Six alleged robbers — including three juveniles — were arrested Tuesday morning after jumping a man walking near Georgia Tech’s campus, authorities said.
The group was also believed to be connected to an earlier robbery.
Atlanta Police Department spokeswoman Officer Kim Jones said an off-duty officer was leaving a part-time job on Tech Parkway about 1 a.m. when he spotted several males surround a victim, punch him and take his bookbag. The suspects drove off in a burgundy Pontiac, police said, and the off-duty officer followed.
Georgia Tech police officers saw and heard the chase, joined the pursuit and successfully pulled the suspects over, Jones said. The driver of the vehicle, identified as 21-year-old Barry Harper Jr., ran away but was apprehended.
The remaining five suspects, 17-year-olds Joi Pipins and Iman Jones and three juveniles, were arrested at the scene.
The victim reportedly told police that the vehicle approached him as he walked down the street. Harper jumped out, said “give me what you got” and punched him while three other males surrounded him, the victim said.
The victim was not injured. His bookbag, cellphone and wallet were recovered in the suspects’ vehicle, police said.
Jones said that, about 30 minutes prior to the incident, a robbery with the same suspect and vehicle descriptions was reported in Zone 6. The victim in that case, who had “visible injuries,” identified the suspects in the Tech Parkway incident as his assailants, police said.
Fulton County jail records show Harper was charged with robbery, simple battery and obstruction. Pipins was charged with two counts of robbery, and Jones was was charged with robbery, reckless driving, and fleeing or attempting to elude.
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