Phenix City police would neither confirm nor deny reports that a 22-year-old man in their custody Friday night was connected to the shooting death of Auburn University student Lauren Burk of Marietta.

The man, who lives in the Smith Station community near Phenix City, was arrested in Phenix City — just over the Georgia line from Columbus — following a high-speed chase late Friday morning.

Phenix City police Lt. Curt Lewis said the man had confessed to robbing an elderly woman last week outside a Wal-Mart in Phenix City, as well as four other robberies in the area. Lewis said police found evidence in the man's car that linked him to at least one of the robberies.

About 11:30 a.m. Friday, a Phenix City police officer spotted a silver Chrysler Sebring speeding east on U.S. 80 at Summerville Road and pulled the car over.

As he did so, police sent two other investigators to the traffic stop because the vehicle matched the description of a car that was linked to the robbery of the elderly woman.

As soon as the investigators arrived, the driver jumped into his car and took off, leading to a high-speed chase that lasted several minutes, police said.

"He decided he didn't want to be around any more," Lewis said.

The driver headed north on Summerville Road and stopped in the middle of a road when his car apparently broke down. The car stopped so quickly, a motorcycle police officer in pursuit collided with the driver's side door as the driver was opening it.

Officer Dale Richards was taken to Columbus Medical Center, where he was treated for abrasions and scratches and was released Friday night, police said.

The driver tried to flee on foot, but "immediately surrendered" when one officer closed in on him, Lewis said. The man dropped to the ground and put his hands behind his back. Officers took the man to the Phenix City Police Department.

During the course of speaking with investigators, the man confessed to the robbery at the Phenix City Wal-Mart and to four others in the surrounding area, police said.Spee