(GA. NEWS NETWORK)
*Nighttime thieves went on a stealing spree while the victims slept earlier this week in an Athens neighborhood where the residents are mostly college students, onlineathens reports. According to Athens-Clarke County Police, more than 30 vehicles were rummaged through by thieves mostly during the early morning hours Monday.
*A Columbus police officer is recovering from surgery after being seriously injured by his own police dog. Police say the officer was attacked by his assigned K9 Wednesday morning while he was off duty. They say the dog had recently joined the department and was still undergoing training with its handler. The officer suffered severe injuries requiring surgery, but doctors expect him to make a full recovery. The police dog died during the incident, although authorities have not said how it died or what caused the attack.
*The GBI has arrested and charged Quitman Police Chief Lawrence McGee, 44, with one count of Felony Theft by Taking and one count of Violation of Oath of Office. McGee allegedly kept a gun that had been donated to the department for use in a raffle at a regional traffic enforcement meeting.
*Three Mexican nationals living in Atlanta are accused of a massive tax fraud scheme. U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg tells Atlanta News First the men filed hundreds of fake tax returns over the past seven-years. That amounted to $75 million.