How Did Police Catch the Perimeter Mall Suspects?

TL;DR

Police caught the Perimeter Mall suspects after an Ulta employee described them and officers spotted them in the parking lot, where they fled on foot. Both were detained, and police recovered two bags of merchandise valued at about $2,008, stolen credit cards, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Read on for details about the pursuits, an officer’s broken finger, the recovered evidence, and each suspect’s charges.

Transcript

On April 8th, 2023, Dunwy police raced to Perimeter Mall after reports of shoplifting at the Ulta store. An employee gave officers a detailed description of two suspects, saying they had already left the store and were somewhere in the parking lot. They're right there. They're running. They're right here. Uh they are in the parking lot heading towa... Read More

Key Insights

• An Ulta employee’s detailed description helped Dunwoody officers locate two reported shoplifting suspects in the Perimeter Mall parking lot on April 8, 2023. The suspects ran when they saw a police vehicle, and two officers split up to pursue them separately.
• Both suspects were detained after short foot pursuits and repeated police commands to get on the ground. One detention involved a brief physical struggle during which an officer broke a finger, leading police to request emergency medical assistance and provide an ice pack and splint.
• The recovered merchandise filled two bags carried by the suspects. An Ulta employee documented the items and calculated the store’s total loss at about $2,008, establishing that the incident involved substantially more merchandise than the suspects later characterized as a petty crime.
• Several credit cards recovered during the arrests displayed different names. Officers suspected the cards were stolen, and later confirmation established that they were, contributing to a financial transaction theft charge against one of the arrested men.
• Discarded substances found along the suspects’ flight path tested positive for cocaine and methamphetamine. Officers also located an object described as a lighter associated with crack use, and one suspect was charged with possessing drug-related objects along with both controlled substances.
• An outstanding-warrant check revealed that one suspect was already wanted for shoplifting and obstruction by another sheriff’s office. The discovery added context to the officers’ reaction when they learned his identity and prior unresolved legal status.
• Recorded conversation inside the police vehicle captured the suspects discussing alternative escape routes. They speculated that running back through the mall, hiding near parked cars, or noticing police earlier might have helped them avoid capture, while also acknowledging that discarded drugs had been found.
• The final charges differed between the two suspects. One was charged with theft and obstruction, while the other faced possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug-related objects, shoplifting, financial transaction theft, and obstruction before both entered DeKalb County Jail.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did police catch the Perimeter Mall shoplifting suspects?

An Ulta employee gave Dunwoody police a detailed description of two suspects who had entered the Perimeter Mall parking lot. Officers spotted them there on April 8, 2023, and both suspects ran when they saw the police vehicle. Two officers split up, pursued one suspect each, and detained both men.

Q: What happened during the foot pursuits at Perimeter Mall?

The officers repeatedly ordered the fleeing suspects to stop, get on the ground, and put their hands behind their backs. Both men were taken into custody after separate pursuits. During a brief struggle with one suspect, an officer broke a finger and requested emergency medical assistance.

Q: How much Ulta merchandise was reportedly stolen?

The suspects had two bags filled with merchandise from Ulta. After documenting the recovered items, an Ulta employee calculated the store’s loss at about $2,008.

Q: What additional stolen property did officers recover?

Officers found several credit cards bearing different names. Police initially suspected that the cards were stolen and later confirmed it. The discovery contributed to a financial transaction theft charge against one suspect.

Q: What drugs did police find in the parking lot?

Officers found substances that the suspects had discarded while fleeing through the parking lot. Tests later identified them as cocaine and methamphetamine. Police also recovered an object described as a lighter associated with crack use.

Q: Did either Perimeter Mall suspect have outstanding warrants?

A records check showed that one suspect had outstanding warrants from another sheriff’s office. An officer identified the warrants as being for shoplifting and obstruction.

Q: What did the suspects say about their failed escape?

Inside the police vehicle, the suspects discussed ways they thought they might have escaped. They mentioned running back through the mall, hiding near parked cars, and noticing the police sooner. They also discussed the drugs officers had found.

Q: What charges did the two Perimeter Mall suspects face?

One suspect was charged with theft and obstruction. The other faced shoplifting, obstruction, financial transaction theft, cocaine possession, methamphetamine possession, and possession of drug-related objects. Both were booked into DeKalb County Jail.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• On April 8, 2023, Dunwoody police responded to an Ulta shoplifting report at Perimeter Mall. An employee described two suspects who had entered the parking lot. Both men ran after seeing a police vehicle, prompting separate foot pursuits that ended with both suspects detained after repeated commands and a brief struggle.

• Officers recovered two bags filled with merchandise, and an employee calculated the store’s loss at about $2,008. They also found several credit cards bearing different names and later confirmed the cards were stolen. A records check showed that one suspect had outstanding warrants for shoplifting and obstruction from another sheriff’s office.

• Police found discarded substances and drug-related objects in the parking lot. Testing later identified the substances as cocaine and methamphetamine. One suspect received theft and obstruction charges, while the other faced shoplifting, obstruction, financial transaction theft, cocaine possession, methamphetamine possession, and possession of drug-related objects before both were booked into DeKalb County Jail.