Veterans Memorial Reopens After Police Apprehend Armed Robbery Suspect

UPDATE 5 a.m. Sept. 13:

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fulton County police after 1 p.m. Wednesday identified 28-year-old Robert Hightower as a fugitive who was wanted for committing a string of burglaries on Fulton Industrial Boulevard in southwest Atlanta.

He led police on a chase while driving a red Dodge Durango from the Six Flags Drive location where he was spotted through Lithia Springs and eventually into Mableton, the newspaper reported.

Cobb County Police and U.S. Marshals had joined the chase when Hightower wrecked his car after jumping the curb. At that time, Cobb's SWAT team was called. Cobb's police canines were released and Hightower was found.

He's now charged with hijacking and armed robbery with other charges pending. His girlfriend, who was also in the SUV, has not been charged.

He is expected to be taken to the Fulton County jail once police finish questioning him.

Original Story:

Veterans Memorial Highway near Queen Mill Road was blocked with police cars and fire trucks from Cobb and Fulton counties, as police from both counties worked to apprehend an armed robbery suspect.

Sgt. Dana Pierce, spokesman for the Cobb Police Department, told South Cobb Patch in an email at 1:57 p.m. that the suspect had been apprehended.

The suspect was chased into the residential Mableton neighborhood where he hit a curb and crashed the SUV he was driving.

WSB-TV is reporting that the suspect was taken away on a stretcher.

Check back as South Cobb Patch will have more details as they become available.