Cobb sex offender arrested after secretly living across the street from a community park

MARIETTA, Ga. — A Cobb County sex offender is back in custody after failing to register his address because he was living across the street from a community park for a year.

Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell learned that Brandon Haradon had been living in Integrity Auto Solutions on Dallas Highway in Marietta. Just across the street from that business is a community pool and park where children play.

Haradon registered with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office in May 2021 like he was supposed to, but once he moved to Cobb County, he never updated his address.

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Newell learned that Haradon was also working at the auto shop while he was secretly living inside.

Cheryl Smith, an out-of-state employee, says Hardon was sub-leasing the building for his auto business.

“Anybody who has charges like that should be registered,” Smith said. “We’re closing tomorrow...the owner of the business is shutting it down.”

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The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office says they received a tip that Haradon was living in the business. When they investigated, they found that was the case.

“It’s scary, to put it point blank. There’s no other way to put it; it’s scary,” neighbor Thomas Wilson said. “Thank you, Cobb County, and to the person who provided this tip.”

Smith says that Haradon owes his mechanics money.

“My mechanics in here are loyal like that. They stayed here even after he went to jail, knowing they weren’t gonna get paid to see that vehicles were fixed,” she said.

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Haradon is currently being held in the Cobb County Jail on a $5,720 bond. He is facing three felony charges related to his failure to register.

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