Officials deal with hearse fire, stabbing

ALBANY, Ga. — An arsonist set fire to one of two hearses vandalized at Poteat’s Funeral Home at about 4:10 a.m. Sunday, stated an Albany Police Department report.

The hearses at the 1015 Cedar Ave. location were spray painted with gang graffiti in what could have been a gang initiation, said James Griffin, Poteat’s funeral director.

“The gang task force took the burned hearse away to inspect it for evidence and fingerprints,” Griffin said. “A couple of weeks ago a church was vandalized. I guess it they vandalize a house of God they have no respect for anything.”

Albany Fire Department firefighters put the blaze out while police officers opened their investigation into the gang connection. The graffiti on the remaining hearse showed a three-prong pitchfork with the prongs facing up.

According to the website avm.gangs.tripod.com the graffiti looks like one of the Black Gangster Disciples gang signs.

“The gang task force officers were very professional about this,” Griffin said. “I have nothing but respect for them and the fire department.”

About 15 minutes after responding to the arson, police responded to a call regarding a patient at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital with a laceration to the left cheek and the back of his head, said Phyllis Banks, police spokeswoman.

According to Banks, the victim said that at about midnight he was cut by another man with a box cutter. The victim didn’t explain why he didn’t report his injuries until about 4:30 a.m.

The victim said “that the two had an exchange of words over a money matter prior to him being injured,” Banks added.

No further information on the victim, the suspect or the continuing investigation was immediately available.