ROME POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE

On December 19, 2018, the Rome Police Department received information that a possible hit and run accident resulting in an injury to a three-year-old child had occurred at the Kid Stop at 1700 Dean Avenue. 

The accident was reported to have occurred on Monday, December 17, 2018, at about 5:15 pm.

Follow up resulted in identifying Rome Police Lieutenant Richard Penson as a possible suspect in this incident. Penson was not on duty at the time of the accident and was not taking any action as a police officer. He was driving his personally owned vehicle.

Due to the nature of the incident and Penson’s employment with the Rome Police Department, the Georgia State Patrol was requested to conduct the accident investigation.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the Georgia State Patrol conferred with the District Attorney’s Office regarding potential charges. Warrants were issued for Richard Penson for the following charges:

          Reckless Driving (misdemeanor)

          Hit and Run (misdemeanor)

          Cruelty to Children 2nd Degree (felony)

Penson turned himself into the Floyd County Jail December 28, 2018. Due to the criminal charges, Penson’s employment with the Rome Police Department has been separated.

No further information is available at this time from the Rome Police Department. The Georgia State Patrol is the investigating agency.

Previously posted:

A Silver Creek man turned himself in at the Floyd County Jail early Friday to face charges of 2nd-degree cruelty to children, reckless driving and hit and run.

According to the arrest warrants, 51-year old Richard Kinney Penson ran over a 3-year old child’s foot with his pickup truck and then left the scene.

The incident occurred December 17 as the child was being picked up from daycare on Dean Avenue.

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