Flora Lorene Harlow, 39, was arrested Sunday at a homeless camp in the vicinity of Old Hull Road and the Athens Perimeter where she slashed a tent with a knife during a dispute with a man with whom she lived in the tent, Athens-Clarke County police said.

Harlow was charged with criminal trespass/damage to property, police said, and the man she had fought with, 37-year-old Dustin Eddy James was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Richmond County.

A resident of the Stonehenge neighborhood last week called police to report finding a small amount of marijuana on her dining room table, and when officers arrived to investigate they arrested the woman’s daughter because they learned a judge issued a bench warrant for her arrest on charges of second-degree burglary, entering an automobile and theft by taking, Athens-Clarke County police said.

Kaliyah Tykera Walter, 20, who denied the weed was hers, was upset with her mother for calling police, according to a police report.

Anthony Bernard Burgess Jr., 21, was arrested last Friday after he allegedly put a gun to the head of the woman he recently married and threatened to kill her, Athens-Clarke County police said.

He reportedly got upset when the 22-year-old victim refused to give him a car ride to Oglethorpe County. The woman told him she would not drive him because she just got home from a job interview and had work to do on someone’s hair, according to police.

Burgess allegedly told his wife he was “tired of this” and grabbed her by the neck as if to strangle her, police said. When the woman kicked him, Burgess allegedly pulled a gun from his pants waistband, put it to her head and, referring to their young daughter, reportedly said, “I’ll let her see you die right now.”

After attempting to take the phone from his wife as she called 911, Burgess left the scene when picked up by his mother. When arrested later on, Burgess was charged with a felony probation violation, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and obstruction of a 911 call. The gun charge stemmed from Burgess’ conviction in 2014 on a burglary charge.

Anyone who is in an abusive relationship can seek advice and services by calling Project Safe’s 24-hour hotline at (706) 543-3331, or by visiting http://www.project-safe.org .

A thief entered a home in the 1000 block of West Hancock Avenue by busting a window between 4:30 and 7 p.m. Friday and proceeded to steal a Kindle, computer tablet, GPS unit, wallet, watch and extension cords altogether valued at $1,330, Athens-Clarke County police said.

Three purported Athens gang members were indicted this week in connection with an April shooting at Rolling Ridge Apartments.

A Clarke County Superior Court grand jury returned an indictment Tuesday accusing Vantrec Arnell Ballard and Toney Martavious Barnett with four counts each of violating the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism Prevention Act. Taveon Rashawn Stevens is charged with six counts of violating the anti-gang statute.

The shooting may have been the result of a dispute between the Billy and Piru gangs,  according to Lt. Mike Tyndell, commanding officer of the Athens-Clarke County police Robbery Homicide Unit.

“We are hearing that this was related to some unacceptable behavior by possible members of the Piru gang,” Tyndell said.

Ballard, Barnett and Stevens each participated in the shooting “with the intent to maintain and increase his status” within their gang, according to the indictment.

Though no one was injured in the April 10 incident, innocent bystanders with young children ducked for cover, while several apartments were damaged by gunfire, including a home where a woman told police a bullet passed through the wall of her son's bedroom.

Police responding to the shooting chased after a car seen speeding from the apartment complex. The vehicle wrecked and its occupants fled, eluding police.

Tyndell said the suspects were identified “by associating evidence involving the vehicle involved in the pursuit as well as information provided by residents who recognized this behavior as very dangerous to themselves and came forward to assist in making their neighborhood a safe place to live,”

Police recovered three guns during the investigation, Tyndell said.

Earlier this year, when addressing an increase in gang-related violence that in November resulted in an innocent bystander being killed by gunfire, Police Chief Scott Freeman said the anti-gang law would be used whenever possible in charging gang members. The law provides for enhanced sentences upon conviction.

“The decision to pursue charges for violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act demonstrates our commitment that we are serious about addressing gangs here, and we are not simply turning our heads to criminal gang activity,” Freeman said in February.

Follow criminal justice reporter Joe Johnson at www.facebook.com/JoeJohnsonABH or www.twitter.com/JoeJohnsonABH .

An Athens woman allegedly physically and sexually abused her 8-year-old daughter and used the child as means to meet men online, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

In addition to allegedly taking indecent photographs of the child that she posted to various websites to meet the men, 32-year-old Destiny Delana Rosenberger would take the girl with her when meeting dates, police said.

