Wow, 17 and almost killed someone while drunk driving!

Where are all the negative comments about police wasting resources enforcing underage drinking laws. It all changes when someone gets hurt.

I feel sorry for the hard working police officers who were delighted to hear they were finally getting a 2% raise. Not saying these guys didn't need a raise, but 17%?

How about comparing the pay and job descriptions for the school system police dept, school system security and ACCPD? Is the school police dept in place to sweep incidents under the rug or is it actually worth paying for?

Its Athens, if it isn't plead down, it will be dropped.

One argument has always been the cost of keeping the offender in jail. I don't think anyone has figured up the cost of them being out of jail. Law enforcement costs, court costs, home security system cost, property loss from theft costs, government assisted living costs (for the offender), and the most expensive is the potential loss of life to the innocent.

The savings of "work centers" are exaggerated using the ACC example. The staff salary, building and actual usage far off sets the value.

Probation has become inflated. If the offender truly wants to reform, there are no jobs here to pay their probation. Then they re-offend to pay their probation, and the circle doesn't end. Not to mention, they already know they will get probation, or in most cases, nothing at all.

I think we are paying as much or more for the repeat offenders to remain in society. The jail housing cost is just easier to perceive and one simple number.

That is some plea agreement. I wonder if he was on probation at the time of the incident.

The thugs don't live there, their baby momma's live there. The thugs just use Bethel to sell crack and stolen goods.

The only way to fix it is to send the DA there for a probation roll call and maybe a wake up to the reality he is creating.

Some deputies carry them, but the police don't.

Career probationer

The issue has never been about guns, it is about mental health consumers with guns. If the good ole' government didn't cut the funding for mental health all those years ago and dump the sick out into the general public, many of the tragedies would have been avoided.

For the politician it is easier to play smoke and mirrors instead of facing the music. We are reaping a disaster from the bad decisions of our elected officials. Instead of arguing about the instruments that deliver death, we need to be focusing on the actual people pulling the trigger.

When it isn't a mental health consumer who needs more than a government check and an internet connection, it is a criminal who has learned that probation is the only punishment.

The sad thing is, in Athens, even with making a statement like that, the jury will find him "not guilty". That is of course if the prosecutors don't make a plea deal first.

So many felonies that are NOLLE PROSEQUI. Kidnapping, burglary, robbery, all thrown out by the DA. Probably done to reach a plea deal which ends with probation. Athens is a ticking bomb.

Well that arrest just prevented a robbery and maybe worse.

@AthensRunner: I doubt the cops were "looking" for this but they can't turn their backs either. I am sure they would have been happy to get the kid and get back to other stuff. Sounds like the kids were having a dope party and got one heckuva buzz kill.

The thing I noticed is the kid who was already on probation and ran from his probation officer while skipping school. I can't imagine being on probation at 16.

A couple of years ago there was a story about a teen or college student over dosing on Aderall. And a few months ago a teen lost their life at a party without adult supervision. I don't think the police doing job was a waste of resources.

Don't worry, after a couple of months of probation he will surely change his ways and stop dealing crack. Maybe the DA will drop the cocaine charge if he gets the windshield fixed.

It is a very poor choice for an industrial site. Jackson County has spent millions on developing its corridors along I85, which for the most part are EMPTY. The lack of voter involvement has led to worthless county leaders who only want to either line their pockets or look important. This land is destined to be flipped and flipped again until it is rezoned for residential.

Moments later another 911 call, "Shots fired!"

Many officers say they live elsewhere because of the schools. It is too much to afford to be a cop and have private school. Jackson County has some very highly rated schools, much better than Clarke.

The state charge is "soliciting from a state highway" and is not specific to what kind of soliciting. I wonder if everyone knows how much in disability checks many homeless people get. They may be doing better than you think.

It is absolutely frustrating. I don't think layering levels of government is the solution. I am convinced the probation system is not the answer. At least not in the fashion it is dealt out in ACC.

These offenders need to be doing more for the community their actions have affected. Maybe a community garden that is worked by probationers that only feeds the poor. Or requiring them to clean up the troubled areas by repairing homes, painting over graffiti, or cutting grass. If the probation dollars are just going to fund the offices to take the money and isn't providing any service to the community, then it needs to be reviewed and adjusted.

The other thing that is odd is that politicians never seem to address any of these issues. Crime is a growing problem all over, mostly fueled by poverty and desperation. I would be interested in hearing the leaders ideas.

@mcdawg: I think in many cases we are looking at this wrong. Most of these criminals are living on a government check or at least get government support. But when arrested, the system says it costs too much to house them. It looks like we are housing them either way. In either case we are paying for it.

The only difference is probation systems brings in money, but it also costs money. The officers, the building, the resources, the leg monitors, etc., all require probationer and tax money to support.

I don't know the solution, but I know the amount of money and property that could be seized from drug dealers would put a dent in it. If you hit them in the wallet, eventually they will stop or move. Maybe ACC should look at interdiction on 441, 29, 78, and other major roads to get some of the drug money. It has worked for other agencies.

Maybe people would stop giving to them if they realized how many are homeless by choice. A vast majority of these "panhandlers" are receiving monthly checks for disability, social security, etc. These checks added up pretty quick. One guy on North Ave said he gets $300 a week in disability and about $50 a day in panhandling. That adds up to $2700. All three of the guys standing with him said they had an apartment near by and felt like this was their job. All reeked of alcohol and looked very cracked out. Great use of that money!

I think the newspaper should do some research on the beggers and then report back regarding tougher laws.

The NAACP has always tried to solve problems from the end working backwards. If they really wanted to fix this, they would be in the neighborhoods helping the poor before they turn to desperation.

Timothy Rd? I guess that why you are seeing roadblocks in that area. Thieves can't walk a flat screen across town.

This is a 2 man task force and does not take away from patrol or any other division. The comments suggest all 250 police officers sit down town all day busting alcohol related crimes. Maybe they should since more people die from alcohol related incidents than anything else.