The second suspect in the Feb. 13 auto theft on White Tail Court in north Fayette County has been arrested. The Atlanta man has been tied to two other local car thefts and a burglary and is wanted for murder in College Park.
Fernando “Smoochie” Bennefield, 22, of Atlanta, was arrested March 4 in College Park by U.S. Marshals on auto theft charges, said Sheriff Barry Babb. Bennefield is also wanted in College Park for an October 2014 murder, Babb said.
“Fayette County deputies have been working diligently to solve the recent car thefts in Fayette County and have connected Bennefield to three Fayette County car thefts and a burglary which occurred in January and February,” said Babb.
Bennefield was the suspect who was able to elude officers when he and 21-year-old Atlanta resident Paul Edward Chapman were cornered by Babb and a number of deputies on Feb. 13 at an apartment complex on Washington Road in Fulton County.
Chapman was unable to escape during the Feb. 13 foot chase through the apartment parking lot that ultimately landed him in jail on auto theft charges.
Chapman was armed with a handgun which he had on his person and attempted to gain control of during the foot pursuit, said Babb.
