Rodnekus Barlow

Name of Accused:
Barlow, Rodnekus Santez

Date of Arrest:
07/28/2024

Charges For Arrest:
Arson, First Degree, Industrial Business
Officer’s Narrative:
[Please note: The following is a direct transcription from the official initial incident report. The Georgia Gazette does not fix any spelling or grammatical errors that may exist. Any changes or redactions made by our staff are placed inside brackets. Some errors may exist. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The topics discussed may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.]
On July 28, 2024 at around 8: 31 am I, Ofc Miller, responded to 1411 W Walnut Ave in reference to the Dalton Fire Department being on scene of a commercial building fire.
After my arrival, I spoke with the firefighters on scene. The fire had already been extinguished. Dalton fire stated that it appeared to be an arson case and that they had investigators on their way. I noticed the southeast corner of the building had black burn marks on the rear of the building. There was also some kind of fabric hanging from the roof that had been partially burnt. Ofc Mullinax arrived on scene with me at this time and we began looking for security cameras on nearby buildings that may provide footage of the incident.
Ofc Mullinax and I went to the Racetrac gas station located at 1415 W Walnut Ave and spoke with the co-manager on duty, identified as [REDACTED]. [REDACTED] allowed us to view the building security camera footage. On the exterior seating area camera that faces the east side of the building at around 7:57 am, I observed a black male that I knew to be Rodnekus Barlow, walk around the Racetrac parking lot and eventually go out of view of the camera towards taco bell. Rodnekus was wearing black pants and a black hoodie with some kind of gold or yellow image on the front of it. After a few minutes, I observed a black subject wearing the same color clothing as Rodnekus walk from behind the Old Pizza Hut building located at 1411 W Walnut Ave. The subject hung around the rear of the building for a few minutes appearing to be going back and forth gathering items and then stop at the southeast corner of the building. After another minute, I could observe flames on the camera footage. The subject then ran behind the east side of the building and was no longer in view of the camera.
I informed Ofc Mullinax that I knew the subject to be Rodnekus Barlow from a previous encounter and that while I was on my way to this location, I had seen Rodnekus walking east along W Walnut Ave between Dug Gap Rd and Lakeshore Dr. Ofc Mullinax then left to go and try to locate Rodnekus.
A short while later I heard Ofc Mullinax over the radio saying he was getting out with a subject under the Walnut Ave Bridge and a few minutes later say he had one male in custody. Detective Ridley was called and the case was handed over to him.
This ends my part in this case
[End of Narrative]