Atlanta, GA
Dramatic Atlanta police chase ends in high-speed crash, 3 children rescued unharmed
ATLANTA – Dramatic video released by Atlanta police shows a high-speed chase and crash involving a man with at least 37 previous arrests who ran from officers with three children in an SUV.
It started just after 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 20, 2023, at a gas station along Jonesboro Road SE near Interstate 285. Surveillance video shows how it all began.
“A male opened fire at a gas station while multiple people were outside,” said Officer Torez Griffie with the Atlanta Police Department.
Witnesses at the scene recounted that a man, driving a gray Jeep Cherokee, had fired shots towards a building before hastily fleeing the location. Fortunately, despite several people in the vicinity, no one was injured, and the shots only left damage to the property.
“I saw the vehicle matching the description.” Officer Griffie said. “He was driving erratic, crazy, all over the road.”
Officers were able to quickly issue a lookout bulletin for the SUV. Units were able to catch up with the SUV about a block away, in a fast-food drive-thru.
The driver, later identified as 39-year-old William Burris, ignored the traffic stop. After releasing a passenger from the vehicle, Burris sped off. She was frantic. Police say her children, ages 8, 7 and 4 were still in the vehicle. “She just started hollering and screaming,” Griffie said.
3 kids in car during high-speed chase of repeat offender
William Burris, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history totaling 37 previous arrest cycles, was taken into custody after high-speed police chase on Dec. 20, 2023. This video is provided by the Atlanta Police Department.
Griffie said the driver led him and other officers through Atlanta, into Forest Park and back into Atlanta.
“The driver was driving extremely recklessly, high rates of speed throughout city streets,” Griffie said.
The vehicle ended up in the area of 2000 Lakewood Ave. The suspect swerved in front of an officer, contacting the front driver-side of the patrol vehicle and effectively executing a PIT maneuver on himself. The SUV slammed through a utility pole, snapping it into pieces and ended up in a grassy area off the roadway.
“I tried to set up for a PIT maneuver. He maneuvered himself in front of me, trying to avoid the pit maneuver, and he spun out,” Griffie said.
Officers discovered the three young children inside the SUV. The children were promptly moved to a place of safety for medical evaluation due to complaints of pain.
“My heart dropped when I saw those children.” Griffie said. “I just wanted make sure that they were safe.”
Meanwhile, officers worked to extract Burris from the vehicle.
Officers, pointing Tasers at Burris, pulled him from the front of the SUV and out of the driver-side door. He was then placed in handcuffs and led away.
William Burris, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history totaling 37 previous arrest cycles, was taken into custody. A firearm was recovered from the passenger area of the suspect’s vehicle.
Burris now faces a litany of charges, including fleeing and eluding, driving while license suspended, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of certain felonies, three counts of kidnapping, three counts of first degree cruelty to children, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree criminal damage to property, and failure to report striking a fixed object.
He initially was taken to the Grady Detention Center for treatment for injuries he received in the crash, but was later booked into the Fulton County Jail.
ATLANTA – A 17-year-old male is recovering after being shot in the foot on Christmas Eve, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
Officers responded to Grady Memorial Hospital around 10:39 p.m. on Dec. 24, after receiving a report of a gunshot victim. The teenager was being treated by medical staff for a gunshot wound to his left foot.
Preliminary information suggests the shooting may have occurred near 609 Thurmond Street NW. Investigators from the department’s Aggravated Assault Unit are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Authorities emphasized that details are subject to change as the investigation continues.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – An Atlanta police officer made a 12-year-old boy’s Christmas a little brighter this year.
On Monday, Officer Sebastian Kertchaval surprised 12-year-old Amir with a PlayStation 5, police said in a social media post.
Police said Kertchaval met Amir and his family over the summer while “responding to a 911 call for an unruly child.”
During that visit, Kertchaval saw that Amir was upset with his mother and grandmother.
“And though tensions were high in their home, Ofc. Kertchaval remained patient with Amir, and took the time to positively connect with Amir and was ultimately able to de-escalate the upset child,” police said.
Since that first meeting, Amir’s grandmother has kept Kertchaval updated on Amir’s “increasingly positive behavior throughout the year.”
After hearing of Amir’s progress, Kertchaval bought Amir a new PlayStation 5 for both Christmas and as a reward for his progress.
“Thank you, Officer Kertchaval, for your dedication to community policing and for being a positive example during this holiday season,” police said.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – You may experience order delays if you are headed to a Starbucks on Christmas Eve. Some workers in Metro Atlanta are on strike.
Representatives with Starbucks Workers United tell Atlanta News First they feel underpaid and understaffed and are protesting the lack of progress in contract negotiation with the company.
Starbucks union workers in Alpharetta are making their voices heard loud and clear. They allege unfair labor practices.
“When Starbucks workers first started to unionize, they gave non-union workers pay raises and the partners that were unionized didn’t get that until later and so they’re owed back pay,” said Danielle Stolton, Shift supervisor at the Alpharetta store.
Stolton said she has been a part of the bargaining process.
“Personally, last year was the worst year,” she said. “I had a mental breakdown, actually.”
Stolton and others planned this one-day strike to stand in solidarity with over 5,000 workers at more than 300 stores that are protesting.
Strikes have been going on in some places since last Friday. Some baristas said they want better pay and better benefits.
“I know baristas in my store personally who are having to choose between gas or groceries so when you see problems like that it’s really hard to not feel some type of way about the fact that Starbucks made 24 billion dollars in profit this year, two percent more than last year and we’re still seeing two percent pay raises,” said Vivek G, a Starbucks employee.
Starbucks Workers United said the company failed to honor a commitment made in February.
In a statement to Atlanta News First, Starbucks said:
“Only around 170 Starbucks stores did not open as planned. With over 10,000 company-operated stores, 98% of our stores and nearly 200,000 green apron partners continuing to operate and serve customers during the holidays,” the coffeechain added.
Some workers feel differently.
“It’s just basic living wages and also again to reiterate is just to have. We’re asking for minimum staffing and realistic expectations and just the ability to run our floors and run our stores in a way that makes the most sense. They say they want to hear us, they say they want to listen but every time we ask for help, we get told no,” Stolton said.
Copyright 2024 WANF. All rights reserved.
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