The basic story is that Atlanta wants to build a police training facility in the city’s forested parkland. Activists aren’t happy and have taken to the trees, literally.
On Dec. 13, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) launched a raid on the so-called autonomous zone at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. Since June 2021, Antifa and other far-left extremists from across the US have descended on the location to prevent the construction of what they call a “cop city.” Responding law enforcement were assaulted with rocks and bottles by militants occupying makeshift treehouses. The GBI says it found explosive devices and gasoline after the rioters were cleared from the area.
On December 14th, five people were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism and other charges after a joint operation at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. The GBI is part of a joint task force formed to combat ongoing criminal activity at the Atlanta Police Department (APD) site.
Prior to the operation, APD and other agencies had made several arrests over the past few months for the ongoing criminal activity at the site location. Some of the criminal activities include carjacking, various crimes against persons, destruction of property, arson, and attacks against public safety officials. Law enforcement continues to address the criminal acts committed by the individuals that continue to occupy the area of the proposed training site.
Before the raid on Tuesday leading to the finding of explosives, the members of the autonomous zone had been terrorizing the community. A man who drove into the area thinking there was free junk was nearly killed when they set his car on fire w/him in it. https://t.co/FXKUkh5q8C
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) December 15, 2022
Several people threw rocks at police cars and attacked EMT’s outside the neighboring fire stations with rocks and bottles. Task force members used various tactics to arrest individuals who were occupying makeshift treehouses. After police cleared the area of concern, which included makeshift treehouses, they found explosive devices, gasoline, and road flares.
5 arrested at the #Antifa autonomous zone in south Atlanta hit w/domestic terrorism charges. Police found a cache of explosives. Leading up to the raid, militants tried to burn a man to death in a car. Their group is using Twitter to raise cash, @elonmusk. https://t.co/U4eGsdWJ8W
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) December 15, 2022
Before the raid on Tuesday leading to the finding of explosives, the members of the autonomous zone had been terrorizing the community. A man who drove into the area thinking there was free junk was nearly killed when they set his car on fire with him in it.
The arrests were made after investigators said several people threw rocks at police cars and attacked emergency crews with rocks and bottles. Officers also arrested several people living in makeshift tree houses.
Francis ‘Frankie’ Carroll, 22, was one of five people arrested on Tuesday at the autonomous zone at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Centre. Carroll is the son of surgeon Dr Mike Carroll and grew up in a $2million five-bedroom and four-bathroom mansion in Kennebunkport – as well as enjoying time on his parents’ yacht.
Serena Abby Hertel, 25, who has addresses believed to be in Los Angeles, Calif. and Boise, Idaho, was charged with domestic terrorism, criminal trespass, aggravated assault, obstruction and inciting a riot. She was previously photographed for a Soros’ Open Society-sponsored puff piece in The Guardian. Her father is a successful Idahoan architect, David Hertel, and her brother died in 2019 after consuming a cocktail of drugs – including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, meth and diazepam. She attended the $82,932 per year Pitzer College where she was radicalized.
Leonard Voiselle, 20, of Macon, Ga., was charged with domestic terrorism, criminal trespass, and possession of tools of the crime.
Nicholas Dean Olson, 25, of Bennington, Neb., was charged with domestic terrorism, aggravated assault, interference with government property and obstruction. He was also photographed for the Soros Open Society Foundations-sponsored puff piece in The Guardian.
Arieon Robinson, 21, of Milwaukee, Wisc., was charged with domestic terrorism, criminal trespass and obstruction.
