December 10th, 2024 – 11:00 AM
WRGA Staff Reports –
Tuesday morning the Rome Police Department gave an update regarding the fatal wreck that occurred on Monday morning involving a Rome Police Officer:
“On Friday, December 6, 2024, an email was sent to the department email of Assistant Chief Rodney Bailey, indicating that a pipe bomb had been placed in the mailbox of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. The email correctly listed her home address. The email, sent at 7:05 PM, was initially diverted to the system’s junk folder. It was discovered Monday, December 9th, when it was retrieved at approximately 9:30 AM.
Immediately upon learning of the threat, Assistant Chief Bailey contacted Congresswoman Greene’s staff, who confirmed that she was not at the residence. The Rome Police Department sent an officer to the scene to monitor the mailbox while awaiting the arrival of the Rome/Floyd Bomb Squad. On Monday, December 9th, at 11:06 AM, Assistant Chief Bailey informed the commander of the Rome/Floyd Bomb Squad of the situation. The squad mobilized and dispatched operators to respond, non-emergency, to the Bomb Squad Headquarters.
At 11:17 AM, 911 dispatch received a report of a motor vehicle crash on Redmond Circle near Walmart. Upon arrival, officers discovered that Rome Police Sergeant and Bomb Squad Member David Metroka had been involved in the crash while operating his personal vehicle. Sergeant Metroka was not responding to the bomb threat but was en route to join the bomb squad at their headquarters.
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) responded to investigate the accident. According to GSP, as the GMC truck traveled north, a 2002 Mazda Protege, driven by 66-year-old Tammie Pickelsimer, pulled out of a parking lot into the truck’s path. The GMC collided with the Mazda near the driver’s side door, causing significant injuries to Pickelsimer, who was transported to the hospital and later succumbed to her injuries. Sergeant Metroka suffered minor injuries and was later released from the hospital.
The Rome Police Department continues to work closely with Congresswoman Greene’s staff to address the growing concern of swatting incidents and has implemented protocols to ensure that emergency responses are only triggered when truly necessary. This situation did not require an emergency response.
The Rome Police Department extends its heartfelt condolences to the Pickelsimer family during this difficult time. The department holds the individual responsible for sending the threatening email fully accountable for setting this tragic chain of events into motion. In collaboration with Congresswoman Greene’s office, the Rome Police Department is working with federal authorities to ensure the perpetrator is apprehended and brought to justice.”
You can see our previous coverage of this incident here:
https://www.wrganews.com/2024/12/09/video-police-officer-involved-with-fatal-wreck-in-west-rome/