RIVERDALE, Ga. — Police have made an arrest in the case of an early-morning carjacking in Riverdale Tuesday.
The scary scene was all caught on surveillance as thieves stole two vehicles, one carrying a 6-year-old boy, from a Clayton County daycare.
Clayton County Police were called to the Childcare Network Daycare in Riverdale around 7:30 Tuesday morning after two vehicles, both of which were running and unattended, were stolen. Police were also notified that a child was in one of the vehicles but had since returned to the daycare.
Surveillance video captured a silver Nissan Altima with at least three people inside drive into the parking lot at 7:23 a.m. The car pulled up next to a gray 2016 Chrysler 300 that was still running. A male suspect exited the Nissan and slid in through the passenger-side door of the Chrysler.
The Nissan begins to leave when it makes an abrupt stop at the other end of the parking lot. The Chrysler drives around the Nissan as another suspect exits the back seat and jumps into a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe, which was also left running with the 6-year-old inside. All three vehicles then sped out of the parking lot.
The 6-year-old boy was seen on video walking back to the daycare about 5 minutes after the theft. He was not injured and has been reunited with his mother.
The Hyundai was found less than a mile from the daycare at Fayetteville Road and Evans Drive. It is being processed for evidence.
Jaiden Demons Chatman, 17, was arrested Wednesday after investigators were able to pinpoint his location using a tracking system on the missing Chrysler 300.
The tracking system signaled the stolen car was sitting in the parking lot of the Trestletree Apartments on Confederate Avenue. Investigators found Chatman inside of the stolen vehicle.
Police were able to identify Chatman because he was still wearing the same clothes seen in the surveillance video from a day earlier. He is charged with Theft by Taking Motor Vehicle.
Police are still looking for the other suspect that stole the Santa Fe.
Police warned that those responsible for the car thefts can expect to face charges of Kidnapping, Entering Automobiles and/or Motor Vehicle Theft.
The Clayton County Police Department is asking anyone who may be able to identify the suspects or have information pertaining to this case to contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477).
