Sandy Springs police park search triggers school lockdown, voting suspension
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - Sandy Springs police officers shut down Morgan Falls Overlook Park and placed a nearby elementary school on a soft lockdown Tuesday while searching for a suspicious man in military gear.
That man has since been apprehended and has forced a voting precinct to remain open well into the evening.
SWAT investigates suspicious man, closes polling center
Police and SWAT have closed the entrance road to Overlook Park in Sandy Springs following accusations of a suspicious individual firing shots in the area. A nearby polling location, Ison Elementary School has closed to voters while SWAT and police search for the individual.
What we know:
Officials said the park, located at 200 Morgan Falls Road, was shut down while officers investigated. FBI Atlanta confirmed to FOX 5 they are assisting with the police investigation.
Sandy Springs police officers responded to the park after receiving a 911 call about a man dressed in military-style gear. Police said the man entered the woods after an alleged dispute with another person.
SWAT investigation near Sandy Springs polling location
Police were called to Overlook Park in Sandy Springs and responded with heavy presence and SWAT authorities. Police have confirmed there are actively investigating a suspicious person at Overlook Park dressed in heavy military-style gear who disappeared into a wooded area. We cover what this might mean for the polling locations in the area for the gubernatorial primary election.
After the man went into the woods, police said they received another 911 call stating the caller heard possible gunshots in the area.
No injuries have been reported. Authorities apprehended the suspicious man after an extensive search.
Nearby, Ison Springs Elementary was on a soft lockdown while police investigate.
Officials said the school had an adjusted dismissal with law enforcement available to assist during the dismissal process.
All exterior and classroom doors were locked, with any outdoor activities moved inside. Instruction continued while student movement was limited.
The school is hosting Fulton County Voting Precincts SS19A and SS22. As a result of the lockdown, voting was suspended at the locations just before noon. That suspension was lifted around 4 p.m.
Timeline:
The caller's wife stated she looked at her watch at 9:38 a.m. and heard what sounded like gunfire behind her. She checked her watch again at 10:28 a.m. and heard four more distinct shots, totaling about 10 shots altogether.
Voting finally resumed at the school at about 4 p.m. after a multi-hour disruption. Because of the extensive police activity, a Fulton County judge issued a ruling allowing the polling location to remain open late until 11:02 p.m.
By the numbers:
Dozens of officers from multiple agencies, including the FBI, converged on the park by air and by ground to locate the individual. Law enforcement personnel utilized armored vehicles and carried long rifles during the sweeping grid search.
The hourslong search concluded just before 6 p.m. when police successfully took the suspect into custody without incident or injuries.
What they're saying:
Yeah, it's a little scary," park goer Mitchell Henry said. "I'm here five days out of the week, probably, fishing. I'll come after work at least one day over the weekend".
Henry added that he had never encountered crime at the park previously. "Everyone I've come across is very nice. So I thought this was one of the one places in Atlanta you could come in, not worry about that kind of stuff".
Another local resident expressed immense relief after the arrest. "Thank God for Sandy Springs Police because they're very on top of things. We all have confidence."
The information in this story was gathered from Sandy Springs police investigators, who detailed the tracking and arrest of the suspect, as well as local neighborhood witnesses, election officials, and the FBI.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released the identity of the man taken into custody or the specific criminal charges he will face. Police did not disclose whether they recovered a weapon inside the woods or what sparked the initial dispute.