Due to Atlanta’s mayor initially ordering police not to disperse rioters to later immediately firing some officers without due process, Atlanta Police Department morale is “the lowest it has ever been” according to a retired high-ranking APD officer. However, there are officers trying their best to protect the public even if their elected leaders don’t have their backs.
Consider this bit of good news: An arrest has been made in the June 28 shooting death of Andrew Scott Callahan, age 37, of Atlanta. It is a story of an Atlanta police officer taking quick and nimble action where he otherwise might have become discouraged. Homicide detectives were able to identify the suspect in the shooting as 21-year-old Nicholas Fonseca of Atlanta. On June 30, detectives were canvassing the area where the shooting occurred near 830 Willoughby Way NE. They spotted Fonseca who immediately fled the area on a bicycle, riding onto the BeltLine path to escape.
Officers from APD’s Zone 6 and Path Force Unit responded and pursued Fonseca on foot. During the pursuit, one of the officers was able to borrow a bicycle from a passing cyclist in an attempt to catch up to the suspect. The officer was able to maintain sight of the suspect and provide updates on their location to nearby officers. Officers were then able to catch up and apprehend Fonseca near Ponce City Market without incident.
He is currently in the Fulton County Jail charged with felony murder. “We are proud of the work our investigators put into this case and proud of the efforts made by our officers in pursuing and apprehending this dangerous suspect,” the retired officer tells me. “Additionally, we are grateful for the assistance of the cyclist in loaning the officer his bicycle. With help from the community, we can make the city of Atlanta safer.”
Says the retired cop: “Let’s just hope the irresponsible Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard (who is running for re-election by using the police as a political punching bag) doesn’t charge the officer for ‘stealing’ the bicycle!”
