First Slice 7/23/14: MARTA passenger saved after falling onto tracks
Federal power outages, Carter peace calls, Cobb police shortages, and more
A 39-year-old man is recovering from injuries after falling onto one of MARTA’s rail tracks last night. Fellow passengers managed to waive down MARTA officials and eventually forced an incoming train to stop in front of the injured person. The man, who has yet to be identified, but has a reported visual impairment, is currently being treated at a nearby hospital for injuries.
The Sam Nunn Federal Center will now be shut down until Friday because of a massive power outage caused by a damaged buss duct. Federal employees were initially expected to be out of the office for only one day.
A tow-truck driver yesterday died after being hit while assisting the driver of a vehicle that had broken down on I-20 near the Glenwood Ave. exit.
Atlanta Police are asking for help in finding a suspect who allegedly opened a bank account for a fake business that was used to steal $123,000 from a Charles Schwab investment account.
Cobb County police are experiencing a shortage of about 160 officers, roughly a quarter of its authorized number of officers, according to a WSB Radio report. “So, after all is said and done, we will have fewer officers on the road at the end of 2014 than we did at the end of 2013,” one police source told the radio station. “And that will be just two years before first pitch at the new Braves stadium.” According to Fox 5, about 194 officers have left Cobb’s police force since 2011.
Former President Jimmy Carter has called for Israeli troops to withdraw from the Gaza Strip. “Both sides must distinguish between combatants and noncombatants, and Israel must ensure that its use of force is proportionate in accordance with international humanitarian law. More immediately, all combat operations must stop, and Israeli troops should withdraw from Gaza,” Carter said in a statement.