Atlanta Suspect Arrested After Stealing Police Car and Crashing into Tanker
A man linked to a violent robbery near an Atlanta transit station was captured after allegedly stealing a police car and crashing into a tanker truck on Monday. Authorities identified the suspect as Phelan Thorpe, aged 30.
Atlanta police had been searching for Thorpe in connection with a robbery that occurred near the Midtown MARTA station on Saturday afternoon. Detectives said Thorpe was wanted for robbery and simple battery related to the alleged attack.
Officers responded to a call around 5:15 p.m. on Monday about a wanted man at the 2000 block of Thomasville Drive SE. The report suggested the man might be armed.
Video footage from the Atlanta Police Department showed a suspect tracking a woman from the Midtown MARTA station before attacking and robbing her near 10th and West Peachtree streets.
Upon locating Thorpe, police began their investigation. However, Thorpe allegedly managed to get into a marked police vehicle parked outside and drove off.
He then drove the cruiser into Clayton County and was involved in a crash with a tanker truck on Interstate 675. Thorpe was detained after the crash, suffering minor injuries. No officers or civilians were hurt during the incident.
The robbery that sparked the search on Saturday involved an attack on a woman near 10th Street and West Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta. Police had arrived at approximately 1:54 p.m., finding the woman injured from the assault and robbery.
Investigators stated the suspect followed the woman from the Midtown MARTA station, claiming possession of a gun, and demanded her purse and iPhone. A physical struggle ensued where the suspect allegedly punched the woman and took her phone and driver’s license.
The woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Surveillance footage showed the suspect trailing her before the altercation. Initially, police sought public assistance to identify the perpetrator.
A police update confirmed Thorpe as the suspect and charged him with robbery and simple battery. Details on how Thorpe accessed the police vehicle or if a firearm was recovered remain unclear. No charges regarding the theft or crash of the patrol vehicle were disclosed.
The investigation continues.