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Theft suspect caught after chase
Man fled mall in north Fulton
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Forsyth County News
A Lithonia man got more than he bargained for when he tried to take a stack of polo shirts from an Alpharetta retailer Tuesday night.  

John Taylor, 62, faces many charges after fleeing a traffic stop and leading officers on a chase that ended along Ga. 400 in Forsyth County.

Alpharetta has charged Taylor with speeding, reckless driving, obstruction, aggravated assault and fleeing and attempting to elude. He also has been charged with theft by shoplifting and possession of tools to commit a crime.

In Forsyth County, Taylor faces charges of reckless driving and fleeing and attempting to elude.

The pursuit, which ended about 9:30 p.m. at the Mary Alice Park highway overpass, began after an Alpharetta Department of Public Safety officer pulled Taylor’s vehicle over on Mansell Road, near Northpoint Mall.

The suspect had reportedly taken the shirts from Dillard’s at the shopping center.

“Our officer was walking up to the car and while he was doing so, the guy punched the gas and took off,” said George Gordon, Alpharetta department spokesman.

“We have received a confession from the individual regarding the theft and he stated that he panicked.”

The report said Taylor was driving the 2004 Ford Focus between 65 and 80 mph.

According to a Forsyth County Sheriff’s report, a deputy responded to Alpharetta’s request for assistance.

After an unsuccessful attempt to stop Taylor on Ga. 400, the deputy ordered spike strips be placed before Exit 14.

He and several other deputies then took part in a rolling roadblock, eventually stopping Taylor.

According to the report, the driver “was continually jerking back and forth in attempts to get through” and struck a patrol car.

Gordon heralded the cooperation between the two law enforcement agencies.

“They had an incident in their jurisdiction that we captured here, and we had one here that they assisted us with and played a huge part in,” he said.

The first incident happened Aug. 15, when Alpharetta officers stopped a vehicle with three suspects wanted for an armed robbery in Forsyth County.