Car Rammed Before Douglasville Police Chase

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Douglasville Police arrested a Winston man Dec. 18 and charged him with eight misdemeanors and two felonies, including fleeing from police and aggravated assault. Alphonso Rikard, 29, was arrested after employees in the Douglasville Pavillion Shopping Center spotted someone they believed was involved in previous thefts, according to police. Employees called 911 and gave the man’s description.

"Because of the extra officers we have working during the holiday we already had numerous officers in the area," reads the Douglasville Police Facebook post. "When officers arrived the suspect sped from the scene after ramming a parked vehicle while escaping the crowded parking lot."

The suspect was chased north on Chapel Hill and ran into a tree a few moments later, police say. Rikard then ran from the scene, but the resident of a nearby apartment complex called 911 a few hours later when they saw a suspicious person walking in their parking lot.

"This 911 call is what allowed us to get this dangerous felon off the streets," police said. "Luckily nobody was injured during this incident and alert citizens willing to call 911 once again allowed us to catch a dangerous criminal."

Video courtesy Douglasville Police Department