Police identify suspect in hit-and-run injury of police officers: seek public help in finding him

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White SUV sought in hit-and-run

Posted By: Larry Felton Johnson May 28, 2024

Officer Chuck McPhilamy of the Marietta Police Department issued this update on their search for the driver who sideswiped a police cruiser and left the scene with two officers injured:

Thanks to tips from the public along with the dedicated work by investigators from MPD and the CCPD RTCC, we have identified both the missing license plate as well as the driver that struck our officers on May 19th.  Thirty-two-year-old Artavian Leon Brown of Marietta is charged on Warrant 24-W4823 with (1) Felony and (8) Misdemeanor charges related to the crash.  Video evidence was located clarifying that he removed the license plate off his Lexus SUV shortly after crashing into our cruiser.  Brown is not yet in custody and anyone with information about his location is urged to call MPD STEP Investigator C. Roper at 770-794-5357.  His charges include:

  • Criminal Interference with Government Property (F)
  • Hit and Run (M)
  • Failure to Move Over (M)
  • Headlight violation (M)
  • Obstruction / Hindering Law Enforcement (M)
  • Too Fast For Conditions (M)
  • Improper Lane Change (M)
  • Reckless Driving (M)
  • Improper Display of License Plate (M)

Original article

Have you seen the vehicle pictured above?

Officer Chuck McPhilamy of the Marietta Police Department issued the following appeal to the public:

Marietta officers were working an accident on I-75 when a passing motorist struck the side of a parked police cruiser with their emergency lights activated.  Two Marietta officers were inside the cruiser when it was sideswiped.  While both officers were transported for treatment, thankfully neither were seriously injured in the crash.  The crash occurred around 2:40 AM on I-75 Northbound near Delk Road.  The suspect kept driving and fled the disabled cruiser and officers.  Responding officers canvased the area but were unable to locate the suspect Sunday morning.  Through the use of technology and assistance from the Cobb County Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) we have now identified the suspect vehicle as a white Lexus SUV, see attached photo.  The vehicle was last seen in Gwinnett County near Beaver Ruin Road hours after the crash occurred. 

We are asking for the public’s help locating the suspect vehicle and identifying the driver from the crash.  Anyone with information about the vehicle and/or driver is urged to contact Marietta Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Investigator C. Roper at 770-794-5357 or via email croper@mariettaga.gov  You can also remain anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta at 404-577-TIPS (8477).

Suspect vehicle

Photo provided by Marietta Police Department

Damaged police cruiser

Photo provided by Marietta Police Department

About the City of Marietta

The City of Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County. The latest estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau puts the population of the city at 60,867 which makes it the second largest city in Cobb County by population, smaller only than the newly incorporated City of Mableton.

Here are a few quick facts from the Census Bureau

Marietta city, Georgia
Population, Census, April 1, 202060972
Population, Census, April 1, 201056579
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent6.7%
Persons under 18 years, percent21.8%
Persons 65 years and over, percent13.2%
Female persons, percent49.9%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent53.4%
Black or African American alone, percent(a)32.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a)0.6%
Asian alone, percent(a)1.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a)0.0%
Two or More Races, percent4.7%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b)15.7%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent46.4%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2016-20202678
Foreign born persons, percent, 2016-202016.6%
Housing
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2016-202044.0%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2016-2020$310,100
Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2016-2020$1,856
Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2016-2020$526
Median gross rent, 2016-2020$1,145
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2016-202024148
Persons per household, 2016-20202.39
Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2016-202077.9%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2016-202023.7%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2016-202095.1%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2016-202086.6%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-202088.6%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-202044.0%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2016-20206.3%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent20.2%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-202067.2%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-202061.2%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2012 ($1,000)(c)264544
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2012 ($1,000)(c)1584232
Total manufacturers shipments, 2012 ($1,000)(c)1129407
Total retail sales, 2012 ($1,000)(c)1976915
Total retail sales per capita, 2012(c)$33,875
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2016-202028.5
Income & Poverty
Median household income (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020$59,594
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020$36,112
Persons in poverty, percent14.1%
Businesses
All firms, 201210501
Men-owned firms, 20124934
Women-owned firms, 20124186
Minority-owned firms, 20124286
Nonminority-owned firms, 20125502
Veteran-owned firms, 20121015
Nonveteran-owned firms, 20128663
Geography
Population per square mile, 20102451.4
Land area in square miles, 201023.08

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