City Workers Accused Of Stealing Woman's Freezer

COBB COUNTY, Ga.,None — Four Smyrna city workers have been charged in the theft of a Smyrna woman’s freezer.

Colette Thigpen said she was surprised by a recent eviction, but even more taken aback when her belongings were picked through on her lawn.

“I was devastated to come back and see that half my stuff had been taken,” Thigpen told Channel 2’s Ross Cavitt.

She said she is missing items from her children’s beds to a $200 freezer. Police said members of a Public Works crew took the freezer while she was gone. Thigpen had left to find a truck to gather her things while a friend stood watch. When thieves intercepted the freezer, Thigpen’s friend tried to fight back.

“She then jumped on the freezer, in an attempt to keep them from taking the freezer, and they in turn picked it up and forced her off of it,” Smyrna police Lt. Robert Harvey told Cavitt.

Harvey said the crew took the freezer to veteran Public Works employee Otis Cooks’ home. Cooks, Ike Thornton, Sedric Halley and Tureh Zoh were later arrested. They were charged with robbery by intimidation.

Police said all four suspects have been in and out of jail. City officials held a meeting at the Smyrna City Complex to determine their fate on Thursday. The suspects have been placed on administrative leave.

WSBTV