Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced this week that Jessica Delli, 25, of Calhoun, is being charged with Arson in the 1st Degree, Possession of Tools for the Commission of a Crime, Criminal Damage to Property, and Reckless Conduct in connection with a Whitfield County fire. The fire occurred on Wednesday, October 6th, at approximately 5:57 a.m. and completely destroyed the 30-year-old, 2,000-square-foot home on Broad Acre Road in Dalton.

“Upon examination of the scene, our Arson Investigators determined the fire originated in the living room of the residence and was intentionally set,” said Commissioner King. “One occupant of the home was taken to an Atlanta hospital with injuries and remains in stable condition. Ms. Delli was arrested near the scene and transported to the Whitfield County Detention Center.”

Commissioner King’s Fire Investigations Unit assisted the Whitfield County Fire Department and the Whitfield County Sheriff’s office with this investigation.

Gordon News / CVN

A911 cal Tuesday nightl was received that a woman had reported being robbed of her automobile on State Route 225 near Calhoun. The woman, subsequently identified as one Kimberly L. Cox, age 41, of Calhoun, told investigating detectives that when she’d stopped to pick up a couple that she “recognized”, they robbed her of her car at gun and knifepoint.

She said she was left in the road and walked southward in to Calhoun. A ‘look-out’ for the automobile was broadcast to other deputies by radio after which a deputy sheriff discovered the vehicle at a local motel near US 41 / Interstate 75.

Deputies stopped this car, which was found to be occupied by Chad Poarch, age 41 and Brian Carey, age 38, both of Calhoun.

Poarch was searched and found to be in possession of a large amount of heroin.

Carey was wanted on an outstanding warrant for an unrelated charge and was jailed as well. Subsequent evidence was collected by the investigating detectives which resulted in the conclusion that no robbery had actually occurred.

Cox was arrested herself and charged with Giving False Statements, False Report of a Crime, as well as Possession of Methamphetamine after a search revealed drugs on her person. Poarch has been charged with Trafficking Heroin, and Theft.

Gordon County Sheriff’s Office – 

On Friday, October 1st, deputy sheriffs were dispatched to the local hospital in response to a report of a critically injured toddler in suspicious circumstances.

The child, aged 2, was subsequently flown to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. The investigation quickly became focused on a married couple who was babysitting the child.

A number of witnesses were interviewed, and physical evidence was collected during the execution of a search warrant at the apartment where detectives believe the crimes occurred.

Detectives subsequently discovered surveillance video from a local business which corroborated initial evidence.

The babysitters who’ve been arrested, and who were acquaintances of the child’s family, are identified as Anthony Owenby, age 27, of 1386 US Highway 41, Apartment B4, Calhoun, Georgia and his wife Jacalyn Deanna Owenby, age 24, of the same address.

Anthony Owenby has been charged with Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Assault, and Cruelty to Children (1st Degree).

Jacalyn Owenby has been charged with Cruelty to Children (1st Degree) and Giving False Statements.

Investigating detectives have reason to believe drugs played a role in this incident. Both defendants are being held in jail pending judicial proceedings.

*The child is reported to be in stable condition.

WRGA

Gordon County deputy sheriffs were dispatched to a private residence on Old Dalton Road near Calhoun this week in response to a 911 report of a domestic disturbance involving a man armed with a knife.

Deputies arrived within 8 minutes and encountered the man, subsequently identified as one Kenneth David Holbrook, age 45 of 237 Old Dalton Road, who fled inside a house barricading himself within.

Witnesses and victims were ushered from the scene and the house was quickly surrounded by deputies. A stand-off ensued during which communications were attempted with Holbrook, but he refused to speak with deputies or to come outside.

Detectives determined that Holbrook had assaulted a number of people with a knife, including a private citizen who’d seen the attacks and tried to intervene, and warrants were issued for his arrest.

At approximately 8pm, deputies entered into the residence and arrested Holbrook. Holbrook was taken by ambulance to the hospital due to having suffered what appeared to be self-inflicted knife wounds about his wrists prior to arrest.

The wounds were not life threatening and he was treated and released back to deputy sheriffs.

Holbrook was lodged in the county jail, charged with Aggravated Assault (multiple counts), Battery (Family Violence Act), Cruelty to Children 3rd Degree, Possession of a Knife (Dangerous Weapon) During the Commission of a Crime, and Violation of a Family Violence Order. Detectives later executed a search warrant at the home, during which the knife believed to have been involved in the assaults was recovered. Jail records indicate that at the time of this incident, Holbrook was free on $50,000.00 bond for (previous) charges of Aggravated Assault, Cruelty to Children 3rd Degree, and Battery. The previous case, from 2019, involved an assault with butcher knife.

A Gordon County deputy sheriff on patrol observed a suspicious vehicle loitering in a church parking lot on the Rome Road (SR 53).

The deputy also noticed that this automobile, a white sedan, had no license plate. When the deputy tried to stop the vehicle, it sped away at a high rate of speed, with the deputy in pursuit. The deputy was immediately joined by other deputy sheriffs and Calhoun police as the chase approached the city.

The driver of the suspect vehicle was operating in a most reckless manner, driving on the wrong side of the road and into oncoming traffic. The pursuit ended on River Street when a Sheriff’s vehicle ‘pitted’ the fleeing car. Upon being ‘pitted’, the driver of the suspect car attempted to continue his escape but was struck and stopped by another Sheriff’s Office vehicle.

A number of deputies and police officers cornered the driver, who attempted to resist arrest but was quickly subdued. No innocent bystanders or officers were injured. He was taken into custody and removed to the county jail where he was subsequently identified as one Chaney Tyler Hankins, age 30, of Cartersville.

The car he was driving had been reported stolen from Paulding County, and Hankins was being sought by authorities in Bartow County and Fulton County as well on (separate) charges of Hit & Run. He is lodged in the county jail and will face theft and an array of traffic related offenses here.

Gordon News/coosavalleynews.com

The City of Calhoun Police Department – 

Calhoun Police Detectives are requesting your assistance in identifying the subject and vehicle in the photos.

The subject is wanted for questioning for a theft that occurred at a local department store.

If you know this person, contact Lt. David Nelson at (706) 602-5774 or by email at dnelson@calnet-ga.net.

*Any information received by detectives is held strictly confidential.