The attempt by three men to steal vacuum cleaners from a store in Peachtree City then get away clean did not pan out as they expected. A pursuit by Tyrone police officers ended with the getaway car crashing into a telephone pole in Union City.
Samuel Etuk, 28, of Riverdale, was charged by Tyrone officers with fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, shoplifting and nearly a dozen other charges relating to the incident, according to Tyrone Police Chief Brandon Perkins.
Ryan Bing, 28, of Bradenton, Fla., was charged with obstruction, according to Tyrone police.
Anthony Lynqual London, 28, of Atlanta, was wanted on previous charges, reports said.
The incident began when Peachtree City officers on Sept. 5 responded to a theft in progress at Bed, Bath and Beyond at Kedron Village shopping center on Ga. Highway 74 North.
Department spokesman Mark Brown said subjects were reported running out the back door with numerous boxes.
The subjects entered a silver Acura and fled onto Hwy. 74 heading north and were located by Tyrone officers, said Brown.
Tyrone police spotted the vehicle driven by Etuk heading north on Hwy. 74 and began pursuit. The vehicle turned right onto Tyrone Road and into the BP station where Bing jumped from the vehicle and began to run. Tyrone officers caught and cuffed him, according to Tyrone reports.
The vehicle returned to Hwy. 74 heading north, changing lanes and driving erratically while traveling 95-110 miles per hour, Tyrone officers said. Pursuit vehicles followed the fleeing Acura at a safe distance, reports noted.
Once at Interstate 85, the Acura drove north and exited onto Flat Shoals Road in Union City. The vehicle was tracked at speeds of 80-90 miles per hour on Flat Shoals Road.
Etuk soon struck a delivery truck on Shannon Parkway, causing the Acura to spin into oncoming traffic. The Acura subsequently slammed into a telephone pole, breaking it and causing wires to fall across the roadway at Flat Shoals Road and Shannon Parkway. Johnson and London were temporarily trapped inside the vehicle.
Etuk and London were taken into custody after being freed from the vehicle and transported to Grady Hospital for treatment.
