Atlanta police caught up with Javonte Avery on October 31 after he bolted from officers near Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW, ending the chase with a Taser deployment and an arrest. Investigators say the capture closes out pursuit of a man wanted in connection with a long string of police cases across the city, including an alleged CVS robbery that netted thousands of dollars in stolen perfume and cologne.
Tip Leads Officers to MLK Drive SW
According to WSB-TV, officers received information on October 31 that Avery was at an address on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW. When officers tried to approach him, Avery ran, and the outlet reports that “after a brief foot chase and a Taser deployment, officers took him into custody.” FOX 5 Atlanta reported that the tip specifically pointed to a business in the 2400 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW, where the pursuit unfolded.
Police said Avery was wanted in connection with a substantial number of cases built up over time. WSB-TV described it as 18 Atlanta police cases spanning several years, while FOX 5 Atlanta reported he was wanted in connection with at least 18 Atlanta Police cases. Investigators described him as a serial shoplifting suspect who targeted multiple businesses throughout Atlanta, per the station's report.
Alleged CVS Robbery on Peachtree Street
One of the cases tied to Avery stems from a September 21 incident at a CVS on Peachtree Street NE. Police said Avery entered the store around 11:22 a.m., pushed an employee out of the way, and went behind the register. From there, the same account states he filled a bag with bottles of perfume and cologne before leaving with the merchandise.
The stolen goods were valued at approximately $2,704, according to police. That CVS robbery investigation remains active, per the same account, even with Avery now in custody. Avery is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Not His First Brush With Shoplifting Allegations
This isn't the first time Avery's name has surfaced in connection with an Atlanta retail-theft case. A 2025 report from WSB-TV detailed how two men were arrested for allegedly stealing more than $5,000 worth of merchandise from a Nike store in Atlanta, with police identifying one suspected shoplifter as Avery. In that case, Avery and alleged getaway driver Michael Davis were both charged with felony shoplifting and booked into the Fulton County Jail, the outlet reported.
Anyone with information related to Avery's cases can reach Crime Stoppers Atlanta anonymously at 404-577-TIPS (8477), through stopcrimeatl.org, or by texting CSGA. Tips may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.
