Fatal shooting in Union County, GBI investigating
News September 7, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County Sheriff Office (UCSO) contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to assist with a now fatal shooting investigation in Blairsville, Ga.
It’s been concluded that the incident occurred between Panfile Giammarco, 48, and Marion Joseph West, 63, near Mahaffey Place. No arrests have been made at this time.
Giammarco suffered a gunshot wound and received treatment at a local hospital. He later died. The GBI medical examiner is expected to conduct an autopsy.
Information from GBI:
Blairsville, GA (September 6, 2020) – On Sunday, September 6, 2020, at approximately 10:45 AM, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Regional Office in Cleveland was requested to assist the Union County Sheriff’s Office with a shooting investigation in the area of Mahaffey Place, Blairsville, Georgia.
During the investigation, it was determined that the shooting was as a result of an incident between Panfilo Giammarco, 48, and Marion Joseph West Jr., 63 of Blairsville, Georgia. Giammarco was shot and transported to the local hospital where he later died. A GBI Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy on Giammarco on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
No arrests have been made. Upon completion of the investigation it will be provided to the Enotah Judicial Circuit District Attorney for review.
Fetch Your News will update this story as soon as more information becomes available.
Two arrested on sexual exploitation of children charges
News, Police & Government, Press Release February 14, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, agents with the GBI Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, executed search warrants at two residences in Union County, Georgia. The search warrants were related to two separate investigations related to the sexual exploitation of children. As a result of the investigations, the following individuals were arrested and charged with the following crimes:
- Steven Hildebrant, age 41, of Blairsville, GA charged with one count of Possession of Child Pornography.
- Shaun Kanady, age 20, of Blairsville, GA charged with four counts of Possession of Child Pornography.
Neither individual has a set bond as of Feb. 14.
These investigations are active and ongoing and therefore, no further information will be released at this time.
Please remember that all are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Fetch Your News will update this story as more information becomes available.
GBI charged Kanady with alleged possession of child pornography.
GBI charged Hildebrant with alleged possession of child pornography.
UPDATE: Terroristic threats made against Blairsville Walmart
News, Police & Government February 7, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – A Murphy, N.C. man called into Walmart corporate on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020 and threatened the customers shopping at the store.
According to Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO), the call came into the Bentonville, Ark. office at 8 a.m. CST, which would be 10 a.m. EST. Corporate then called Union County 911 dispatch immediately before even calling the Blairsville store. Law enforcement responded and swept the store to identify any potential threat. They found none. After clearing the scene, UCSO began to work on who made the call.
By 10:45 a.m. EST, UCSO had identified Robert Theodore Lee, 59, as the alleged caller/potential shooter. Lee was extradited from Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, Feb. 7 and charged with one felony count of terroristic threats and acts, O.C.G.A. 16-11-37 (b). Bond hasn’t been set for Lee at this time.
O.C.G.A. 16-11-37 (b) states that a person commits the offense of a terroristic threat when he or she threatens to: Commit any crime of violence; Release any hazardous substance; or Burn or damage property.
Sources have also reported that employees had no idea about the potential shooter until management called a meeting for “any available associates.” Those who couldn’t go had to hear from other employees or ask law enforcement in the building. This could be part of Walmart policy, and Fetch Your News (FYN) has contacted Walmart corporate to answer this question.
Additionally, off-duty deputies are stationed in the Blairsville Walmart for the next 72 hours at the store’s request. FYN will ask Walmart if this is part of their policy to determine as well.
In September 2019, the same Walmart experienced a credible bomb threat that included evacuation.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Please remember all are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Tenn. Man allegedly steals truck from park and ride
News, Police & Government February 5, 2020
BLAIRSVILLE, Ga – Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) apprehended Jason Burton, 33, of Chattanooga, Tenn. for reportedly stealing a Chevrolet pick-up truck and trying to break into the Nottely Market.
Burton is suspected of taking Chevy from the park and ride, located next to McDonalds and the 4-lane, during the early morning hours of Feb. 4, 2020. He then proceeded to drive the vehicle to Nottely Market, where he unsuccessfully attempted to break-in.
Security camera footage captured Burton walking around the building. He ditched the truck at the market and left.
Burton can be seen walking around the store. Images courtesy of UCSO Facebook.
UCSO put a notice out for the suspect on Facebook around 4:30 p.m., and by 6 p.m., Burton had been located at the Dollar General in Ivy Log.
Deputy Lt. Daren Osborn arrested Burton and charged him with felony theft by taking and misdemeanor criminal trespassing. Burton’s bond is set at 12,000.00.
According to Georgia Code, criminal trespassing occurred when an individual knowingly and without permission enters another’s property for an unlawful purpose. It also applied when a person intentionally damages property without permission of up to $500 and “maliciously interferes with the possession or use of the property.”
O.C.G.A. 16-8-2 stated theft by taking transpires when an individual unlawfully takes or is in possession of any property of another with intention of depriving owner of said property.
Please remember everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
U.S. Forest Service grants permit for Union County target range
Announcements, Featured, News December 30, 2019
UNION COUNTY, Ga – The Union County target range project can officially proceed after the U.S. Forest Service issued a special use permit.
This is the current milestone crossed for Union’s first gun range. Currently, residents and law enforcement must use private land or travel outside the community to practice their shooting skills.
The range will be located off SR 180 between mile markers 18 and 19. It will feature a 200-yard rifle range, a shorter pistol range, and clubhouse. Union County Gun Club, formed in 2017, will be responsible for the operation of the facility.
