CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Clayton County officials arrested a man Thursday who they said stole a car with a sleeping baby inside.
The baby has since been found safe.
Police said the incident began when a mother, Jetta Sellers, stopped to get gas at a BP station on Jonesboro Road on Thursday morning.
Officials said the woman’s 8-month-old son, Jayden, was asleep in the backseat when she went inside to pay for the gas.
Channel 2 Action News reporter Erin Coleman was at the scene when police said the mother’s keys were in the car, but it was not running at the time.
While Sellers was paying for her gas, a man, police identified as Robert Jones, jumped into the car and sped off, police said.
Coleman said other witnesses at the scene tried to stop the man, including a woman who jumped in front of the car. The woman said Jones showed no signs of stopping so she had to jump out of the way. She suffered a bruised hand.
“I immediately ran and tried to get in front of the car to stop him,” said Phyllis Jones. “He went full speed ahead. No stopping. I saw the baby, and it was like, it went crazy after that point.”
Gas station security guard Triquantis Isom saw what was happening too, and jumped into his own car to give chase. He told Channel 2’s Richard Elliot that he followed the stolen car onto I-285, then onto Moreland Avenue, talking to both Atlanta and Clayton County 911 along the way.
Finally, Isom said he chased the car into a cul-de-sac and rammed it to prevent it from escaping. Isom said he fought with Robert Jones until police arrived seconds later. Jayden was unhurt.
While officers don’t condone what Isom did, they said they were grateful for the assistance.
“I’m just glad the baby’s alright,” said Isom.
Jones was arrested, and Jayden, who had still been asleep, was found safely. The baby has been returned to his mother.
“I’m just so happy to have my baby back,” said Sellers.
Jones was charged with theft by taking, kidnapping, aggravated assault and giving a false name.