Rosenberger also allegedly punched her daughter when the girl did not want to participate in her mother's schemes, and grabbed the victim by the neck and head while in the shower to force water into the girl’s nose and mouth, according to police.

“The suspect created photographic profiles of herself which were shared on different websites to solicit men,” said Lt. Jeff Clark, commanding officer of the Athens-Clarke County police Sex Crimes Unit.

“The suspect often took the victim with her while meeting these men,” Clark said.

The alleged abuse occurred in Athens between Feb. 1 and March 7, according to police, and also prior to moving here from Florida.

Authorities learned details of the alleged abuse from the child when she underwent a forensic interview, according to Clark.

Rosenberger was arrested Thursday night on warrants charging her with first-degree child cruelty, child molestation, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual battery and sexual exploitation of a minor.

She was being held at the Clarke County Jail without bail.

Police said the young victim was in the custody of a family member.

Follow Criminal Justice reporter Joe Johnson at www.facebook.com/JoeJohnsonABH

A Pennsylvania woman was very concerned for the welfare of her mentally-ill son after he went missing from his hometown last month, briefly resurfaced this week in pajamas along a busy Athens highway and once again cannot be accounted for.

Adam Farrell, 26, reportedly left his home in Scranton, Pa. in May without money or a vehicle. He is delusional and is said by his mother to be extremely at risk due to his behavior.

“He thinks he is God most of the time and he talks to my dog, which passed away a year ago,” said Marie Deverman Jones.

Farrell also believes he is followed by the mob, and because he has no medication is liable to “go off the deep end” if provoked, according to his mother.

“A couple of times he sucker punched someone because he thought they were the devil,” Deverman Jones said. “I am afraid is he meets a police officer that is not too friendly, that could be the end of him.”

The man was fortunate to have run across some sympathetic police in Athens Monday morning, when they found him walking along the Athens Perimeter while clad in pajamas.

Police persuaded Farrell to go with them to Athens Regional Medical Center, where they left him with security personnel with hopes he would speak to a doctor. An officer later contacted Deverman Jones to let her know where her son was, and that police in Athens were unable to detain him because he was an adult who had not committed a crime and did not appear to be an imminent threat to himself or others.

“He did explain the law to me, but Adam puts on a good front. He will say everything is all right,” Deverman Jones said.

It was unknown what happened to Farrrell after he was taken to the hospital.

Deverman Jones remains hopeful that if her son was still in the Athens area and someone might see him and call the Scranton Police Department at (570) 348-4141.

The distraught mother said she would even immediately drive to Athens to get her son should be found.

“I will pray for his safe return,” Deverman Jones said.

She can be reached at (570) 357-3068.

Follow Criminal Justice reporter Joe Johnson at www.facebook.com/JoeJohnsonABH

A University of Georgia student was arrested early Saturday in connection with a disturbance at a bar downtown, and when taken to jail was found to have cocaine in his pocket, Athens-Clarke County police said.

Ali Rezvan, 23, was being escorted out of Jerzees Sportsbar at about 2:10 a.m. when an officer who was in the area witnessed him scuffling with en employee, according to police.

He was arrested for disorderly conduct and later charged with felony cocaine possession when the drug was found during a search at the Clarke County Jail, police said.

Firearms and other sporting goods with a total value of about $3,000 reportedly were stolen during a burglary at the Baxter Street home of a high school coach, Athens-Clarke County police said.

The thieves kicked in a back door soon before 5 p.m. and stole, among other belongings, a rifle, shotgun, pistol, video game consoles, fishing gear and outdoors clothing, according to police.

Quintavious Lamor Johnson, 20, was arrested early last Saturday after he damaged his former girlfriend’s car by punching the windshield and badly injuring himself in the process, Athens-Clarke County police said.

Johnson was bleeding profusely when taken into custody, at which time police said he was found to have crack cocaine in his pocket.

He was charged with second-degree criminal damage, possession of cocaine and obstruction, police said. After his wounded hand was treated at St. Mary’s Hospital, Johnson reportedly used that same hand to punch the holding cell he was put into at the Clarke County Jail.

Christine Joy Buice, 38, of Whitehead Road was arrested early last Saturday at Normal Bar on Prince Avenue where she caused a drunken scene, Athens-Clarke County police said.

