Coweta County Sheriff's K-9 Robbi trains with his new partner on March 11, 2024. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
NEWNAN, Ga. - A courageous K-9 is expected to make a full recovery after being struck by a vehicle while helping deputies capture a bank robbery suspect during a pursuit in Newnan on Wednesday afternoon.
Newnan bank robbery, chase
What we know:
FOX 5’s Doug Evans was on the scene within minutes and shared a live report on FOX 5 News Live.
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Regions Bank robber caught after Gwinnett County crash
A suspect is in custody following a Regions Bank robbery in Newnan and a high-speed chase that ended at a busy Gwinnett County intersection Wednesday. Police say the suspect robbed the bank and fled, leading officers on a pursuit that ended in a crash just two miles away. The suspect attempted to flee on foot but was captured by help of a K9 unit. FOX 5’s Doug Evans reports on the quick apprehension that caused major traffic delays at the crash site.
The incident began when deputies with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office were notified of a possible bank robbery in progress at the Regions Bank on Bullsboro Road. Deputies in the immediate area located the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver failed to yield, initiating a high-speed pursuit.
The chase reached a violent conclusion at the busy intersection of Bullsboro Drive and the Newnan Crossing bypass, situated between two major shopping centers. The suspect lost control of the vehicle, which became wedged between a light pole and a tree.
The car had its airbag deployed, frontend crumpled, blown-out wheels, and heavy damage to the bumpers.
Police investigate after a bank robbery and chase along Bullsboro Drive in Newnan on Feb. 11, 2026. (FOX 5 Atlanta)
Following the crash, the suspect fled on foot through a Burger King parking lot and into a nearby shopping center. A K-9 handler deployed K-9 Robbi to assist in the apprehension.
During the foot chase, Robbi was struck by a vehicle. Despite the impact, the K-9 continued the pursuit and successfully assisted in taking the suspect into custody.
Robbi was transported to Sweetwater Veterinary Hospital, where staff determined he sustained only minor abrasions. With no internal injuries, he is expected to make a full recovery.
Who was arrested?
What we don't know:
Despite the pursuit occurring in a very busy street, no injuries were reported among bystanders in the bank or the parking lot.
Authorities have not yet released the name of the man taken into custody.
It remains unclear how authorities were first alerted to the robbery or if a weapon was used during the encounter inside the bank.
Investigators are working to determine if the car used in the getaway, which carried Troop County plates, was stolen or belonged to the suspect.
Officials have not specified the full list of charges the suspect will face in connection to the robbery and the high-speed chase.
The Newnan Police Department is leading the ongoing investigation into the bank robbery.
Who is K-9 Robbi?
Dig deeper:
The K-9 involved in the capture has a significant history; it was formerly the partner of a deputy killed in the line of duty two years ago following a high-speed chase in Alabama. K-9 Robbi was later reassigned to a young deputy with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office.
The K-9 previously served with Deputy Eric Minix, a 31-year-old officer with the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office who was struck and killed by an Alabama police vehicle during a high-speed chase on Interstate 85 in January 2024. Following the tragedy, Robbi was reassigned to another deputy within the same department.
The Source: The details in this article come from FOX 5's Doug Evans reporting live from the scene. Information was provided to him by sources inside the Coweta County Sheriff's Office and Newnan Police Department. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used.