By Joanna Putman
Police1
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Police Department has released body-worn camera footage of an arrest of a robbery suspect who was able to slip out of handcuffs and escape from a cruiser, according to a department news release.
The Aug. 9 incident began when officers responded to a convenience store after a reported robbery, according to the release. The victim reported that while inside the store, he was approached by an unidentified male who brandished a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine and demanded the victim’s car keys. The suspect forcibly took the keys and fled the scene.
Surveillance footage from the store captured the entire incident, providing images of the suspect. A little more than a week later, an officer on patrol in the same area was flagged down by a witness who provided information about the robbery suspect, according to the release. The witness reported seeing the suspect in the store earlier that day and indicated that he might still be in the vicinity.
The officer conducted a search of the area and located a male matching the suspect’s description from the surveillance footage. The suspect initially attempted to walk away but was detained, body camera footage shows.
However, while being transported back to the scene of the robbery, the suspect managed to escape from his handcuffs and fled from the patrol vehicle.
Officers immediately initiated a search and located the suspect a short time later in a nearby residential parking garage. As officers approached, the suspect attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended and taken into custody without further incident.
The suspect has been charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.