Devan was one in a million. He was one of those FEW men left in the world who believed in honor, and protecting those you love, even with your own life. Devan was always ready for anything. He loved people, he never hated anyone. He just let them go when they hurt him. He is part of the reason my husband and I got married. A long time ago, we lived next door to each other and Devan insisted on meeting my new boyfriend. He had to make sure that he was good enough for me. When they met, they didn't like each other. My (now) husband went back and spoke to Devan. Devan told him that I was too sweet for my own good, and I trusted too many people, and that Devan was only trying to make sure I didn't get hurt. Keith, my husband, said I really respect that. They have been friends ever since. Devan was supposed to come see me in Savannah and never got the chance. That's just a little about Devan. He was one in a million, he was so loved, and he was honorable. There will be a memorial service, too. I'll put up the details when they are firmed up.

Sorry for your loss, I hope you've been doing OK, check in a little more often. BTW, sage here is your old friend dollar he just uses a new name now.

I yam what I yam....Popeye

I've missed your banter. I'm trying to check in more often. I appreciate your condolences. The world has lost one of the great people left. I hope this is properly investigated and the attackers are brought to justice. I will be there (in PTC) for their court date, if they ever get caught. Thanks for the info re: sage... still a mean person, I can see.

So many times I haven't bothered to type anything because you've already said it so well. But this surprises me.

I know you were being sarcastic in your second paragraph. But what's up with the end of your post?

Yes, the cops patrol The Avenues & Westpark Walk. No more or no less than other business centers. And they most certainly are on patrol in the neighborhoods, too, when they can be (meaning, when they're not on calls). Now that they have a few more officers than when the shortage was so critical, they again have regular cartpath patrols, too.

As a PTC resident and business owner, I want them to be nearby when needed. Their average response times are really good. The way our city was planned, each village has a shopping/business area. If an officer is there, patrolling that, he is also nearby the residential areas for easy response. Most crime that occurs in the residential areas is not something that will be stopped by regular patrols (yet they still do the patrols), but the same cannot be said of business areas. So I welcome them patrolling the business areas like they do! And since they're still in the neighborhoods, too... what's your beef?

PCPD is currently located next door to Westpark Walk. Do you think that maybe that is why you see so many officers in that area? Maybe you're seeing them as they come and go from the area? Do you mind if as they do that, they drive through the business area instead of driving down the road with blinders on?

On this night in question, an officer had been in Westpark Walk about an hour before, and must not have been too far away when the call went out, since he got there in less than 2 minutes. Other officers got there within a couple of more, running lights and sirens (and with mostly clear streets, given the time of night). Is this a BAD thing? I think not.

Yes it is really me.

First of all the problem of them only being seen at or in the area of 54 and 74 has been going on much longer than since when they were "relocated" to the old gym.

As more details come out about this crime more questions need to be answered.

As a buisness owner I'm sure that you signed up for the e-mail alerts for crime like I did?! Yet, 10 stinking days later we learn of this horrendous crime through the blogs. Why? The point of the e-mail alerts was to alert ALL citizens of crime in the area and to give a description of the suspects. Yet, none of us knew that a group of angry black men were roaming our city.

Which makes me say: what the???....

It makes me think we made a huge mistake in hiring someone who was already in "retirment mode". He could care less about the citizens here, based on the no alerts no reports to the news media. Let's hope we don't make the same mistake in the Sheriff's race. We don't need someone who has been retired for 12yrs., especially if the naacp thinks he is good, he can't be good for us.

I'm glad our own officer was there in 2 min. I still say boycott the redroom if their security is this slack. I blame them and the security guard who did not call 911. I understand someone else standing outside did make the call.

I know that our police force is still short because of low pay. The presence of our police dept. throughout the whole city would in my opinion help deter crime. They do patrol neighborhoods only if you put yourself on the house watch list. Otherwise........

Also I know from talking to others that I am not the only person who has been told to "call the Sheriff's dept. ...maybe they will help you" this in response to a request for extra patrols... For service that my tax dollar is paying for.

Let's hope our "retirement" chief either gets it together or moves on......to retirment. Let's resolve not to make the same mistake of picking someone who has been retired for way too long in the Sheriff's race.

but your comments about Sheriff and Dave Simmons are no longer a concern. But, some food for thought.

