Euharlee Police Chief Duane Smith said in a release Tuesday that his department on Friday partnered with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to arrest John Jefferson Thurman, 34, of Cedartown. He was charged with criminal attempt aggravated child molestation, two counts of criminal attempt sodomy, two counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes and electronically furnishing obscene material to a minor.

The arrest stemmed from a citizen complaint, and during a monthlong undercover cyber investigation, authorities used Facebook and text applications that led Thurman to distribute messages and images and to travel to Euharlee for the purpose of meeting with a female minor child for indecent purposes. The “child” was an undercover cyber crime investigator for the Euharlee Police Department.

The Cartersville-Bartow County Safe Streets Drug Task Force assisted with surveillance and the arrest. Additional charges may be filed after a follow-up investigation into other possible victim(s).

The complainant contacted The Daily Tribune News via email Tuesday to express gratitude toward EPD.

“...My family in very appreciative of the Euharlee Police Department. They acted and prevented something that could have been much worse,” the man said in the email.

Get N Fly robbed by men in masks

According to reports, the Get N Fly, 786 West Ave., Cartersville, was robbed by two men wearing masks and wielding a gun. The robbery occurred about 9 p.m. Tuesday, and the employee told emergency personnel she did not see their direction of travel because they forced her to turn around as they left.

There were no reports of injuries, and it is unknown how much money the suspects took.