Police have reported six other looting arrests since last month's record-breaking flood that damaged an estimated 1,200 homes and numerous businesses.
Austell residents Heriberto Bothi, 20, Anthony Scudder, 20, Dymarcritus McClarty, 19, and Ridge Shivers, 17, are being held in Cobb County Jail. According to their book-in sheets, McClarty is a student at South Cobb High School and Bothi attends Oakwood High School. All of the men are being held on $50,000 bonds except for Scudder, who was already in jail after being arrested Oct. 3 on a statutory rape charge and has an additional $10,000 bond, said Nancy Bodiford, spokeswoman for the Cobb Sheriff's Office.
Police recovered five guns when they made the arrests, including an M1 Garand and other rifles. But, there may be more guns that have not been located, Austell Police Chief Bob Starrett said.
"Based on information we've received, we believe there may be more guns and thieves out there. The pawn shop doesn't know exactly how many guns they're missing because their records were destroyed in the flood. They're checking with the (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) to see what they had listed," he said.
The Austell Golden Pawn Shop, at 62058 Veterans Memorial Highway, was looted Sept. 23 while Austell was being pounded with heavy rains. The men broke into the pawn shop after busting the front store window and climbing over its burglar bars, Starrett said. The store had a security camera installed, but the system went down when the pawnshop flooded.
Someone called the police department and gave officers a tip that helped lead police to the men who were arrested, Starrett said.
"The caller said they saw someone with guns and it didn't seem right to them," he said.
Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins said he believes the pawnshop is still closed from the flooding.
Anyone with more information should call Austell Police at (770) 944-4318.
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