Bar employees called police shortly after 2 a.m. to report Buice was creating problems and refusing to leave. The woman reportedly behaved belligerently toward police and used vulgar language. Officers had to carry Buice to a patrol car after she went limp, according to police.

When in the car, Buice reportedly told police about how her uncle was a high-powered attorney and that when she was 20 years old was charged with a felony for kicking a police officer.

Buice was charged with criminal trespass to property and public intoxication.

The death penalty has been taken off the table in the case of a man and woman accused of murdering a pregnant clerk and her unborn child six years ago at a convenience store in west Athens.

In agreements reached two weeks ago with prosecutors, Clarence McCord III and Shameeka Watson waived their right to a jury trial in return for the death penalty not being sought in the 2010 deaths of 25-year-old Kejuan Hall and her child.

Instead of arguing in front of a jury, prosecuting and defense attorneys will present their respective cases before a judge who will decide both the verdicts and sentences.

"Based on the fact that both defendants agreed to waive their right to a jury trial, and after consulting with the family of the victim, we thought that it was in the best interest for the state and for all concerned that the state withdraw its notice to seek death against these two defendants,” Western Judicial Circuit Ken Mauldin said.

Mauldin said he expects the defendants will have back-to-back bench trials, possibly in the next few months. Watson and McCord are to be tried separately because they have antagonistic defenses.

Having a bench trial means proceedings move swiftly and efficiently. Without having to pick a jury, prosecuting and defense attorneys make their respective cases to Western Judicial Circuit Chief Judge David Sweat. Sweat has presided over the cases since the beginning and is thoroughly familiar with much of the evidence.

During the prolonged pretrial phase of the murder case, mental health issues were repeatedly raised by attorneys for Watson, who has undergone evaluations and spent time incarcerated at a state psychiatric hospital.

Sweat is ideal for Watson’s bench trial, as he is the presiding judge of the judicial circuit’s Treatment and Accountability Court, one of the state’s first such courts to be docketed solely with cases involving offenders with mental illness and disabilities. Sweat founded the specialized court in 2008.

In addition to mental health issues, the Hall murder case involves statements from eyewitnesses who themselves have died since the slaying. Sweat is familiar with the arguments for and against use of the statements at trial and has ruled the statements were admissible as evidence.

The murder case involves a gruesome crime that occurred the night of Dec. 30, 2010. A single mother with an 8-year old daughter and pregnant with another child, Hall was working the night shift as a clerk at the Golden Pantry convenience store at Atlanta Highway and Timothy Road.

Hall was stabbed 31 times by two different weapons in the store’s office, possibly a knife and screwdriver, according to authorities. Hall’s head was covered with a box when her body was found by customers.

Athens-Clarke County police said the motive for Hall’s murder was robbery, and they arrested Watson and McCord a month after the crime after receiving a call from a tipster who identified them as suspects.

One of the deceased witnesses was Jeffrey Collins, an alcoholic who was seeking a handout at the Golden Pantry the night Hall was killed.

According to court documents, Collins told authorities he went to Golden Pantry trying to get free beer and cigarettes from Hall, but the clerk refused him any handouts and told him to leave.

Later that night, Collins returned to the store, and just prior to entering reportedly heard sounds of “a ruckus, yelling and screaming” coming from inside. When he entered the store, Hall was no longer at the counter and in her place was a heavyset woman. When asking the woman about the noises she told him, “It is OK, they are having sex or fighting” in the office. The woman further told Collins “something about (them) being roommates and he thinks she may be cheating on him,” according to court documents.

As the woman followed Collins through the store, a man emerged from the office carrying a broom and told Collins that the store was about to close. Collins told the man he was an alcoholic and needed something to drink and some cigarettes. According to court documents, the man told Collins he would not give him anything to drink since he was in Alcoholics Anonymous, but he gave Collins a pack of cigarettes.

Collins left, but later returned to Golden Pantry and encountered Doni Carnes, a local self-employed painter who went to the convenience store to purchase some Goody’s Powder. Hall was no longer at the checkout counter.

As Carnes yelled for the clerk, Collins went into the office and found Hall on the floor. He placed a box on the murdered clerk’s head and ran out of the office, telling Carnes there was blood everywhere and he needed to call the police.

