CUMMING: Video captures tree dragged down busy street | News

CUMMING, Ga. -- Surveillance video from a Cumming store captured two men dragging a 25-foot Bradford Pear down a busy highway.

Cumming police said they plan to issue warrants for Stanley Hendrix and Ray Solano, both of Cumming. Sgt. Bryan Zimbardi said he plans to charge the two with reckless conduct for endangering the public by dragging the tree down Canton Highway.

"They tied a tree to the back of their pickup truck and drug it down one of the busiest highways in our city," said Sgt. Zimbardi. "I've never heard of anyone removing a tree with rope tied to a trailer hitch."

Surveillance video shows a pickup truck pulling into the parking lot of Southern Cinema Design. The video shows the tree falling, then the truck pulling the Bradford Pear down the road that was busy with traffic.

The manager of Southern Cinema Design is outraged.

"It was kind of humorous until you get to the part where the tree falls down and they drag it in the middle of the road," said Jared Wallace. "There are cars zooming by left and right. What if they hit somebody?"

The suspects told police they were hired to remove the tree. According to the police report, they told officers that Southern Cinema Design paid them $75. Wallace said that is not true.

Hendrix told 11Alive's Jerry Carnes that the owner of a nearby convenience store paid him and Solano to remove the tree. Store owner Sonny Jivani denied that he paid the two anything, but told them they could trim or cut the tree if they got permission from the property owner.

Police said they've tried to contact the property owner without success.

Sgt. Zimbardi said even if the two had permission, the way they removed the tree was criminal.

"It's a serious matter because of the jeopardy to the motoring public," said Sgt. Zimbardi.