When you have an elected Chief his boss is the Mayor. The Mayor is concerned with what? Not letting their citizens know that he and his staff are not doing such a great job. They don't want you to know. People won't move here. So, they feed the media with what they want us to know and both are very happy. That's why this tragic death is such a shock to so many people here, we just don't hear about it.

Who is the Sheriff's boss? The Governor. So the parameter of using the media to your advantage to encourage stopping crime is at your disposal. With Simmons, that will happen, it already has.

There will be a new Sheriff in town soon. Get ready for the ride and the truth about what is really goin' on.

I'm not the only one who is thinking this. This is an example of what we don't need.

Sevendust07 said the Red Room's security looked on and did nothing--not the police. Did anyone call the police? Who was he beaten by? And what does a college degree have to do with any of it? I don't understand your statement in regards to this incidence.

Did sevendust, who was obviously at the Red Room, take a chair to one of the beaters at least?
What did the unfortunate one do to the group, was he with them?

We obviously do not pass out nearly enough calming pills to some of our population!

It sounds like they had hired someone from a security company. None of this was in the paper so this is the first anybody has heard about it.

Did the suspects and the victim know each other?

My comment about the college degrees was sarcastic. It was directed at people who think that would help them fight crime. Based on what I have seen that couldn't be further from the truth. The cops in PTC are completely overwhelmed with the rabid kids and parents here. They also don't like to patrol, at least not the neighborhoods and cartpaths. The regular police work seems to be beneath them. At least that is how it seems.

The cops in PTC have to answer to their Chief and to their City Council, both of whom answer to the taxpayers. You get "community policing" here because that is what the citizens who pay the freight demand. If you want some edgier cops who don't say "yes sir and yes ma'am" when they are taking abuse from the people they have to pull over for violating the law, demand it from your elected officials. right now, they are doing exactly what they are told to do like what you would expect from professional employees.

You know why they want college degrees from cops? So they are less likely to beat the crap out of some jag-offs who might "deserve" it. They have the education and training to follow instruction well enough to earn a college degree and use good judgement, and that is what community policing is all about. If it is time for something other than community policing, that decision is made from on high and not by the police officer on the street.

I read your slams on PTC law enforcement and maybe you had better direct your ire at the community itself or the elected officials who support the way things are. You see the constant howling around PTC when someone gets a deserved ticket or their "little Joey who is an angel" gets arrested? It's not the cops that are the problem. I know a lot of them and if you want tough, they'll do it, but they aren't going out and creating their own agendas. They are professionals. If you want thugs who do whatever they think is right, there are plenty of cities like New Orleans, LA, Killadelphia, etc. where police brutality and agendas are a reality that destroys communities instead of serving them.

Well stated.

I have a personal question for you Nuk. What is your avatar? I am at a loss, was this from a scary movie? Just wondering...thanks.

Who the heck is Devan?
Did he actually get killed at the "Long Branch Saloon?"
What is all the chatter on here about?
Did Cal and the crew take a week off and not cover any this?
Ot.......do we have another BPR, Lilly mysterious person?
Maybe PTC doesn't report bad stuff for real estate purposes?

Before letting your wish to sound 'cute' or clever overcome your common sense. As far as anyone knows this happened. If it didn't occur but is a hoax then would be the time to vent your views. If this truly happened it is a sad situation, think of the family members and friends. Your ramblings usually sound like some one who has over imbibed or has forgotten to take their meds--Or someone trying to be clever and consistently missing the mark. Why don't you give it up? No one appreciates it. Sometimes I think Cal should be giving you warnings for the tripe you come up with. You are truly unbelievable

Who is anyone that knows that this happened? (as you said).
What do you want me to think about? For the family? I am just trying to see if you people know anything truly about it or are just talking!
I don't imbibe or take wrong medicine, by the way.
"Clever" I am, you say? Or trying to be, I think you said! Who is this "no one" who don't read it? You must.
Cal to warn me for speaking about stuff you don't want to hear? That should be the day!
I looked to see if you have ever even written a BLOG. I can't find one, you comment occasionally about what does and does not suit you on here. I have written maybe a hundred if interested! Press search on blog page.
When I see Mititytite the name I usually skip reading it---you are welcome to do the same for SAGE.

should consider not typing all of the random thoughts(?) that occurs to him.

