A Covington police officer and a 51-year-old Oxford woman are being treated for injuries sustained during a robbery at the Covington Walmart on Industrial Boulevard around 12:47 p.m. Wednesday.
A woman was loading her groceries into her vehicle at Walmart when a white male and white female, later identified as 29-year-old Robert Joseph Chastain and 25-year-old Kristin J. Galloway of Missouri, drove past her in a maroon Ford Fusion. They reportedly drove around and came past her again, at which time the white female leaned out of the Ford and grabbed her purse. The victim attempted to snatch her purse back and became entangled in her purse in some way, according to CPD Capt. Ken Malcom, causing her to be dragged 300 yards through the Walmart parking lot.
Covington Police Officer Brian Capps was on Interstate 20 when he spotted a vehicle matching the description about 15 minutes later. He caught up with the vehicle, which fled westbound through Newton, Rockdale and DeKalb County, causing an accident on I-20 in DeKalb. CPD, along with Georgia State Patrol, was finally able to stop the vehicle on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. near Capital Ave.
The victim was transported to an Atlanta hospital for treatment to non-life-threatening injuries. The officer also received minor injuries and was treated.
"This investigation is still in its initial stages, but we are confident that the excellent work of Officer Capps has helped solve this case," said Malcom.
The vehicle they were traveling in was stolen out of Wisconsin and had stolen plates, also out of Wisconsin. According to Malcom, evidence inside the vehicle suggests this theft may not be an isolated incident.
Both have been charged with robbery and aggravated assault. Additionally, Chastain is charged with failure to stop at an accident with injury, reckless driving, suspended license and fleeing and attempting to elude.
The two have allegedly been on a month-long crime spree in Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia.