to maintain lane, driving without license on person and DUI.