Show a little respect please. Devan was a friend of mine.

Who ever said anything at all about the "Long Branch Saloon?" Last I checked, we were talking about Red Room.

I don't know why this wasn't covered yet, but like I said in another comment, I believe this just happened Thursday night. Maybe they wanted to make sure they had correct information before they put it in the paper. What do you mean by "another BPR, Lilly mysterious person?" I know PTC likes to sweep some stuff under the rug to keep them from looking bad, but of all the people who could look bad from this situation, Red Room stands to lose the most.

If this person was your friend and has been killed at "Red Room," I regret it for you, and his.
You see I have seen the sign there for Red Room but I have never been in there.
I took it for a PTC night club of sorts at night.
Can you describe what sort of business it is and what goes on there? Do people come drunk or leave drunk? Do they even serve alcohol?

In my day I went to such parties, but in private clubs where I knew nearly everyone. Violence is inevitable in a place serving drinks and allowing BYOB secretly, where the public and unknown people are welcome!
If the "club" can't handle violence early, then they need to hire a few off-duties!

Thanks for your condolences. He was a good friend. Yeah, Red Room is a night club, they serve alcohol, and I agree, they do need more security that does their job. I hope they at least get rid of the people who didn't do what they are paid to do.

From what I understand, Red Room security didn't even call the police. Once the fight was over and Devan was bleeding profusely from his head, one of the onlookers called the police, not the "security". And I believe the guys who did the beating got away before the police arrived. I will do more digging and see what I can come up with, for my own peace of mind, at least.

Edit: I believe it happened Thursday night. The worst part about the whole thing is that he was beaten for defending someone else who was being attacked, someone he didn't even know (I don't think he knew the guy, anyway). I guess being a stand-up guy has its consequences sometimes.

I'm sorry you lost your friend.

Note to self: stay away from the redroom if they can't hire decent security.

I'm still amazed that PTC police didn't drive by, that is the only place you ever see them.

What's with bashing the police on this one? It sounds like the security/onlookers would be much more to blame in this one - assuming it's really prudent to blame anybody besides the idiots that did the beating. I'm also curious how you know they haven't/won't catch the people who did it. I haven't seen a story about it or anything, so either you are getting that info from somebody or you're blowing smoke and taking advantage of a moment to slander the police. I personally disagree completely with what you are saying about where they are seen, I live on the other side of town off Hollygrove Rd. and I literally see a police car at least every other time I come home. I've also seen them on a four-wheeler and on some kind of souped up golf cart riding around the paths down here and up towards Crosstown when I take my golf cart up to Braelinn Village or the playground. In every other city I've lived in I have never seen police in my neighborhood, so I'm pretty happy to have this here. What strikes me as even more strange about your comments is that I thought from your previous postings that you seemed to be a member of local law enforcement. I guess maybe you work for the Sheriff's Department - in which case I would find it shameful that you would make these kind of comments about people you are supposed to work with.

First of all I wouldn't do their job for what I get paid and I darn sure wouldn't do it for what any of our law enforcement officers are getting paid. Especially not on the south side of Atlanta with such low pay and poor benefits.

You need to re-read the above post. I said I would not go to the red room because they have such poor security. So I absolutely do blame that security person whoever it was. I think it is horrible that passersby were the only ones who had enough sense to call 911.

As for the cops patrolling, just calling a spade a spade. We would not have nearly as much vandalism in this city if they were constantly moving throughout the whole city. I have sat at Starbucks and counted the number of police cars that wander through there. Every 10 mins a different car number drove by. Yet you never see them in the neighborhoods. I'm glad that you see them close to your part of town.

Just 15mins ago in my neighborhood we have been listening to what sounds like gunfire. It sounded like a .22, but it is actually the moontraveler rockets which shoot 10ft. into the air and are illegal. This time none of us called the cops because in the past they have showed up with there usual surly put upon attitude and actually have the nerve to ask what we want them to do about it. Ummmm, helllloooo, they are illegal, especially when they are shooting them at people that go by on the cartpaths. Not all of our cops have that attitude, there have been one or two that act concerned, but for the most part...... chasing down all the bad kids in this city isn't what they went to college for.

