A Stockbridge man has been arrested and charged with harassment and terroristic threatening after allegedly making death threats to members of a group fighting for cityhood for Eagle's Landing.
Coren Michael Randazzo, 49, was bound over to a grand jury hearing last week due to phone calls made at the end of March in which he is accused of threatening the lives of members of the Eagles Landing Educational Research Committee Board, a group that is advocating for the creation of Henry County’s fifth city.
The group contacted Henry County Police, who arrested Randazzo in early May.
VIDEO: Previous coverage of this issue
“We respectfully ask that citizens remain civil and respectful because we are all neighbors and citizens who will share in what we hope to create,” Vikki Consiglio, chairwoman of the research committee board, said in a release after the incident.
The arrest comes as residents of the Eagle's Landing community — which includes gated neighborhoods and a golf course — are hoping to move forward with plans to separate from Stockbridge in Henry County.
The state legislature this spring passed legislation allowing a referendum on Eagle's Landing cityhood to be placed on the November ballot. It also approved the de-annexation of Stockbridge so that a portion of the city could be moved to Eagle's Landing should voters approve cityhood.
Stockbridge leaders in May filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to stop the referendum. A hearing on the litigation is set for July 18.
Eagle's Landing supporters said they are trying to break away because Stockbridge has failed to provide basic services, such as parks, senior citizens programs or road improvements. Stockbridge leaders said those services are provided by the county, not the city.
Consiglio said harassment has made members of the group concerned about revealing their names.
“We recognize there are citizens who may have sincere concerns about the proposed city of Eagle’s Landing,” members said in a statement. “It is our hope that once they have had the opportunity consider all the available information they too will realize the new city will benefit all residents of Henry County.”
