A Union City man is facing more than 20 charges after leading Fayette County deputies on an April 6 chase that began on Rockaway Road near Peachtree City and ended on Ga. Highway 85 in Fayetteville.
Fayette County Sheriff Barry Babb said the April 6 incident began at approximately 7 a.m. when a Fayette County Sheriff’s deputy observed a Senoia Police Officer attempting to stop a Chevrolet pickup truck on Rockaway Road in southern Fayette County. The deputy was able to determine that the truck was stolen and was fleeing the Senoia officer, said Babb.
Babb said the deputy turned on his lights and siren and began to pursue the offender as they entered Fayette County. The driver, later identified as 25-year-old Joshua Robinson, led deputies on a pursuit through Fayette County toward Clayton County, Babb said.
“As deputies followed, Robinson drove recklessly at a high rate of speed and even lost an ATV which was in the bed of the stolen truck. As the offender became more desperate to escape, his driving became more reckless,” said Babb.
“Deputies formulated a plan to box the offender in and slow him down. When they executed the plan, Robinson rammed two of the deputies’ vehicles but was stopped in front of Fun Junction USA on Hwy. 85 north of Fayetteville. Robinson was taken into custody after a short struggle.”
The litany of charges against Robinson include two counts of theft by receiving stolen property, two counts of interference with government property, possession of narcotics, fleeing and attempting to elude, obstruction of justice, and two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer. Robinson was also cited for 12 traffic violations committed during the pursuit, said Babb.
In a separate incident, the Fayette County Tactical Narcotics Team on April 2 conducted an operation at the Citgo station on Ga. Highway 138 which lead to the arrest of 28-year-old Alicia Smith of Stone Mountain and 28-year-old Kevin Taylor of College Park.
The couple traveled to Fayette County for the purpose of selling approximately two ounces of marijuana, the sheriff said.
In addition to the drug arrest, the couple had in their possession a loaded .40-caliber firearm. Both were charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Another arrest came on April 2 when deputies responded to a prowling call at a home on Ga. Highway 314. Babb said homeowners called 911 when they arrived home to find an unknown car in their driveway. When deputies arrived, they found a dark green Jeep Grand Cherokee parked in front of the home, said Babb.
Babb said the driver of the vehicle, 35-year-old Billy Kerlin, of Zebulon, was arrested and charged with prowling, criminal trespass, possession of drug-related objects and possession of methamphetamine.
Detectives later connected Kerlin to another burglary on Hwy. 85 South, Babb said, adding that Kerlin was served with an additional burglary warrant and is currently housed at the Fayette County Jail.