Actually I'm pretty satisfied with them not patrolling. It's like watching the sun rise in the east for millions of years.........

its a trend you start to rely on.

Yes, let me reread:
"But...but....but all of PTC cops have college degrees....everybody knows you fight crime better if you have a collegee degree. ???
It is kind of odd that whoever did this got away with it. Everybody knows they only place you will see a cop in PTC is in the shopping areas around 54 and 74"
"My comment about the college degrees was sarcastic. It was directed at people who think that would help them fight crime. Based on what I have seen that couldn't be further from the truth. The cops in PTC are completely overwhelmed with the rabid kids and parents here. They also don't like to patrol, at least not the neighborhoods and cartpaths. The regular police work seems to be beneath them."

I think my interpretation of your comments remains correct - your intent was to negatively characterize law enforcement in a discussion of something that had nothing to do with them - even pointing out the irony of these people "getting away" when all the police do in your opinion is patrol in that area. By the way, where did this idea of the college degrees helping them police better come from? I've never heard that. I have heard that it was a requirement here, but I thought it was more because of the type of community than about job ability. Where I lived before most of the cops were scraped from the bottom of the barrel it seemed, but the few cops I've spoken to here seem like normal people who happen to be police officers. I think setting a standard of education probably ensures a higher level of professionalism and competency in dealing with the type of people that live in a high end community like Peachtree City. That's just my two cents worth anyway.

Your reply about the neighborhoods sure did set me straight though. I didn't realize that you never see them in YOUR neighborhood. That then irrefutably proves that they don't patrol neighborhoods or cart paths. It's surely that they hate dealing with little brat kids. That's probably why they drive by that Starbucks at the Avenues all the time - I mean there are never obnoxious teenagers in that area that they would have to deal with. And what is wrong with those guys not arresting people for setting off the fireworks they bought at K-Mart, I mean that is seriously neglectful. Especially on the 4th of July. What a bunch of pompous, lazy jerks.

You are one angry cop. Have you found that you get angrier the more you drink? For some people it doesn't have a calming effect.

I just call it like I see it. I know we are short of cops, so maybe our staffing crisis can't keep up with the crime here.

"a discussion that had nothing to do with them" Any crime that happens in this city does involve our police or it should. This incident because it happened in our city has everything to do with our city police.

Ummm, this isn't the 4th and I doubt seriously that they bought moontraveler rockets in this state.

Have safe night.

I could not find any reference to this anywhere else.

God bless his family and friends.

I, too, was frustrated by the fact I couldn't find any reports of this anywhere I searched online -- ajc.com, thecitizen.com, wsbtv.com -- nothing anywhere I looked. I guess that is why people believe our county is such a great place to live -- we don't have much news-reported crime.

We were told on Friday, by Devan's parent, that he had been beaten very seriously, in daylight hours, in Peachtree City, on Thursday. We were told that he was in the hospital, in intensive care, and that his brain was swelling and they weren't sure if he would make it.

On Saturday we were told that he had died early that morning.

The story, as we heard it, was that the beating occurred on Thursday, during daylight hours, and that it was supposedly five assailants beating one individual, and that there was no information as to why. We were told that there were witnesses and that they indicated that the victim and his assailants were of different races. Was that a factor? I don't know. I haven't heard anything at all about what precipitated the beating other than what I have read here.

I am assuming that the assailant(s) will be arrested/charged now, so it is surprising that there still isn't any information in the news media. Perhaps your postings here will raise questions about that fact.

My heart and prayers go out to Devan's family and friends.

Yes- This did occur. I think he was from Fayetteville or something. He did not live in PTC. He was there... apparently standing up for somebody. I'm not sure if that was true. He got hit and fell and seized. I think "beaten to death by multiple people" is stretching the story a bit.

It was at a bar. People were drinking. I pretty sure it was a bar fight gone wrong. I'm sure nobody meant to kill anybody. He fell and probably hit his head b/c I know for a fact after he was down- something else was way wrong.

Red room also has a lot of other things going on besides alcohol if you know what I'm saying... I wouldn't be surprised if more intoxicants were at play.

He went to grady and became stable... then fell back into unconsciousness and went on life support. He was opted to be taken off life support so he died 3 days or so later which was probably why the newspaper didn't cover anything.