The Blotter February 25 2009

HARD TIME STAYING CLEAN? At a pharmacy on Cascade Road, the manager said a man was caught stealing three boxes of Tylenol PM. “He was known for shoplifting soap from the store and has been arrested in the past for shoplifting,” an officer wrote. Apparently, the employees know him as the “Soap Man.” On this day, the Soap Man “was observed walking to the soap aisle and bypassed the soap and continued to aisle 11, the medication aisle,” the officer noted. An employee reportedly stopped the man and recovered the Tylenol PM. But apparently Soap Man left the store before police arrived. Soap Man is described as a 37-year-old man wearing a gray coat.

PERILS OF INTERNET DATING: A 23-year-old man said he met “Keto” on an Internet site and they chatted for about a month. On this day, the man said he arranged to meet Keto, for the first time, at Keto’s workplace — a Domino’s Pizza. He said he took Keto to his apartment on Piedmont Circle. “After speaking with his guest, [the 23-year-old man] went to take a shower,” an officer wrote. The man said when he emerged from the shower, Keto was gone — and so was the man’s Ford Escort, $500 and cell phone. The man said Keto apparently borrowed his laptop before he left — and left his e-mail address and his resume with his name, address and home telephone. The name on the resume is not even close to Keto.

MOMMA’S BIG NIGHT OUT: Around 4 a.m. at a nightclub on Campellton Road, a woman said a security guard came up from behind and grabbed her around her waist near her bikini line, where she has stitches from giving birth. The woman, age 25, said she tried to explain about her stitches and she would walk out on her own. She said he kept grabbing her around the waist, where her stitches are, and he broke her purse strap during the struggle. The reporting officer talked to the security guard. He said he asked the woman to leave the club three times, but she refused and that’s when he put his hands on her lower back and escorted her out. Both the woman and the security guard said they wanted to press charges.

PEOPLE TAKE WEIRD STUFF: At a grocery store on Ponce de Leon Avenue, a 57-year-old man allegedly put five Bic lighters in his pants pocket and sweatshirt pocket — and tried to leave the store without paying. The man was charged with shoplifting. Total cost of five lighters: $13.66.

Also, a California woman is accused of putting three bikinis in her purse at a store on Caroline Avenue. She reportedly went to a register and paid for some DVDs and other items — but not the bikinis. The California woman, age 25, was charged with shoplifting. Total cost of three bikinis: $80.

DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY: A 33-year-old Stockbridge man reported his lost wallet — seven days after he last saw it. He said he remembered having his wallet when he showed ID at a nightclub one Friday night. He said he didn’t realize his wallet was missing for several days — until one of his banks notified him. He said he didn’t realize his wallet was gone because he doesn’t go into his wallet that often; he keeps cash on him at all times. He said his bank informed him that $500 worth of activity had occurred on his ATM card.

NO LOVE FOR A MAN IN UNIFORM? A 29-year-old man said he returned to his home on Argonne Avenue, and his female roommate refused to let him get his stuff. He said she held the door latch, so his key wouldn’t turn the door lock. He said about 30 minutes later, his roommate opened the door — and she was very loud, uncooperative and using profanity. He said his clothes were bagged and bleach had been poured on them — but he was able to retrieve his military items. An officer arrived on scene and the female roommate allegedly gave him a fake name. She went to jail.

HANGIN’ WITH GOLDIE: An officer responded to a call about a stolen car on Collier Road. A 23-year-old man said he went to a female friend’s party at a club. At first, he could not remember which club, but then said it was a club at Underground Atlanta. He said he talked with a man known as “Goldie,” who has an Atlanta Falcons tattoo on his face. The man said he gave Goldie and another man a ride home. He said he dropped off the other gentleman, but allowed Goldie to sleep on his bedroom floor. He said when he woke up at noon the next day, his car keys, PlayStation 3, cell phone and his Hyundai were gone. He said Goldie lives in Decatur. The man, his two roommates, and other men were at the apartment that morning. “Everybody was asleep around the house, in rooms, and on the couch in the living room,” the officer wrote. No witnesses.

Items in the Blotter are taken from actual Atlanta police reports. The Blotter Diva compiles them and puts them into her own words.