Cops: 19-year-old from Griffin faces felonies after armed robbery, police chase

Anthony Watts

Credit: Pike County Sheriff's Office

Credit: Pike County Sheriff's Office

Anthony Watts

A 19-year-old from Spalding County faces several felonies after an armed robbery and police chase, authorities said.

Anthony Watts was arrested by Spalding deputies after he robbed a man at gunpoint in a neighboring county during a drug deal, the Pike County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Just after 3 p.m. Friday, Pike County deputies met with the armed robbery victim at a home off Coggins Street, the release said. The victim said he had been robbed of several hundred dollars during “a drug deal that went bad.”

The victim said he was going to buy marijuana from Watts, but the suspect held a gun to his head and demanded his money instead, the release said. Watts allegedly fled the scene in a silver Ford Mustang.

Once deputies identified the suspect as Watts, they asked Spalding deputies to check out his home near Griffin, the release said. When deputies arrived, they spotted Watts in the Mustang along Old Atlanta Road.

Once Watts saw the cops, he sped away, initiating a pursuit, the release said. A deputy eventually performed a PIT maneuver, ending the chase and leading to Watts’ arrest.

Watts faces counts of armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in Pike County. In Spalding County, he will also face fleeing and eluding police chases.

He remains in the Pike County jail awaiting a bond hearing.

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