ATLANTA — Atlanta Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the FBI are investigating an arson at a development in the Kirkwood neighborhood where several pieces of excavation equipment were damaged.
It happened overnight on Wednesday, Aug. 14, in the 2000 block of Memorial Drive. Atlanta Police said two people were seen on the property and placed three incendiary devices that damaged equipment parked on the site.
Police said the devices went off near a tank that stores gasoline for the excavation equipment on site, explaining they were lucky this tank didn't explode. Homes in the Kirkwood neighborhood surround the property.
'This is a ticking time bomb," said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum.
He added, "That if these arson attacks continue, and in the manner that they’re escalating in populated areas, someone is going to lose their lives."
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A $200,000 reward is being offered in this case and the nearly three dozen arson or targeted attacks across north Georgia and even across state lines.
All are tied to the ongoing opposition to the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, which is under construction.
"There have been fires started at our police precincts, we've had our youth centers firebombed, there have been banks firebombed and construction companies that are helping build the training center that have been targeted," said Chief Schierbaum.
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He said the training center is still on track to open in December.
"The effort is for somebody’s distorted mindset: If we can stop construction companies from building it, there will not be a properly trained fire and police department in Atlanta, Georgia," said Chief Schierbaum.
He clarified, "We’re not going to back down from this; we’re gonna find those responsible.”
Chief Schierbaum said the new training center will benefit the Atlanta Police and Fire and Rescue Departments and the Department of Public Works.
The center is expected to offer opportunities for training exercises, cross-training in emergency response skills, and improved preparedness.
APD said the access to a driving course will play a crucial role in enhancing the capabilities for every department within the city who have employees responding to different calls of service throughout our communities.
The center will feature a stable open to the public where the Atlanta Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit will keep their horses. Groups can tour the stables, meet the unit, and visit the horses.
There will be state of the art classrooms for continuing education. A wellness center for first responders. Atlanta Fire and Rescue will, for the first time, have their fire training station.
A simulation village is being built that will allow first responders to prepare for a variety of calls they may face on the streets of throughout the city.
And for the first time ever, there will be a designated precinct and kennel for APD's K-9 unit.