Police: Suspect Jumps From Moving Car; Officer Races To Stop It

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. -- A Clayton County police officer on his way to the county maintenance shop to pick up another officer said he did an about-face when he spotted a green Satu on Sherwood Drive that police said was involved in a carjacking and stabbing.

”Saw the vehicle approaching me at a head-on direction. I tued around, got in behind the vehicle at which point the suspect opened his door while the vehicle was moving and jumped out of the door and ran, said Clayton County police Officer Leslie Watson.

Watson said if he didn’t act quickly, the car would have gone into oncoming traffic.

He told Channel 2’s Mark Winne that he raced past the Satu, jumped out of his police cruiser and tried to get into the Satu as it was moving to stop it. But instead, the Satu was stopped by an open door on the police cruiser.

”How fast was it going? Winne asked. ”Probably 10 or 15 miles an hour, said Watson.

Clayton County police Officer John Schneller said the suspect took off running through the apartment complex and was apprehended a short time later at a church nearby.

Winne asked, "What did they find in the Satu?"

”They did locate a knife, which is presumed to be the instrument used, on the passenger floor board, Schneller said. ”The instrument used in a carjacking and stabbing? Winne asked. ”Yes sir, Schneller said.