A 30‑year‑old suspect stole a marked police cruiser and led officers on a wild chase that ended when the vehicle slammed into a tanker on Interstate 675. He is now in custody, charged with robbery and simple battery.
Arrest Follows Violent Midtown Robbery
Police identified the suspect as Phelan Thorpe, 30, who was wanted for a Saturday robbery near the Midtown MARTA station.
Officers responded to a report at 5:15 p.m. Monday on Thomasville Drive SE, where Thorpe allegedly entered a parked patrol car, drove it away and fled into Clayton County.
He crashed the cruiser into a tanker truck on I‑675, sustaining minor injuries and being taken to a hospital, while no officers or civilians were hurt.
Thorpe faces robbery and simple battery charges; investigators have not yet disclosed whether a firearm was recovered.
Surveillance video released by the Atlanta Police Department shows Thorpe following a woman from the Midtown MARTA station before confronting her at 10th and West Peachtree streets on Oct. 3, 2026, demanding her purse and iPhone and striking her with a closed fist.
The victim was transported to a hospital for evaluation after the struggle.
Atlanta police had asked the public for help identifying the suspect before locating Thorpe, who was already wanted for the earlier robbery.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional charges related to the vehicle theft or crash have been announced.
Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and much more.
