A man connected to a violent robbery near an Atlanta transit station was apprehended on Monday following an alleged theft of a police vehicle. The suspect crashed the vehicle into a tanker truck, authorities reported.
Atlanta police identified the individual as 30-year-old Phelan Thorpe, wanted in relation to a robbery that occurred on Saturday near the Midtown MARTA station. Thorpe has been charged with robbery and simple battery linked to the reported incident. Officers were dispatched to the 2000 block of Thomasville Drive SE at about 5:15 p.m. on Monday after reports indicated a potentially armed man was present at the location.
The Atlanta Police Department released footage showing the suspect trailing a woman from the Midtown MARTA station. The alleged attack and robbery took place near 10th and West Peachtree streets on October 3, 2026. Officers located Thorpe and initiated an investigation, during which he reportedly got into a marked Atlanta Police Department vehicle and drove away. Thorpe then allegedly drove into Clayton County before crashing into a tanker truck on Interstate 675.
Thorpe was detained following the crash. He suffered minor injuries, which were treated at a hospital. No officers or civilians sustained injuries during the incident. The victim of the robbery was assaulted near the Midtown MARTA station, according to the police. Officers responding to the scene at around 1:54 p.m. found the woman injured from the assault and robbery.
The investigation revealed that the suspect followed the woman from the Midtown MARTA station, confronted her, and claimed having a gun. Demands for her purse and iPhone led to a physical struggle. Allegedly, the suspect punched the woman before taking her phone and driver’s license. The woman received medical attention at the hospital.
Surveillance video depicted the suspect approaching the woman at a crosswalk prior to the confrontation. The police sought public assistance in identifying him before eventually identifying Thorpe as the suspect responsible for the robbery. Officials charged Thorpe with robbery and simple battery. How Thorpe gained access to the police vehicle and whether a firearm was recovered remain unclear.
No charges regarding the theft of the police vehicle or the subsequent crash have been confirmed. The investigation continues.
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