An Atlanta woman is in police custody after authorities said she took off in a friend’s truck and hit five vehicles during a wild ride this morning through southwest Atlanta.
That ride, Atlanta police said, started shortly after Christopher Johnson refused to drop off Linda Thomas on Memorial Drive as she asked. According to a police report, Johnson told Thomas, “You did not give me enough gas money for that so I will drop you off at the West End.”
Johnson, 43, went to a store and left Thomas inside a truck with the keys in the ignition, according to the report. That was when Thomas, 54, allegedly got in the driver’s seat and drove away from the scene. Johnson jumped on the truck to get Thomas to stop, but she kept driving, authorities said.
Johnson eventually fell off of the truck, but was not injured, according to the report.
While driving the truck, Thomas jumped a curb, entered the parking lot of a shopping center and hit three parked vehicles, police said. One of the vehicles was severely damaged. Thomas, police said, crossed Delowe Drive SW, went into a parking lot and damaged another parked vehicle.
She also caused severe damage to the truck she was driving before East Point police stopped her in the 2400 block of Grove Drive, authorities said.
Thomas had a few cuts and bruises, but was treated and released to police.
Thomas has been charged with reckless conduct, second degree criminal damage to property, theft by taking, hit and run and reckless driving, according to Fulton County Jail records. She is being held on $12,500 bond.
Thomas had an outstanding warrant on unrelated charges from Jonesboro police, according to the report.
Staff writer J. Scott Trubey contributed to this story.
About the Author
