A crime spree ends with the arrest of teenagers after a crash on a GMC | Information

A crime spree involving several break-ins in Putnam County Sunday night led to a chase and the crash of a stolen SUV on the campus of the Georgia Military Academy in Milledgeville, local officials said.

Police officers were involved in the pursuit of a Chevrolet Tahoe that had been reported stolen in a neighboring county.

Several guns were also reported stolen from vehicles that were broken into over the weekend.

Milledgeville Police Chief Dray Swicord said three juveniles, all from Putnam County, were taken into custody after the crash.

“All three are young,†Swicord told The Union-Recorder early Monday afternoon. “This same group apparently broke into a series of cars and also stole one. And the night before (Saturday), the same group, we believe, had come to Milledgeville and committed car crimes. We think they were returning to enter some other vehicles here early Monday when some of our officers were alerted through technology and a search for the stolen vehicle followed.â€

Swicord said the new technology is helping law enforcement agencies focus more on stolen vehicles on the road.

Officers with the Milledgeville Police Department were previously advised of a stolen vehicle in Putnam County. The same vehicle was later seen entering the Milledgeville city limits at about 12:40 a.m., according to a press release from Maj. Linc Boyer, commander of the police department’s road patrol division.

Boyer said the stolen SUV was later spotted by Lt. MPD’s Ryan Chapple and Officer Jalen Webb were traveling southbound on North Jefferson Street.

“Lt. Chapple and Officer Webb attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of ​​North Jefferson Street and Longino Drive, but the vehicle failed to stop and began fleeing the officers,†said Boyer.

MPD Officer Walter Tuttle managed to deploy stop sticks near North Jefferson Street and Dunlap Road which caused one of the tires on the stolen SUV to go flat.

However, the driver of the SUV continued southbound on North Jefferson Street.

Finally, the car lost a tire along the 800 block of the road.

The driver of the stolen Tahoe continued past the Mary Vinson Memorial Library before driving through the North Gate and onto the GMC campus, Boyer said.

“The car continued south through Gate Ballard, into the bushes and came to rest against Usery Hall,†he said.

The three young occupants of the car fled on foot from the overturned SUV, but were quickly apprehended by police.

“Further investigation revealed multiple vehicle break-ins (cases) occurred last night in Putnam County and in the city of Milledgeville,†said Boyer. “These three studies are being fully investigated for those errors.â€

The names of the young suspects were not released by police because they are all young, 16 or younger.

Police have charged the driver of the stolen SUV with receiving stolen property, felony fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, criminal damage to property and reckless driving.

Two juvenile passengers in the stolen SUV were each charged with theft by receiving stolen property of a vehicle and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

“More charges are expected, pending further investigation,†said Boyer.

The highway patrol commander said that since several guns were reportedly taken from the trunks of the vehicles, police decided to call in a special K-9 Unit with the Macon-Bibb County Sheriff’s Office to check areas on the GMC campus. The possibility of the gun being thrown by the suspects when they run away from the accident.

“The quick action of these officers successfully took these (suspected) criminals into custody, without a doubt, prevented more of our citizens from becoming victims of this crime,†said Boyer.

Police are seeking additional information from the public. Anyone with information is asked to call the Milledgeville Police Department at 478-414-4090 or Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 478-742-2330.