Newly purchased car reported as stolen

While processing the man’s registration, an employee of the Barrow County Tag Office discovered the vehicle was listed as stolen in the Georgia Crime Information Center database.

A Winder police officer and a Barrow County Sheriff’s deputy were subsequently dispatched to the tag office to interview the man in possession of the vehicle which had been reported stolen in Dekalb County in 2009.

The man produced documentation showing that he had purchased the vehicle from the Auto Gallery in Lawrenceville. When contacted by phone, an employee of the business advised that the vehicle had been purchased through a Manheim Auto Auction in January. The business manager said the auction house was supposed to run the vehicle identification number before selling the vehicle.

An investigator with the Dekalb County Police requested that the vehicle be towed so that his agency could investigate further.

The auto buyer was provided with the Dekalb County case number and the contact information for the towing company.

Other recent incidents investigated by Winder Police include:

• domestic dispute on Walker Street. A woman and her estranged husband were having what she described as a peaceful discussion when the man reportedly used a screwdriver or an ice pick to puncture one of the tires on the woman’s vehicle. Charges of criminal trespass are expected to be filed.

• terroristic threats on Second Street. A man received a text message in which someone typed “I will kill you.” As the officer was interviewing the man, the phone rang. The man handed the officer the phone. When the officer asked who was on the line, the caller disconnected. A short time later, another text message appeared in which the sender apologized for the previous message and indicated that children had been playing with the phone.

• damage to property on Bill Rutledge Road. A woman reported that her vehicle had been damaged by a pothole on Bill Rutledge Road near Horton Street.

• violation of family violence order on Pinkston Court. A woman received numerous phone calls and voice messages from her ex-husband in violation of a court order prohibiting him from contacting her.

• burglary on Hamilton Avenue. A spray painter was stolen from a house undergoing renovations. The sprayer was later recovered in front of an abandoned house on West Wright Street.

• criminal trespass on Saint Ives Court. A woman noticed a fog light and tail light on her Toyota Highlander had been damaged.

• entering auto on Ryan Road. A radar detector, GPS unit and Ipod were stolen from an unlocked Chevrolet Silverado.

• theft by taking on Shenandoah Lane. A man accused his sister-in-law of stealing 18-24 Lortab pills from him.

• hit and run on East Athens Street. A 1999 Lexus parked at Lanier Technical College was struck by another vehicle causing damage to the driver’s side door and front panel.