Shane Ladner "No Longer With" Department, May Have Falsified Records

The former Holly Springs Police officer may have lied about earning a Purple Heart so that he and his wife could attend the "Hunt for Heroes" in Midland, TX.

Ladner Allegations Send Shockwaves Through Community

The allegations against Shane Ladner have stirred up outrage and even caused the closure of a Facebook page.

Allegations surfaced Monday that Holly Springs police officer Shane Ladner lied about earning a Purple Heart in Iraq to attend the "Hunt for Heroes" benefit event last November, where he and his wife were injured by a train that crashed into the parade float they were riding on. Due to an unrelated matter, Ladner's employment with the Holly Springs Police Department was terminated on April 5. Fallout from the accusations against Ladner, whose wife Meg lost her left leg in the train collision, is only just beginning. The popular "Prayers for Shane and Meg Ladner" Facebook page, which promoted fundraisers, pancake breakfasts, and status updates on the Ladner family, has been taken down at the request of Meg Ladner in light of the allegations…

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UPDATED: Shane Ladner "No Longer With" Department, May Have Falsified Records

The former Holly Springs Police officer may have lied about earning a Purple Heart so that he and his wife could attend the "Hunt for Heroes" in Midland, TX.

Update at 8:59 a.m.: Holly Springs Police Chief Ken Ball released a statement Tuesday morning on Ladner allegedly falsifying his military record: Following Shane Ladner’s tragic accident on November 15, 2012, in Midland Texas, he was unable to return to work. The city of Holly Springs opted to fill the vacancy in the Police Department in early April 2013. As a result, Mr. Ladner’s employment with the city was separated effective April 5, 2013. We are aware of the allegations of false documents against Shane Ladner related to his military service. We are investigating what jurisdiction may have authority over these said allegations. We have been in contact with the local, state and federal agencies that would have authority to bring forward…

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beretverde

3:02 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Really? You might be a bit delusional on this one.   more ›

Holly Springs Police ID Man Who Shot Himself Along I-575

Police are still trying to piece together what prompted James Allen Woods Jr., 30, of Toccoa to fatally shoot himself Sunday morning.

The man who fatally shot himself along Interstate 575 Sunday morning has been identified as James Allen Woods, Jr., 30, of Toccoa. Holly Springs Police said they were able to locate Wood's family to notify them of his fate, which unfolded early Sunday morning on the southbound side of the interstate.  "Detectives are still working to try to piece together what prompted Mr. Woods to take his life Sunday morning," said Holly Springs Police Spokesperson Lt. Tanya Smith. Woods was travelling on the southbound side of the interstate when he abruptly pulled over, cross two lanes of traffic, walked to the wood line and held a gun to his head.  Woods, who was seen wearing some form of body armor, talked with negotiators from the Cherokee Sheriff's…

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UPDATE: Man Fatally Shoots Self After Standoff on I-575 in Holly Springs

The standoff that started early this morning has ended with the man dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

UPDATE AT 12:03 p.m.: According to WSB, the incident started around 7:30 a.m. Sunday as the man wearing a bulletproof vest pulled over onto the side of the interstate, got out of his car and walked across two lanes to the wood line and put the gun to his head. The man remained calm and talked to negotiators for nearly an hour before taking his own life. The news outlet reports the man had a long criminal history and is not from the area. Holly Springs Police Lt. Tanya Smith told Patch the man's identity will not be released until his family is notified.  UPDATE at 9:30 a.m.: the man whose actions shut down Interstate 575 early Sunday morning has taken his own life. Holly Springs Police Spokeswoman Lt. Tanya Smith confirmed with Patch that …

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Holly Springs Police Investigate Home Invasion, Burglary

The alleged invasion and burglary took place late last week at a home on Crestmont Lane.

Holly Springs Police are looking for clues to help them nab two male suspects they believe were involved in a home invasion last week.  At around 11:28 a.m. last Thursday, two men entered the back door at a home at 444 Crestmont Lane. The suspects allegedly forced their way iinto the house by breaking the glass out of the door, according to a Nixle alert by the department.  The suspects allegedly went through drawers in the home and took two kitchen knives that were later found lying on the kitchen floor.  Both suspects then made their way upstairs and forced themselves into the master bedroom with what appeared to be a crow bar. As the suspects walked into the bedroom, the resident who was hiding in the room ran into the master bathroom …

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Help Keep Neighborhoods Safe with Holly Springs Police

Sgt. Cain will lead a T.R.A.C.E. meeting at the Train Depot on Wednesday, March 27.

Sgt. Brian Cain of the Holly Springs Police Department will meet with community members in Zone 4 of the city on March 27 to discuss current public safety issues – and how you can help. The meeting will be held at the Train Depot (Holly Springs Community Center) starting at 7:30 p.m. The mission of the Holly Springs Police Department T.R.A.C.E. program is to work with all citizens to preserve life, protect property and promote individual responsibility and community commitment. Zone 4 includes all areas west of Hwy. 5 from Ash Street to Sixes Road. All residents and business owners in Holly Springs are invited to join the T.R.A.C.E. program and become a team member.  For more information, call 770-345-5537.

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Suspect Leads Officers On Chase, Crashes into Woodstock Police Vehicle

A routine traffic stop early Sunday morning morphed into a short vehicle pursuit through two jurisdictions and ended with the suspect crashing into a Woodstock police vehicle.

A routine traffic stop earlier this week turned into a police chase that ended with the suspect crashing into a Woodstock police vehicle. Wasim Ibn-Darriel Abdul Majeed, 24, of Roswell was arrested on Sunday and charged by the Cherokee Sheriff's Office with failure to maintain lane, speeding, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving while unlicensed, theft by receiving a stolen vehicle and running a red light. He remains at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center with a $78,500 bond.  Cherokee Sheriff's Office deputies tried to pull Majeed over around 1 a.m. Sunday Jan. 27 after he was observed failing to maintain the lane he was driving in, said Spokesman Lt. Jay Baker.  Baker said the deputy tried to stop Majeed on East …

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Residents Wanted For Holly Springs Citizens Police Academy

The six-week long program starts March and will teach residents the inner workings of the Holly Springs Police Department.

The Holly Springs Police Department will soon start another session of its Citizens Police Academy. The six-week session, which is free, will start on Monday March 4 and classes will be held each Monday between 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Holly Springs Police Department.   The academy offers citizens a first-hand look at the responsibilities and operations of a police department by providing classroom instruction on areas such as the history of law enforcement; federal, state, and local laws; uniform patrol operations; investigations; use of force; and the use of firearms.  Residents will also have the chance to participate in a ride along with a Holly Springs police officer.  Class size is limited and applications will be accepted on a …

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Brian Laurens Denies Using Relationship To Throw Out Citation

After he was pulled over for running a stop sign, Laurens called Mayor Tim Downing to ask how he can have stop signs removed from entrances to a roundabout in his neighborhood.