Pictured during Monday night's Cedartown Medal of Valor ceremony, from left, are Cpl. Ken Scott PCPD, Sgt Josh Martin PCPD, Sgt Bradley Coppock CPD, Senior Patrol Officer Justin Short CPD and Senior Patrol Officer Matt McLendon CPD. Cedartown Chief of Police Henry King presented medals to Coppock, Short and McLendon during the monthly meeting of the Cedartown City Commission. County police officers Scott and Martin were also lauded for their part in assisting with a hostage situation in Cedartown last month. (Lowell Vickers/thepolkfishwrap.com)
The five were honored Nov. 12 at the Cedartown City Commissioner’s meeting, according to Cedartown Assistant Police Chief Jamie Newsome.
Commission Chair Dale Tuck read a proclamation honoring Sgt. Bradley Coppock, Senior Patrol Officer Justin Short and Senior Patrol Officer Matt McLendon, all of the Cedartown Police Department (CPD).
Newsome said CPD Chief Henry King then presented the medal, one by one, to the officers.
The department invited Sgt. Josh Martin and Cpl. Ken Scott, both of the PCPD, to the ceremony to publicly thank them for their efforts in controlling the situation and apprehending the suspect.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. Oct. 4 at the department store at 550 N. Main St.
Kelly Jack Mayo, 45, of Fort Payne, Ala., is charged with felony armed robbery, felony kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of false imprisonment.
Mayo, a former Fred’s chain store employee from Alabama, also faces indictments regarding a similar incident there.
Mayo reportedly entered the Cedartown Fred’s store right before closing. The store was empty of customers but two employees were inside, Newsome said.
Mayo allegedly tied up the cashier and proceeded to rob the store, according to reports. The woman freed herself and called 911.
The five officers receiving honors were the ones who responded, Newsome said. They secured the building before Mayo could leave, he said.
Mayo then allegedly took one of the employees hostage, put her behind the wheel of a car, and forced her to drive at gunpoint, Newsome said.
Newsome said the Cedartown police shift supervisor on duty decided to try and resolve the situation immediately, rather than risking allowing Mayo to escape with the hostage.
A police cruiser rammed Mayo’s car to prevent his escape, Newsome said.
Police took Mayo into custody without any further incident, he said. The hostage was released without injury.
Mayo remains in custody at the Polk County Jail.
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