Atlanta man and Virginia woman arrested after police chase, accused of stealing hundreds of lottery tickets
Police allege burglary led to multi-agency pursuit across Fayette and Clayton counties
An Atlanta man and a Virginia woman were arrested in metro Atlanta after authorities said they burglarized a convenience store and fled at high speed, later attempting to discard hundreds of lottery tickets along the roadside.
The suspects were identified by police as Andre Gilbert, 49, of Atlanta, and Kinetra Mitchell, 37, of Petersburg, Virginia. Investigators said the case began early Tuesday morning when officers on patrol heard glass breaking near a Shell Food Mart gas station in Fayetteville.
Timeline of the incident
About 5 a.m. officers reported hearing glass break near the store while patrolling the area of North Jeff Davis Drive and North Glynn Street.
Police said they arrived and observed a white Lincoln Continental in front of the business. As officers entered the parking lot, the vehicle drove away.
A pursuit followed along Georgia Highway 85 involving Fayetteville police and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, with Clayton County police joining during the chase.
Authorities said speeds exceeded 100 mph during the pursuit before officers lost sight of the vehicle near Taylor Road off Georgia Highway 138.
Shortly afterward, police said officers located the suspects as they were dumping lottery tickets into a wooded area.
Arrests and charges
Police said Mitchell was arrested at the scene. Court records listed charges against her that include burglary and criminal damage to property.
Gilbert initially escaped, according to police, but was later apprehended by a police dog. Authorities said Gilbert was taken to Piedmont-Fayette Hospital with minor injuries and remained under police supervision afterward.
Police said Gilbert was charged with burglary, numerous traffic offenses, and obstruction. Investigators also alleged his obstruction charge was connected to striking the Clayton County police dog during the arrest.
What is known about the lottery tickets
Authorities have not publicly detailed the total number of tickets recovered, their value, or whether any were scratched or redeemed. Police said, however, that the suspects were seen discarding lottery tickets into a wooded area following the chase.
The case remains an active criminal matter, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
Further court proceedings are expected. Atlanta.news will continue to follow filings and any additional details released by law enforcement and the courts.