CONYERS, Ga. - A commercial burglary spree has ended with the capture of long-time fugitive Jarvas “Big Show” McElroy. “Big Show,” so named by his 6’9” stature, was identified last year following a series of burglaries in Conyers, Rockdale and DeKalb but has eluded capture since September 2016 until his encounter with Conyers Police Friday morning.
Conyers Police Sergeant Travis Smith was on routine patrol of high-risk burglary locations when he saw a man in dark clothing duck behind the 76 Foodmart, 1256 Green St. The man ran into the wood line and Sgt. Smith called for additional units to establish a perimeter. An intensive search began at 4 a.m. but was ultimately called off approximately two hours later when all that was located were two gloves and a handgun the suspect had dropped while fleeing. The scene was nearly cleared when Sgt. Smith and Detective Marshall Thompson decided to conduct a final sweep of the area. They heard a rustle behind the 76 Station and located McElroy bedded down in the thick brush. He was placed in custody without further incident.
McElroy had cut the power to the building and had a crowbar, sledgehammer and bolt cutters in a vehicle parked in the 76 Foodmart lot. The vehicle had been stolen out of DeKalb County during a previous burglary.
The 34-year-old native of Covington is suspected committing burglaries of convenience stores, liquor stores, pawn shops and ATM machines throughout at least six metro-Atlanta jurisdictions. In fact, he was indicted in Rockdale County Superior Court on multiple charges while he was on the run early this year.
McElroy is facing charges taken by the Conyers Police Criminal Investigation Division in 2016 for two Best Buy burglaries, Sound Pro and Sigman Bottle Shop burglaries, and the attempted theft of a Community and Southern ATM machine. His 26-year-old co-conspirator, David John Olson of Stone Mountain, recently plead to the same charges: four counts of Smash and Grab Burglary, one count of Criminal Attempt Theft by Taking, and one count of Criminal Damage to Property 2nd degree. Olson was sentenced to 20 years, eight of which to serve in prison.
Today, Conyers Police filed all new charges of Criminal Attempt to Commit Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon for McElroy. He is also wanted out of DeKalb and charges are forthcoming from Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office for the burglary of Max General in June.
