K-9 Apprehends Doughnut Truck Thief After High Speed Chase

Several police vehicles engaged in the pursuit of a stolen doughnut truck through Gwinnett County -- a pursuit that ended with a foot chase and a K-9 bite.

On Feb. 7 just before 11 p.m., Gwinnett County Police were dispatched to the Exxon station on Dacula Road in response to a stolen vehicle. The vehicle -- a Krispy Kreme delivery truck -- had been stolen while the driver was inside the store making a delivery. The vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys in the ignition.

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The driver told police a male, later identified as James Fred Major of Lawrenceville, had approached him outside the store. According to the driver, Major appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The driver said the male drove off in the truck.

While the officer was collecting information for the report, a Gwinnett County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit spotted the stolen truck on Highway 316 traveling towards I-85. Other patrol units responded and signaled for Major to pull over.

“The suspect vehicle made a very erratic move appearing to be in an attempt to ram [the deputy’s] patrol vehicle,” the arrest report stated.

Major then allegedly sped up and exited at Beaver Ruin Road, running the red light at the top of the ramp. Patrol units followed as Major drove on Beaver Ruin Road at speeds approaching 70 miles per hour. Major eventually drove into a residential area and turned on to a dead end street where he crashed the truck into a mailbox and fled on foot.

“[The deputy] released his K-9 from his patrol car as we were all pursuing the suspect on foot,” the officer wrote. “The suspect was apprehended by K-9 dog bite and officers on scene placed the suspect under arrest.”

Major was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail on a litany of charges including obstruction, fleeing or attempting to elude, theft by taking, improper or erratic lane change, reckless driving, DUI, driving on the wrong side of the road, driving in violation of limited license conditions, two counts of failure to obey a stop sign and four counts of failure to obey signs or traffic control devices. As of Feb. 14, he remained jailed without bond.

Other recent incidents investigated by the Gwinnett County Police Department include:  

Feb. 10

• Burglary in the 300 block of Charlyne Way.

Feb. 9

• Entering auto in the 1500 block of Heathermoor Way.
• Battery in the 1900 block of Chapel Estates Lane.
• Stolen, lost or mislaid property in the 2100 block of Hamilton Creek Parkway.

Feb. 8

• Disorderly conduct in the 300 block of Church Street.
• Burglary in the 4400 block of Water Mill Drive.

Feb. 7

• Motor vehicle theft in the 400 block of Dacula Road.
• Battery in the 400 block of Tanner Road.
• Financial transaction card fraud in the 1200 block of Chimney Trace.

Feb. 6

• Theft by taking in the 2700 block of Freemans Walk Drive. 

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