Florida murder fugitive found asleep in an East Cobb 24-hour gym
A man wanted on a Florida murder charge was found asleep recently inside a 24-hour gym in East Cobb.
Cobb County police didn't know Jovan Huggins was a fugitive when they arrived at Village Fitness on Powers Ferry Road about 5 a.m. on Nov. 9 for a suspicious person call.
Police said in a Facebook post that Huggins lied to them, giving them several names and dates of birth. They arrested him on a charge of providing false information.
Still trying to figure out who he was, officers used a RapidID device which scans fingerprints and runs them through police databases, said Alicia Chilton, Cobb police spokeswoman.
It worked.
Huggins, 23, was found to be wanted for the killing of his new girlfriend LaToya Smith, a 30-year-old mother of three, who was found dead in a Tampa street, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
A Tampa police homicide detective came to Georgia a few days after the arrest to interview Huggins, police told the newspaper.
Huggins remains jailed in Cobb awaiting extradition.
About the Author
Ben Brasch is the reporter tasked with keeping Fulton County government accountable. The Florida native moved to Atlanta for a job with The AJC. If there's something important to you going on in Fulton, he wants to know about it. Help him better metro Atlanta by dropping a line, anonymously or otherwise.
