A Georgia man, identified as Mike Thomas, 28, of Stockbridge, wanted for an alleged murder, sparked an interstate manhunt after leading police on a high-speed chase that concluded with his capture in Alabama. The ordeal began last Sunday when Evergreen Police officers in Conecuh County attempted to stop Thomas, prompting the chase along Interstate 65, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
According to CrimeOnline, the pursuit resulted in spike strips being deployed in Baldwin County, Alabama, which disabled Thomas' vehicle. In an attempted getaway, Thomas supposed to carjack an 18-wheeler stuck in traffic, during which he assaulted the driver. However, a passenger in the truck responded by shooting Thomas in the leg, leading him to flee on foot into nearby woods.
Law enforcement agencies including ALEA’s Aviation Unit, the Alabama Department of Corrections’ K-9 team, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Special Operations Unit collectively contributed to the search efforts. Moreover, due to the high-risk nature of the suspect, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office activated its SWAT team. Eventually, after more than six hours of searching, Thomas was found around 5:45 a.m. last Monday with a gunshot wound to the leg, believed to have been sustained during the failed carjacking attempt. He was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, detailed by FOX 5 Atlanta.
Authorities say that prior to the chase, Thomas allegedly shot his girlfriend in the head and jaw at an apartment complex located on Washington Road in East Point, Georgia. "I just saw her running across the parking lot, holding her neck, and I saw blood coming from her face," a witness described in a statement to CrimeOnline. The victim survived the brutal assault.
Now facing a slew of charges, including aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted fellow in Georgia, and additional charges for robbery and assault in Alabama, Thomas' apprehension has become an exemplar of law enforcement collaboration across state lines. The case remains under investigation by ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation and the findings will be turned over to the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office upon completion.
