VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - A man is behind bars after he carjacked a family's vehicle from a local motel and got into a head-on crash before carjacking another victim, later crashing that car into a tree.
The Valdosta Police Department says Joshua Washington, 30, has been arrested for a series of crimes including multiple carjackings, burglary, and kidnapping.
On Saturday, around 7:43 a.m., police say a family from North Carolina was getting ready to leave a motel in the 1800 block of West Hill Avenue. However, as they got into their car, Washington grabbed a cellphone from one victim and opened the driver's side door of the car.
Washington then forced his way inside, brandishing a handgun. Luckily, the victims were able to get out safely as Washington drove off with the car.
As officers responded, the 911 dispatchers alerted them that there was a car crash in the 300 block of West Hill Avenue. They determined that Washington had driven the stolen car the wrong way on West Central Avenue, causing a head on crash with another vehicle.
The second driver was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
Police say Washington then ran away from the scene and to the Budget Inn in the 200 block of West Hill Avenue. They say that's where he forced his way into the office area and forced two employees into another area of the motel.
One of these victims was able to get loose and ran to safety. Neither employee was injured.
However, police say Washington's crime spree didn't end there and continued with another carjacking in the 200 block of West Hill Avenue. That driver was able to safely exit the car while Washington drove east on West Hill Avenue.
Eventually, Valdosta police officers spotted the car driving recklessly on East Hill Avenue and began to follow it as it went north on Troup Street. When officers tried to stop the car, Washington drove away.
Officers followed the car, chasing him from North Troup Street to Woodlawn Drive. In the 700 block of Woodlawn Drive, Washington lost control of the car, causing him to crash into a tree.
Washington tried to run away from that crash too, but was quickly arrested by officers.
Police say Washington suffered superficial injuries from the crashes. After receiving treatment at South Georgia Medical Center, he was transported to Lowndes County Jail.
He is facing the following charges:
- Hijacking a motor vehicle (x2)
- Robbery by sudden snatching
- Burglary (x2)
- Kidnapping
- Fleeing and attempting to elude officers
- Criminal damage to property in second degree
- Numerous traffic violations
Further charges are pending.
“Our thoughts go out to all the victims who were impacted by Washington’s actions. Our officers did an excellent job with their persistence in doing everything they could to make sure that Washington was apprehended, and his crime spree was stopped before any other people were harmed by his actions,” said Interim Chief Leslie Manahan.
