Search continues for man in police chase, crash in Midtown
As the search continued Thursday afternoon for a driver of a stolen truck involved in a police chase that ended near the Midtown studios of Channel 2 Action News, one of two passengers arrested in connection with the incident was released, police said.
Police have not said which person was freed, but officers arrested a man and woman inside the stolen white Ford F-150 involved in the chase and crash. The driver got away.
About 2 a.m., police spotted the Ford, which was reported stolen April 6, Atlanta police spokeswoman Officer Kim Jones said just before 1 p.m. It was turning from 10th Street to West Peachtree Street.
The truck then turned onto 15th Street, and two officers followed it and attempted to stop the truck at 15th and Peachtree streets, Jones said.
One of the officers angled his patrol car in front of the Ford truck, and both officers got out their vehicles.
That’s when the Ford drove away and one of the officers accidentally fired a service weapon.
“Officer Santa had his service weapon deployed and had an accidental discharge while the vehicle was driving away,” Jones said. No one was injured.
The Ford struck patrol vehicle No. 30207, did not stop and led police on a chase, which ended when the truck stopped on West Peachtree Street, Jones said. Officers were able to arrest one passenger who remained in the truck and one who attempted to run away.
The driver may have jumped the gate to the television studios or run away from the area, police said.
The suspect still in custody was charged with obstruction, Jones said. That person’s name was not released.
