lCLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. –– Clayton County police are investigating the theft of a police-issued handgun stolen from the car of a County Commissioner.

Channel 2’s Tom Jones learned the gun was issued to Commission Vice-Chair Wole Ralph because of death threats police said commissioners have received over the years.
Officers said someone broke into Ralph's red Mustang on April 26 while it was parked on Harbin Village Court in Morrow.

Linda Granade has lived in the subdivision for 40 years and said car break-ins are a major problem.

"Mine's been broken into twice. It's just random really," Granade said.

An incident report indicates a homeowner found a bag that contained Ralph's Clayton County Commissioner’s Identification, a badge, shorts, T-shirt and other personal items. The car’s driver’s side door and trunk were open.
Not far away, police found an empty black case for a Glock semi-automatic handgun. Officers said when they contacted Ralph, he told them his police-issued handgun was missing from his car.

When Jones asked Clayton County police why Ralph was issued a weapon, police said, in a news release, that a policy was instituted after Commissioners received death threats.

That policy offered a handgun and handgun training to Commissioners and Ralph accepted the offer, according to police.

Ralph did not return calls and emails seeking a comment about the theft.

In February, Atlanta police arrested Ralph on DUI, reckless driving and obstruction charges after a traffic stop on Metropolitan Parkway. Ralph has stated he is not guilty of the charges.