Money matters

By Lauren Keating Friday July 27, 2007 11:02 AM EDT

An officer found a $100 bill on the floor near the metal detector at the entrance of City Hall on Trinity Avenue. The officer said he asked a “gentleman” nearby whether he had dropped the money, and the gentleman said no. The officer noted that about two minutes later, another man walked up and asked, “What are you going to do with the money?” The officer said he was going to turn in the money to the police property division. The officer said he explained police procedure about lost items. According to the officer, the man identified himself and then “he requested that I split the money with him because all that I was going to do was steal the money.” The officer again explained police procedure about lost items. “He then said, ‘Officer I won’t tell anybody if you and I split the money,’” the officer wrote. Then, the officer explained about the security cameras mounted nearby, and how those cameras could determine who actually lost the $100 bill. “He continued his effort of trying to get me to give him the money and he could split the money with me,” the officer wrote.

The officer told the man to go back to his worksite. He left for a while â and then came back. This time, he told the officer that he lost some money, and he wanted the $100 bill. No charges filed, according to the police report. (The Blotter Diva ponders: How can someone propose stealing to a police officer at City Hall â the seat of Atlanta’s government â and not get charged with anything?)