Sheriff Mack Mason has been a strong proponent for establishing a gun range, “There is a lot of target practice that takes place on Forest Service land near houses, and homeowners, in close proximity, disturb one another when shooting on their property. “I’m hoping to centralize these people, that maybe they’ll want to join this club, confine it to a particular area by shooting in a nice, safe facility.”
Mason even approached Commissioner Lamar Paris with this location for the range around two-and-a-half years ago. Paris had been looking for a suitable location for the project for five years.
Previously, the county government held three separate public hearings as required by the U.S. Forest Service to inform the public and answer any concerns. No one issued a complaint against using national forest land.
In Nov. 2019, Blue Ridge District Ranger Andy Baker issued a Final Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact. “This decision consists of authorizing Union County Government to construct a target range on National Forest lands,” Baker’s report stated.
Paris commented on the use of U.S. Forest land, “It’s not all just the campers and the hikers. That’s a big part of it – you don’t want to destroy your national forest – but this particular property
is already in the grass, so there are very few trees that will have to be cut.”
Now that the project can move ahead, Union County government officials and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will meet to discuss funding and site planning.
Site planning will take between two or three months, but it’s too early to provide a construction timeline.
Blairsville PD Welcomes First Female Officer
Community, Police & Government October 30, 2019
BLAIRSVILLE, GA –Jenny Rhodes doesn’t see anything special in being the first female officer in Blairsville, “I’m just doing my job,” she said. However, in today’s society, women are continually making strides forward.
Rhodes entered law enforcement after her children became old enough, and she wanted a rewarding career. She started at the Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) jail before becoming deputy, and she continues to work there. She’s only part-time at the Blairsville Police Department. The two organizations have a working relationship, where some UCSO deputies work part-time at the city’s PD and vice versa.
“They’re like my big brothers,” said Rhodes of her fellow officers, “Everybody here is super nice. The Chief is good. They treat me like one of the guys.”
But, she continues to stress this is just her job. It’s a role that she enjoys doing and makes the most of the opportunities provided to her.
Police Chief Michael Baxter commented, “This day and time, we deal with as many females – it’s probably 50/50 split – as far as arrests and that type thing. It’s more important to have [a woman] on staff.”
He also cited budgetary reasons. If the department needed to pick up a female suspect, two men would have to retrieve her due to accountability and protection against potential lawsuits from the suspect. However, they only need to send one woman to pick up or to search a female suspect.
Baxter commended Rhodes on her ability to do the job. She understands her duties and has the experience to back it up. “We didn’t expect it to be any different, she does as well as anybody,” he stated.
Rhodes was the most qualified candidate for the job, and that earned her the position. The fact that she is the first female officer just happened that way.
Blairsville City Council approved her hiring during the Oct. 2019 meeting.
Deputy Arrested for Simple Battery Resigns, Investigation Ongoing
News, Police & Government October 17, 2019
BLAIRSVILLE, GA – Sgt. Andrew Hammond resigned from the Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) after a misdemeanor charge of simple battery, family violence on Sunday, Sept.22.
UCSO deputies were called to Hammond’s household for an alleged domestic violence incident. Upon arrival, deputies heard shouting coming from inside the house. After entering the residence, discerned that Hammond was intoxicated from alcohol.
They discovered bruising on Hammond’s wife’s person consistent with physical restraint, which affirmed their determination that Hammond was holding his wife to prevent her from leaving the premises.
Hammond was booked into the Union County Jail on Sunday, Sept. 22 on the misdemeanor charge of simple battery, family violence. He bonded out on Monday, Sept. 23.
UCSO immediately placed Hammond on unpaid administrative leave until they could conduct a thorough internal investigation. He resigned later that day after deputies escorted Hammond home to collect his gun, badge, and patrol vehicle.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has been brought in to conduct an external review of the arrest since it involves a UCSO officer. The sheriff’s office is still in the midst of conducting its internal investigation. It will forward the findings to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council for consideration of Hammond’s continued certification as a peace officer.
Hammond joined UCSO in 2013 as an investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division before transferring to Road Patrol. Most recently, he worked security at the Union County Courthouse.
In 2018, he received employee counseling for conduct unbecoming of a deputy sheriff due to overlapping personal and work life. He was informed to not use his work vehicle for personal use during or after his shift. Additionally, he was told to not become entangled in domestic disputes between a female friend and her ex-husband. Records show that Hammond understood the implications of mixing work and personal.
In a past position, he was the subject of an internal investigation for use of excessive force, but the claim was unfounded by investigators. Aside from those two instances, Hammond’s personal record doesn’t indicate any misconduct while on the job.
Before gaining a position with the UCSO, Hammond worked for the Morrow Police Department, Jonesboro Police Department, Tyrone Police Department, and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office.
Walmart Bomb Threat Leads to Evacuation
Featured Stories, News, Police & Government September 13, 2019
BLAIRSVILLE, GA – An anonymous caller dialed up the Union County Walmart at approximately 2.45 p.m. and threatened to blow up the building. Local law enforcement responded and conducted a complete evacuation and search of the scene.
Once the call came in, Union County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) immediately responded to the threat in an effort to maintain public safety. They removed everyone from the store and most of the parking lot before conducting a thorough search of the building.
Captain Lloyd commented that it took around 20 minutes to remove everyone from the premise. He also stated that deputies examined every inch of Walmart and found no suspicious objects inside the building.
Currently, UCSO aren’t releasing any details as to the identity of the caller or the call. It’s still an active investigation.
After completing the search, Walmart managers decided to open the store back up around 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
Fetch Your News will update this story as more information becomes available.