Man allegedly robs liquor store days after release from prison

A 37-year-old man is accused of robbing a Johns Creek liquor store days after he was released from prison, police say.

Surveillance video obtained by Channel 2 Action News from outside Ritesh Patel’s store shows a man breaking in on Dec. 15, grabbing a cash register and running out.

But the man had backed his car into a parking space in front of the store when the camera caught his tag number.

The video shows the man, later identified as Donald Garrett, running to cover the tag. But it was too late.

Fulton County police ran the tag and quickly caught up with Garrett, who, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, committed a smash-and-grab robbery in their jurisdiction.

Patel told Channel 2 that Garrett only got away with an empty cash register anyway, but he was glad the alleged robber was in custody without bond.

Garrett faces charges in Forsyth and Fulton counties, Channel 2 reported.

“If you're living that type of lifestyle it's hard to change, but I'm hoping that he does,” Patel told the news station.

In other news:

Arrests Made After SUV Plows Into Melbourne Crowd

About the Author

Ellen Eldridge

Georgia veterans decry Trump administration’s plans to shrink VA workforce

Georgia military veterans are worried about Trump administration plans to cut the Veterans Affairs Department workforce by 15%. Georgia is home to more than 600,000 veterans.

Savannah’s growth is on ballot with school, infrastructure tax levies

Savannah's explosive growth has stretched public schools to the breaking point, particularly in the once rural western part of the county. A penny sales tax vote is looming.