7:43 a.m. Friday, December 18, 2009

DeKalb sheriff's deputy arrested, accused of harboring armed robbery suspect

A DeKalb County Sheriff's deputy was arrested Wednesday on charges she harbored a wanted felon at her home.

Nine-year veteran Landria Odom, 41, is charged with hindering the capture of a criminal and lying to police, for hiding 28-year-old armed robbery suspect Kirkland Smith at her Atlanta in DeKalb home, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Mikki Jones said.

Smith was wanted in connection with an Oct. 6 armed robbery, and was arrested outside Odom's home Wednesday.

As deputies with the Sheriff's Office fugitive squad surrounded Odom's home, a deputy saw Smith step onto the back patio, but he quickly returned inside, authorities said.

Smith then ran from the front door headed to the parking lot, where deputies tackled him. He was charged with felony armed robbery and possession of a weapon while committing a felony.

After arresting Smith, investigators from the Sheriff's internal affairs division and the DeKalb police were called in to determine how Odom was involved with the wanted felon.

Deputies knew that they were going to a fellow officer's home when they arrived at Odom's east Atlanta address, Jones said. Odom's name had surfaced during the investigation, Jones said.

Deputies arriving at the scene saw Odom's car parked outside the home in the 3400 block of Ivy's Walk, and positioned themselves to move in, authorities said.

An officer called Odom, and when asked could she speak face-to-face with the officer, Odom was evasive, according to reports filed after the incident.

Another deputy knocked on the door while Odom was on the phone, but got no response, Jones said. A fugitive squad lieutenant arrived and continued the phone conversation with her, learning that she was inside.

DeKalb police arrested her.

"It is for the good of all -- for the good of society -- that these persons are weeded out of law enforcement positions," Sheriff Thomas Brown said in a statement released Thursday night.

Both Smith and Odom were taken to the DeKalb County jail.

No bond was was listed for Odom, but Smith was released late Wednesday night on $2,500 bond, according to jail records.