Clayton County kidnapping: Baby found near dumpster; man arrested for stealing car

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. - A car theft in Clayton County prompted an area-wide search for a 2-month-old infant, who was inside at the time. A 17-year-old person has since been arrested. 

Johnathan Johnson was arrested near Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Jonesboro after a reported high-speed chase. He was charged with motor vehicle theft, kidnapping, reckless conduct, hit and run, cruelty to children, fleeing and eluding, disobeying a traffic control device, and reckless driving.

According to the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, the teen stole a silver Acura TL around 11:45 a.m. Friday from the parking lot of the Southway Shopping Center located along Highway 138 between N. Main Street and U.S. 41. The mother told officers she had run into Champion Wings and Fish for what she thought would just be a moment to pick up food. She told officers she had left her keys in the car and the car running with her 2-month-old inside. When she got out of the business, she saw someone driving off with her car. She did not recognize the man. 

Johnathan Johnson (Clayton County Sheriff's Office)

The theft prompted a BOLO (be on the lookout) with multiple area agencies joining the active search. As the search heated up, officers also worked to issue a Levi's Call, Georgia's Amber Alert System for missing and abducted children, to find the infant.

About 45 minutes later, and before a formal alert could be issued, Clayton County Sheriff’s deputies spotted the vehicle making a turn in front of them at the intersection of Southlake Parkway and Mt. Zion Road. Deputies attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver sped away. Officers gave chase, reaching high speeds. Police say the car drove onto the sidewalk before crossing the concrete median and continuing on, eventually crashing near the cemetery on Mt. Zion Rd and Mt. Zion Blvd.

The driver took off running into the woods but was captured on the other side by Georgia State Patrol troopers.

SKYFOX 5 flew over the crash site shortly after Johnson was taken into custody, capturing footage of police officers combing the vehicle for evidence.

Police say the baby was not found in the crashed car. At this point, police say all units began focusing on finding the young child.

According to the Clayton County Police Department, Johnson told investigators he had taken the infant out of the vehicle and placed her behind a dumpster, but could not recall the exact location.

After an exhaustive search, the child was found behind a dumpster in a wooded area at the Tara Woods apartments off Tara Boulevard and Sherwood Drive. The child was checked by medics and reunited with her mother.

A 2-month-old baby, who was taken along with a car from a Clayton County shopping center, was found near a dumpster at the Tara Wood apartments located near Tara Boulevard and Sherwood Drive on Aug. 16, 2024. 

All three locations are within a 3-mile radius.

Johnson is expected to be formally booked into the Clayton County Jail on the aforementioned charges.

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