Suspect who went on a ‘crime spree’ in Buckhead was in a bipolar episode, police say

ATLANTA - A man who Atlanta police say was behind an attempted kidnapping, carjacking, and retail theft incidents in Buckhead is facing multiple charges. The incidents all happened on the same day. 

APD officials say that Jason Womack went on a "crime spree" in January that spanned from Buckhead to Dunwoody. Investigators believe Womack was in the middle of a bipolar episode when it all started inside a men’s clothing store on Peachtree Road.

What we know:

Newly released audio from 911 calls made on Jan. 16 provides insight into the terrifying moments when a caller says she witnessed the attempted kidnapping of a woman at an Orange Theory Fitness on Piedmont Road. 

The victim managed to get away. From there, Womack walked to a nearby BP gas station where he stole a white Honda Pilot just before 5 p.m. — falsely identifying himself as a government employee.

Investigators say the 29-year-old man took the car and the driver’s Amex card and made multiple stops at a Wendy’s, Target, and a Massage Spa in Dunwoody. 

Womack reportedly spent almost $250 before Flock cameras pinged the car at a hotel near Perimeter Mall and Sandy Springs police took him into custody.

What they're saying:

The first caller described Womack, as a heavy-set white male wearing a white shirt and black slacks.

She stated the man, who was holding an iPad, tried to pick the woman up but she managed to escape.

"He grabbed one of our members … I’m not kidding you right now - he picked her up and was grabbing her … she was fighting," she said on the call with dispatch.

Atlanta police say the description that the caller gave them matched that of a shoplifting suspect who walked into a men’s clothing store less than a mile away and took off with the items he’d tried on shortly before the attempted kidnapping.

The second caller told police that he didn’t give Womack his keys but somehow, the man was able to drive off in his car.

"This guy got into my front seat and said he worked for the government and that he needed my keys," the caller said.

The other side:

After making contact with a family member, investigators learned Womack was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was not on his medication.

Psychiatrist David Purcell says it’s not unusual for individuals dealing with mental health disorders to avoid taking their meds. 

"Bipolar 1 people can get psychotic, they can get delusional, they can get paranoid, they can hear voices … oftentimes, patients will feel like they don’t need to take their medication," he explained.

Psychiatrist David Purcell

Purcell emphasized the importance of loved ones and patients knowing what resources are available if they are suffering from a mental illness.

He says NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Suicide Prevention Crisis Line offer support services to those who are in need.