Atlanta police are hunting for a man they say has hit the same civil rights office three times, most recently in an April 5 break-in at the National Action Network’s Atlanta chapter on the 600 block of Peeples Street SW. In security images released by investigators, the suspect is seen hauling multiple bags out of the building before boarding a MARTA bus. Detectives say he may have a bandage or visible cut on his right wrist, and they are dangling a cash reward as they urge the public to comb through any nearby footage and send in tips.
Investigators say the man was caught on surveillance boarding a MARTA bus at Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW and Peeples Street SW, then later getting off near Cascade Avenue SW and Donnelly Avenue SW, according to CBS Atlanta. The outlet reports that police believe the same suspect is behind three separate burglaries at the West End office, though officers have not publicly released the dates of the earlier incidents.
What police released
The Atlanta Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-8477, submit tips online, or use the P3 Tips app, as outlined on the department’s website. Tipsters whose information leads to an arrest could qualify for a reward of up to $5,000, according to Crime Stoppers. Police have circulated still images from the surveillance video and are pressing MARTA riders and nearby businesses to review their own cameras for any glimpse of the suspect.
Local context
The break-ins land at a tense moment for Atlanta leaders already fielding tough questions about public safety. Earlier this month, a series of violent incidents reignited debate over how the city is handling crime and prevention, particularly as officials gear up for a packed summer calendar of major events. Recent shootings have put added pressure on Atlanta’s youth-violence strategy and event-safety planning, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
How to help
Anyone who recognizes the man in the released images, or who has video from near the 600 block of Peeples Street SW or the MARTA stops at Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW and Peeples Street SW or Cascade Avenue SW and Donnelly Avenue SW, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-8477 or submit a tip online, per the Atlanta Police Department. The National Action Network Atlanta chapter lists its office on Peeples Street SW. Police say that anyone who spots the suspect should call 911 immediately and should not attempt to approach him.
