In Clayton County, Georgia, a man is now in custody after an intense hours-long manhunt and standoff kept a neighborhood on edge.
The whole situation started when officers tried to pull over Cornelius Lamont Davis. He was wanted on an aggravated assault charge out of Atlanta. But instead of stopping, Davis hit the gas, speeding away and nearly hitting one of the officers in the process. His escape led police to the Chatham Townhomes on Chatham Drive, near Dougherty Place.
Once there, things took a dramatic turn. Davis barricaded himself inside his home and refused to come out or talk to the police. For hours, law enforcement tried to get him to surrender, but he stayed put, leaving officers no choice but to call in the SWAT team.
When the SWAT team finally broke down his door, they discovered something unexpected—Davis wasn’t there. But he hadn’t gone far. Investigators quickly realized that he had made a hole in his attic wall to sneak into the neighboring vacant townhome. Officers searched the adjoining unit and found him hiding in a closet.
“Our officers were on him so quick, he didn’t even have time to make it out the back door,” said Major Steve Wright of the Lovejoy Police Department.
Davis was taken into custody without further trouble. Local media cameras were on the scene as officers walked him out of the home and loaded him into a police car. He now faces several charges, including at least two counts of aggravated assault, with one reportedly involving a police officer.
Neighbors in the area were stunned by the day’s events. Many came home to find their street swarmed with police vehicles and officers.
“No one could get in or out,” said Ginger Rose, a resident of the neighborhood. She described Davis as “a very nice gentleman” and said she was shocked to learn there was a warrant out for his arrest.
While the drama has settled, the events of the day are sure to leave the community talking for some time.
