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Robbery suspect hits school bus during chase
A chase that started with a reported armed robbery ended with a crash into a Cobb County school bus that had kids on board.
COBB COUNTY, Ga. - All eighteen children aboard a Cobb County school bus were not seriously injured after a suspected armed robber fled from police in what is being described as a wild chase through the Marietta area on Tuesday afternoon.
Police say the chase stemmed from an armed robbery attempt during a Facebook marketplace meet-up. The victim actually followed the suspected thief until officers could pursue him.
"This is a classic case of a person trying to do the wrong thing, and fortunately justice prevailed," said Marietta Police Sgt. Chuck McPhilamy.
Police say Jaylen Williams was meeting up with prospective buyers of a car he put up for sale. They agreed to purchase the car and went to get the money. When they came back, police say Williams pulled a screwdriver on them and demanded the $5,000 cash they had on them.
"As we came back with the cash to buy the car, he was filling out the bill of sale. And then snatched the money and drove off. [We] got in our car, and we followed him," said one of the buyers, Abe Elias.
They got in their car and followed the 25-year-old man down Cobb Parkway. Police say the man was driving recklessly as he attempted to get away from them.
"The cops were already coming from the opposite direction. We flagged them down, and then they took over," Elias said.
Within a few minutes of the officers' pursuit, the driver had crashed into a school bus near the intersection of Cobb Parkway SE and Franklin Drive SE. There were 18 children on the bus at the time. None were seriously hurt.
Williams took off on foot, but was arrested a short time later.
Police say this situation could’ve ended a lot differently. They’re reminding residents to be extra cautious when it comes to in-person meet-ups to purchase items posted on Facebook marketplace.
"If we could do anything slightly different, [we would] ask that these transactions take place at your local police department," Sgt. McPhilamy said.
A spokesperson for Cobb County Schools says all those aboard the bus made it home safely.
Williams was charged with theft by deception and robbery, both felonies. He was booked into the Cobb County Jail.
Investigators say more charges are possible.