Four men are in custody after a shoplifting incident at Cumberland Mall turned into a dangerous chase through busy streets on Monday afternoon.
What It Means For You: If you were driving on Cumberland Parkway or Atlanta Road around 5:30 p.m. on September 29th, you may have witnessed a grey Chevrolet Tahoe speeding through traffic at more than twice the speed limit, putting drivers and pedestrians at risk.
What’s Happening: Mall security spotted a vehicle linked to an earlier theft at Dick’s Sporting Goods. When police tried to pull over the driver, he sped away at speeds over 70 mph in a 35-mph zone.
- The driver went into oncoming traffic lanes to escape police during rush hour.
- A bystander tackled one suspect who tried to run away after police stopped the vehicle.
Between the Lines: Police stopped chasing the vehicle when traffic got too heavy, following department safety rules. But the driver kept speeding dangerously even when no police cars were behind him with lights on.
A Cobb County Police Officer then was able to protect the public from further endangerment and successfully immobilized the vehicle utilizing the PIT maneuver.
The Arrests: Police charged Ralph Swinger, of Atlanta, who was driving, with felony fleeing, reckless driving, no insurance, suspended registration, and felony shoplifting. Joseph Ogletree, of Atlanta, faces felony shoplifting and obstruction charges. He also had an outstanding warrant for shoplifting. Derrick Davis, of East Point, was charged with felony shoplifting and also had a shoplifting warrant. Eddie Jones, of Hiram, was charged with felony shoplifting. The suspects ranged in age from 49 to 58.
The Big Picture: Retail theft has become a growing problem across metro Atlanta. When suspects flee from police, they put innocent people at risk.
The Sources: Cobb County Police Department
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
