The Sandy Springs Police Department released more information Wednesday morning about yesterday’s suspicious person investigation, which shut down a polling place at a nearby elementary school, delaying results by four hours in Fulton County.
On May 19, Sandy Springs police officers responded to a suspicious person call involving a male in military-style gear, who entered a wooded area near Morgan Falls Overlook Park following an alleged dispute with another citizen. Two people were arrested, and the investigation remains active.
During the investigation, a 911 caller reported hearing possible gunshots in the area, prompting a large police response in northwest Sandy Springs. A nearby polling place at Ison Springs Elementary School shut down out of an abundance of caution, and voting was extended until 11:02 p.m.
Joint-agency investigation
As of 11 a.m. on May 20, Sandy Springs investigators have found no evidence indicating the incident was related to voting or election activity.
Officers later located a suspect, James Andrew Dutton, in the parking lot of Morgan Falls Overlook Park. Dutton is charged with two counts of possession of a firearm in a city park and one count of possession of alcohol in a city park.
Investigators are also continuing to determine whether the reported gunshots were connected to this incident, the announcement said. The assisting agencies that supported the search and investigation include FBI Atlanta, Homeland Security Investigations, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Cobb County Police K9, North Fulton SWAT, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office K9, and Fulton County Police SWAT.
Following an extensive search, a second suspect, Elisha Deaton, was also taken into custody. Deaton was located in Cobb County, just across the Chattahoochee River near Aven Road and Conway Drive, and charged with one count of possession of a firearm in a city park and one count of possession of alcohol in a city park.
