DeKalb County police 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, whose name was not released, was taken into custody in a nearby McDonald’s parking lot, said Mekka Parish, public information officer for the DeKalb County police.
The van turned out to be stolen, Parish said.
She said a preliminary investigation indicated the man might be responsible for some burglaries and 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 police spokeswoman said. The pursuit began when an officer noticed the van driver taking steps to evade the safety check, Parish said.
About the Author
