Recovery of stolen car leads to 4 suspects in custody after brief standoff, Sheriff says

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Four suspects have been taken into custody, and a stolen vehicle was recovered by deputies, according to Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman.

Initially, there was a heavy police presence spotted near 14th Avenue and 37th Street in Columbus Friday afternoon.

WRBL News 3 crews were on the scene and saw multiple law enforcement vehicles on the street.

News 3 spoke to Countryman, and he confirmed that deputies had knowledge of a stolen white Lexus near 14th Avenue, which led to them patrolling the area.

Countryman says that the suspects were seen standing in front of the white Lexus by deputies, which reportedly matched the license plate of the one that was reported stolen.

When deputies pulled up, three of the four suspects ran inside a vacant dwelling that was near the parked stolen vehicle.

Neighbors reportedly said that the dwelling was being used by the suspects for illegal activity, according to the Sheriff.

The Sheriff says two out of the three suspects, who ran inside, eventually came out of the dwelling and were taken into custody without incident, while one remained hiding inside the dwelling.

That’s when sheriff’s deputies worked to get the last suspect out of the dwelling after learning he was wanted for outstanding warrants.

The sheriff says deputies identified the suspect who went into hiding as 37-year-old Elijah Smith, who was wanted for:

• Theft by receiving stolen property
• Possession of a Schedule II Narcotics
• Trafficking Methamphetamine
• Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, two counts
• Possession of drug-related objects
• Criminal use of an article with an altered mark

Deputies then called in the Special Response Team for assistance and released the K9, but once the barking was heard, the suspect came out of the home and was taken into custody without incident, according to Countryman.

News 3 will continue to provide more updates when provided.