Cumming Man Arrested, Accused of Stealing Prescription Drugs

The suspect is accused of stealing a large amount of prescription medications.

A Cumming man is in custody after police say he broke into a drug store to steal prescription drugs. Christopher John Moran, of Piney Grove Road, is suspected of forcing his way through an exterior door of Goodson Drug Company located in downtown Cumming around 2:30 a.m. on March 31, according to authorities. He is accused of stealing a large amount of prescription medications. Investigators with the Cumming Police Department and Forsyth County Sheriff's Office were able to identify and locate Moran. He was taken into custody without incident on April 2. Moran is being held without bond at the Forsyth County Detention Center on charges of burglary and fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance by theft. Editor's Note: An arrest does not…

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Cumming Has New Chief of Police

Scott Burgess, Chief of Police for the City of Cumming, stepped down from his position Monday due to health concerns.

For the past three years Scott Burgess has been the Chief of Police for the City of Cumming in both a temporary and permanent capacity. On Monday, Feb. 13, he officially stepped down from his position citing health concerns, according to a news release. Former Assistant Chief Casey Tatum has been selected by the City of Cumming to replace Burgess. The news release states that Tatum will assume the role of Chief of Police immediately. Tatum's law enforcement career spans a 25 year period with 15 of those years of service with the City of Cumming. Sgt. Clyde Cook has been selected by the city and Chief Tatum to assume the role of Assistant Chief effective immediately. Cook has been with the Cumming Police Department for seven years.

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Man Found Dead in Vehicle Near Cumming Fairgrounds

Authorities have ruled the death a suicide.

A Forsyth County man was found dead in a parked vehicle early Tuesday morning. According to Sgt. Bryan Zimbardi with the Cumming Police Department, the man's vehicle was found around 12:30 a.m. in a parking lot across from the Cumming Fairgrounds. Zimbardi said the 38-year-old man was dead upon the officer's arrival. "The man suffered a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head," said Zimbardi. The man's vehicle was located through a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) after the victim's wife filed a missing person report with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office around 6 p.m. Monday. The man's name has not been released and foul play is not suspected. Zimbardi said the man's death has been ruled a suicide.

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Officer with Cumming Police Department Receives Award

Officer Tracy Lynn See-Holbrook of the Cumming Police Department receives public safety award for outstanding service.

The Piedmont Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution presented a Public Safety Award to Officer Tracy Lynn See-Holbrook of the Cumming Police Department during the first city council meeting of the new year Tuesday night. Holbrook, the communications director for the department, was nominated by Police Chief Scott Burgess for her outstanding service to her fellow officers and the citizens of Cumming. "Our officers are much safer on the streets with Tracy at the helm," said Burgess. "She knows what she's doing and she knows her job." Holbrook, who previously worked for the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office in the 911 center, has been with the police department since 2008. "I enjoy where I work and I have a very good boss," she said. …

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Local Cops are Reaching Out to Forsyth County Kids

Local deputies and police officers will be joining the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 82 in their "FOP Cops and Kids" holiday event Wednesday evening at Walmart.

Local deputies and police officers are getting together for the annual "FOP Cops and Kids©" shopping event Wednesday evening. The event, hosted by the Sgt. D.P. Land Memorial Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 82 , will begin at 6 p.m. at Walmart located at 1500 Market Place Boulevard in Cumming. This year the FOP is sponsoring 59 needy children in Forsyth County and is looking for about 40 officers to show up in uniform or in "police" attire to help the children shop for holiday gifts. Each sponsored child between the ages of 3 and 14 will receive $125 to spend during the shopping. "It's one officer per family," said Sgt. Chris Shelton of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and FOP President. "So if they have a family of one or a …

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Cumming Crime Corner & Fire

Smell of Marijuana Leads to Arrests

This activity report is a selection of local incidents from Oct. 10-17.

Sections of this report are provided by the Cumming Police Department, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and/or the Forsyth County Fire Department. The Cumming Crime Corner and Fire is a public service to the community and is not a complete listing of all crime and fire activity. An arrest does not indicate a conviction. Product Demonstrator Intoxicated on Stolen Wine From Kroger  Oct. 16, a deputy from the North Precinct responded to Kroger on Freedom Parkway for a report of shoplifting and public drunkenness. The store manager reported that an outside product demonstrator working close to the alcohol section of the store was being loud, stumbled and fell. When she had to help him get up after the fall, she escorted the 40-year-old man …

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Cumming Police Officer Recognized by Mayor

Officer Burrell Sullivan received his certificate from Mayor H. Ford Gravitt for completing the "420 Hours of the Field Training Program" with the Cumming Police Department.

Officer Burrell Sullivan was given a certificate by Mayor H. Ford Gravitt on Tuesday night for successfully completing the "420 Hours of the Field Training Program" with the Cumming Police Department. According to Assistant Chief Casey Tatum, every officer has to complete three phases of field training before he or she is ready to go on patrol alone. The program teaches individuals seeking a career as an officer of the law the rules and regulations, the knowledge, skills and abilities to become a "good police officer." Sullivan graduated in April of this year from the police academy and entered the field training program with the Cumming P.D. shortly thereafter. "[Officer Sullivan] has shown nothing but an excited attitude towards the job …

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Cumming Police Launches Weapon Safety Program

The Cumming Police Department is launching a new community outreach program on weapon safety and more.

Have you ever wanted to learn more about weapon safety? Now is your opportunity--in December the Cumming Police Department launches a new community outreach program to educate residents about weapon safety and Georgia firearms law. "We are hoping this will turn into a big turnout in the local community," said Sgt. Bryan Zimbardi, spokesman for Cumming P.D. The Firearms Safety Seminar is geared specifically towards civilians and will cover topics that are frequently discussed with law enforcement officers, such as: The course will be led by three members of the police department, Officer Jonathan Clapp, NRA and Private Firearms Instructor, Det. John Coffman, P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standards and Training) Certified Instructor and Firearms …

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Thieves Rob Local Beverage Shop by Cutting Out Small Hole in Back

The hole is not much larger than the size of an 8X10 sheet of paper.

Beverage Depot II is the latest Cumming business to be robbed. Thieves apparently forced their way in by cutting a small hole in the back wall of the store located on Highway 9 across from Andean Chevrolet. It is suspected that the robbery happened in the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 4, according to a news release by Sgt. Bryan Zimbardi with the Cumming Police Department. The thieves allegedly crawled into the opening, not much larger than an 8X10 sheet of paper, and made their way into the store. The owner, John Chi, told Cumming Patch he was notified of the break-in by his security company at 6:12 a.m., authorities were notified a minute later. Chi said police officers were on the scene within five minutes. But it was too late. …

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iPhone Shows “Pill King” In Action

This activity report is a selection of local incidents from August 8-August 15.

Sections of this report are provided by the Cumming Police Department, the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and/or the Forsyth County Fire Department. The Cumming Crime Corner and Fire is a public service to the community and is not a complete listing of all crime and fire activity. This report does not indicate a conviction. Burglary At Pier 29 August 15. Forsyth County Sheriff's Office deputies from the North Zone responded to a second burglary call from Pier 29 on Browns Bridge Road. The first call came in on August 14, and deputies learned the alarm had been activated at three points within the restaurant; the storage room, the bar and side door. Deputies met with the owners who told them apparently someone had climbed onto the roof and…

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