A Columbus man is in custody after leading law enforcement on a cross-county chase Tuesday morning that ended with a car crash.
Corey Thomas, 32, was arrested and charged with felony fleeing and robbery. Clay County Chief Deputy Steven “Woody” Woodruff said an aggravated assault charge is also under consideration.
Woodruff said Thomas allegedly robbed Connie’s Chicken in West Point just before 10 a.m. Tuesday and fled the scene in a black Ford pickup truck that belongs to his father.
Deputies attempted to pull his vehicle over on Highway 45 Alternate, but Thomas fled toward Highway 82, launching a pursuit that was joined by Columbus Police Department, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Lowndes Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said Thomas attempted to take the Columbus Air Force Base exit off the Highway 82 bypass onto Highway 45 North, but the vehicle swerved off the road and down the embankment, damaging a couple of signs along the way.
Woodruff said deputies recovered stolen cash and two guns in the car, though he did not yet know the total amount of money recovered.
Hawkins said Thomas, who gave deputies a false name during his arrest, has been listed as a missing person for nearly a year.
Thomas’ family located him in Starkville this week and brought him home to Columbus on Monday, he said.
Thomas is being held at the Clay County Adult Detention Center.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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