Traffic on Interstate 675 North in Clayton County is delayed following a crash involving a stolen Atlanta Police Department patrol car and a tanker truck, after suspect Phelan Thorpe reportedly stole the marked vehicle during an investigation on Thom
ATLANTA - The man wanted in connection with a chilling mugging in Midtown Atlanta faces even more charges as police say he attempted to run from them.
Phelan Thorpe, 30, was wanted for stalking and robbing a woman who had just stepped out onto the street from the Midtown MARTA Station.
SEE ALSO: Chilling video captures violent Midtown mugging near busy intersection
Midtown Atlanta mugging
The backstory:
The incident happened before 2 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of 10th St. N.E. and West Peachtree St. N.E. The Atlanta Police Department released video of the incident Sunday.
That video shows a man confronting the woman claiming he had a gun and demanded her purse and iPhone. When he attempted to grab her purse, a physical struggle broke out.
During the struggle, the man punched the woman with a closed fist. He took her phone and driver's license before he ran northbound on West Peachtree Street.
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Suspect follows woman from MARTA station before attack
The Atlanta Police Department released this video of a man who followed a woman from a Midtown MARTA station before punching her and stealing her phone on West Peachtree Street on Oct. 3, 2026. A warning that some may find this video disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
Atlanta police cruiser stolen
What we know:
Just after 5:15 p.m. Monday, Atlanta police were called out to the 2000 block of Thomasville Drive S.E. for a report of a wanted man who was armed with a gun.
Officers arrived to find Thorpe at the scene. During the investigation, police say he took off in a marked Atlanta Police patrol vehicle parked outside.
Thorpe drove the stolen vehicle into neighboring Clayton County, where he crashed into a tanker truck, according to officials. Officers took him into custody without further incident following the crash.
Thorpe suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital, where he was alert, conscious and breathing.
Police reported no injuries to officers or bystanders.
Phelan Thorpe arrests
Dig deeper:
Phelan Thorpe has a lengthy arrest record in Fulton County spanning over 15 years, featuring charges ranging from property theft and battery to terroristic threats and attempted robbery.
According to Fulton County jail records:
- June 2009: Booked by Union City police on charges including theft by taking and possession of tools for the commission of a crime. Released two days later.
- January 2017 – June 2018: Arrested by Roswell police and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including criminal attempt to commit robbery, simple battery, and felony terroristic threats. He was held for nearly a year and a half before release.
- December 2020: Booked and released on the same day by Atlanta police for family violence battery.
- September – October 2023: Arrested by Atlanta police on charges of family violence battery, second-degree criminal damage to property, and failure to appear. He was released after roughly three weeks.
- September – October 2024: Booked by Atlanta police on felony theft by receiving stolen property and terroristic threats and acts. Released in mid-October.
- October – November 2024: Arrested again by Atlanta police and the sheriff's office for felony theft by receiving stolen property, spending roughly three weeks in custody.
- January 2025: Booked by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office on second-degree criminal damage to property and a Cobb County warrant, and released six days later.
According to DeKalb County Jail records, he was also charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on a theft by taking charge in June 2009. He was released 4 days later.
Clayton County crash
What we don't know:
It remains unknown what specific additional charges Phelan Thorpe faces following his arrest. Authorities have not disclosed how Thorpe was able to enter and drive away in the parked Atlanta Police patrol vehicle. It is also unclear which hospital Thorpe was taken to for treatment or if he has been released into police custody.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Atlanta Police Department, who provided preliminary details about the call, suspect vehicle theft, crash and arrest. Previous FOX 5 Atlanta reporting was also used. Jail records of previous arrests were gathered from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office and the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. This story has been updates since it was originally published.