Authorities say the heavy-set woman behind the store counter was Watson and the man who gave Collins cigarettes was McCord.

Collins died seven months after the murder, and Carnes died in 2014.

In addition to statements from the deceased witnesses, the case against McCord and Watson includes physical evidence.

During pretrial hearings, prosecutors revealed McCord’s fingerprints were lifted from the pack of cigarettes Collins received from the man inside Golden Pantry.

McCord’s DNA was said by prosecutors to have been identified from blood found at the crime scene.

Follow Criminal Justice reporter Joe Johnson at www.facebook.com/JoeJohnsonABH or www.twitter.com/JoeJohnsonABH.

Malik Travious Tuggle, 19, of West Broad Street, was charged with reckless driving by an officer who saw him showing off in his 1997 Chevrolet Impala in the parking lot of Sam’s Food Mart on Atlanta Highway, Athens-Clarke County police said.

After spinning the car’s tires and racing across the parking lot where there were other vehicles and pedestrians, Tuggle told the officer he was “showing off to another old school car” he’d seen there, according to police.

Kinarious Faust, 21, of Martin Court, was arrested after he was stopped for speeding on the Athens Perimeter the same day he reportedly obtained his driver’s license, and evidence of drug dealing was found in his car, according to police.

There were 50 grams of pot in a compartment, according to police, and Faust was carrying more than $800 in his pocket, which an officer found to be a “strange” amount to be carrying without a wallet.

Faust was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Andrew Bradford Carter, 30, of Lilburn, was arrested early June 4 after interfering with a police investigation downtown, authorities say.

Officers were arresting 23-year-old Thomas Robinson at East Clayton and North Jackson streets for fighting when Bradford kept interfering and not obeying commands to stay back, according to police.

An officer shot Carter with a Taser when he resisted arrest. Carter was charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and obstruction.

A University of Georgia student was arrested early June 4 after she purposely broke three beer bottles while an officer was watching her outside General Beauregard’s on East Clayton Street, Athens-Clarke County police said.

After knocking one bottle off a railing in an outdoor drinking area of the bar, Sydney Grace Shelton was told by friends to stop as the officer watched her, but the 23-year-old proceeded to knock down two more bottles, according to police.

“She had no legal explanation for her behavior, only that she didn’t know any better,” the officer wrote in a police report.

Shelton was charged with public intoxication.

Bryson Markese Appling, 23, of Stafford Drive, was arrested early June 4 after being caught burglarizing a home in the 300 block of Deer Park Drive, Athens-Clarke County police said.

Responding to a 5:30 a.m. alarm activation, police saw someone peeking through a window of the home. After initially attempting to leave through a window, police said, Appling bolted from the front door and was captured after being shot with a Taser. He was charged with first-degree burglary.

Mario Antwon Skelton, 34, was arrested early June 5 after he threatened to kill his girlfriend and their 10-month-old son at their home at Lake Place Apartments on Michele Drive, Athens-Clarke County police said.

He left but was found and arrested at Parkview Homes, at which time it was discovered he was wanted in Michigan in connection with a family violence incident, according to police.

Skelton was charged with two counts of terroristic threats and acts, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and obstruction of a 911 call.

Anna Marie Carrollton, 25, of West Hancock Avenue, was arrested early Thursday after being accused of trying to steal nail polish at Walgreens on Hawthorne Avenue, Athens-Clarke County police said.

A responding officer recognized Carrollton from past shoplifting arrests, but when her purse was searched no stolen items were in it, according to police. She was arrested, however, because she had outstanding warrants for a previous shoplifting incident and a probation violation.

Anna Marie Carrollton, 25, of West Hancock Avenue, was arrested early Thursday after being accused of trying to steal nail polish at Walgreens on Hawthorne Avenue, Athens-Clarke County police said.

A responding officer recognized Carrollton from past shoplifting arrests, but when her purse was searched no stolen items were in it, according to police. She was arrested, however, because she had outstanding warrants for a previous shoplifting incident and a probation violation.

A woman filed a police report Wednesday against a former jail bunkmate of her boyfriend she said was harassing her in an attempt to get her to “slip him some pills” from a pharmacy where she worked, Athens-Clarke County police said.

Police said they told the woman how to obtain a harassment warrant and a temporary restraining order.