Stumbled Upon It! Zone 4 Officers Chase Suspect and Recover a Stolen Kia 273

On July 29th, 2023, at approximately 2:57AM, an Atlanta Police Officer conducted a drop-in at the CITGO station located at 490 Fairburn Road SW. While driving through the parking lot area of the CITGO station, the officer observes an unoccupied Kia sedan backed into a parking space with the ignition still on.
The officer exits his patrol vehicle and after further investigation, notices that the Kia sedan has a damaged steering wheel column consistent with an auto theft. A witness who is parked a short distance away from the Kia sedan notifies the officer that she observed a black male wearing green pants parked and then exit the Kia sedan before going into the CITGO station.
The officer observes that a male matching that description is standing outside of the CITGO station near the front entrance. The officer attempts to stop the male to conduct an investigatory stop however, the male ignores the officer and flees the area on foot. The officer gives chase and with the assistance of other officers, is able to detain the suspect without issue.
Following further investigation, officers are able to determine that the Kia sedan was reported stolen out of East Point, Georgia, and are also able to obtain surveillance footage that corroborates the witness's statement.
The suspect was identified as 45-year-old Bernard Rancher. Mr. Rancher was charged with Theft By Receiving Stolen Property (Felony) and was transported to the Fulton County jail.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.