SOUTH FULTON, Ga. — People will notice an increased police presence if driving along Old National Highway in the City of South Fulton.
Police said it's all in an effort to reduce crime and increase safety along one of the most dangerous sections of south metro Atlanta. This includes the area of the Camelot Condominiums, where police charged two HOA board members with theft by deception this week.
Authorities are hoping to reduce violent crime by increasing their presence and visibility in the area. The operation also focuses on drunk and distracted driving, seat belt violations, and jaywalking.
Amid the sunshine and normal hustle and bustle along Old National Highway Saturday came the sounds of sirens as South Fulton Police beef up patrols along the corridor.
City of South Fulton Police Chief Keith Meadows said he has officers who patrol solely along the highway - and it's working.
“Just over the past couple of days, we've arrested somebody for murder that was wanted for murder out of Atlanta. We've confiscated countless number of weapons since we started this detail. I think just the other day we wrote 110 tickets along the Old National corridor," Meadows said.
The corridor is one of the most crime-ridden areas on the southside, according to South Fulton Police.
“From what I've heard from the residents, they want to see a greater police presence," Meadows said.
Data from the police shows more than 1,400 violent crimes in 2021, almost 1,600 in 2022, and more than 1,100 so far this year. Violent crime includes offenses such as murder, rape, and robbery.
“The crime and the gangs and stuff like that, we ourselves as residents deal with that every day," Robert Scott said.
Scott was one of the residents speaking out at a town hall meeting Saturday afternoon with police at the Camelot Condominiums, which are on Old National Highway.
“When you look at Camelot, it doesn't look like Camelot. It looks like a war bed at the Renaissance War," Scott said.
Meadows said the detail also includes unmarked police vehicles, and the beefed-up patrols aren't going away anytime soon.
“You take all the weeds out of a community; you plant seeds and then you just sit back and watch it grow," Meadows said. "Well, that's the stage that we're at right now.”
The City of South Fulton's new police headquarters will be built along Old National Highway. Meadows said a precinct close to the Camelot Condominiums is expected to open by the beginning of next year.