DeKalb County police say they recovered a stolen van Thursday after a routine traffic stop turned into a chase.
The suspect was caught after he jumped out of the moving van as it entered the parking lot of a Checker’s fast food restaurant on Moreland Avenue in southeast Atlanta.
The vehicle crashed, and the suspect was taken into custody in a nearby McDonalds’ parking lot, said Mekka Parish, public information officer for DeKalb County Police.
The van turned out to be stolen, Parish said.
She said a preliminary investigation shows the man may be responsible for some burglaries, and possibly some armed robberies, in the area.
A weapon was found in the vehicle, Parish said.
In response to concerns about crime in the area, DeKalb police had established a safety road check a short distance away, the spokeswoman said.
She said the pursuit began when an officer noticed the van driver taking steps to evade the safety check.
No additional information was immediately available.
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