Escapee leads law enforcement on dangerous chase through Columbus, Phenix City
A Georgia man who escaped in a state-owned truck on Monday, September 26, 2022 in Forsyth, Georgia during a work detail for the Department of Corrections is back in jail.
Robert Jenkins, with strong ties on both side of the Chattahoochee River in Columbus and Phenix City, was taken into custody after being the center of a statewide manhunt after he escaped a Department of Corrections work detail in a state owned vehicle. Monday night, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, along with the US Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force, and Russell County Sheriff’s Office were involved in a high speed chase with Jenkins after an investigation revealed that the stolen vehicle Jenkins was operating was observed in the Columbus, Georgia area.
A Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office marked Patrol Unit attempted to conduct a felony traffic stop on the stolen vehicle at 2nd Avenue and 35th Street, by initiating emergency lights.
Jenkins failed to bring his vehicle to a stop and eluded the law enforcement vehicle. Jenkins maneuvered onto 2nd Avenue, turned right onto 13th Street, and traveled into Phenix City, Alabama.
Jenkins then rammed the stolen vehicle he was operating into a Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Unit on Riverchase Drive near Highway 80 at approximately 11:16 PM. The deputy sustained non-life threatening bodily injuries and the marked patrol unit sustained moderate damages.
Three minutes later, at approximately 11:19 PM, Russell County Sheriff’s Deputy ended the pursuit by using the Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) maneuver. The escapee Inmate Robert Jenkins was taken into custody and transported to Piedmont Medical Center by ambulance.
Robert Jenkins was currently serving a sentence for the following charges Theft By Taking-Motor Vehicle, Theft By Conversion – Motor Vehicle, two counts of Probation Violation, Willful Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officers by Use of Threats or Violence, and Receipt, Possession or Transfer of Firearm by Convicted Felon or Felony First Offender
The Georgia Department of Corrections officers responded to Piedmont ER and took custody of Jenkins.
“Additional charges will be filed through the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Russell County Sheriff’s Office,” the Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman said.
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