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A stolen vehicle was wrecked over the weekend near Beaverdam Creek where a bridge is currently being replaced by the GDOT.
Following the beating of an elderly man and string of auto thefts and break-ins in multiple counties over the weekend, a Macon man was arrested in Madison County on an outstanding warrant from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and has received charges from both Bibb County and the Hart County Sheriff’s Office.
Japheth Akeem Williams, 33, of Macon is charged by the Hart County Sheriff’s Office with two counts of felony burglary, one count of felony theft by taking, and one count of felony entering auto. Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland said after Williams is processed in Hart County, he will be extradited to Bibb County to face charges of felony aggravated assault and armed robbery.
Investigators with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, where Williams is accused of beating an elderly man with a hammer, issued an arrest warrant for Williams Feb. 11.
“He broke into the home, obtained a hammer after he was in the home and beat the victim until the handle broke on the hammer,” Cleveland said. “From what I understand, the doctors don’t know how he’s alive, but he is.”
Williams then robbed the house, stole the victim’s truck and fled to Locust Grove in Henry County, where he stopped at a QuikTrip gas station. Williams then managed to steal another truck from a man who was getting gas and set off eastward toward Hart County.
“After he stole the truck from the individual at QuikTrip on Saturday night, he came to Hart County early Sunday morning,” said Hart County investigator Chris Carroll. “He was coming down U.S. Highway 29 and tried to cross the bridge, where he ran off the edge of the road and basically rolled the vehicle off into the creek.”
Contractors are currently working to replace the bridge over Beaverdam Creek that connects Hartwell and Royston. Williams was traveling toward Royston when he wrecked the stolen truck into the creek.
Williams then left the wreck site on foot and made his way toward the SERVPRO of Tri-County office and attempted to break into one of the vans. According to Carroll, Williams was only able to steal a jacket out of the van before he left the scene.
“He was trying to get some clothes on because he was cold and wet,” Cleveland said. “That’s when he set his sights on the abandoned house across from Hayes Tires, and he broke in there and found some clothes to put on to help him warm up. Once he was through there, he made his way over to Hayes Tire and broke in there at the back of the building and stole a truck.”
According to Carroll, Williams was spotted by someone who then reported him for “suspicious behavior.” Before deputies were able to intercept Williams at Hayes Tires, he had already fled the scene. Deputies then conducted an investigation and determined what kind of vehicle was taken and issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) to surrounding counties.
The stolen truck was spotted in Danielsville at a Golden Pantry. Madison County deputies responded to the truck’s location and arrested Williams, and then transferred him to the Hart County jail, where he is currently being held.