Gary Jody Childers JR, 50 of Rome, was arrested at Evans Store in Coosa after reports said he was found driving a stolen 2016 Volvo truck and lumber rigging and in possession of a large amount of drugs.

Childers is also accused of threatening to shoot two victims while stealing gas from the store.

Police said that when they arrived on the scene, Childers gave them a fake name and date of birth in order to conceal his identity.

Childers, a convicted felon, was later found with 22 grams of methamphetamine in a pocket of his pants.  Officers added that a gun was also located in Childers’ pants.

Childers is wanted on active warrants from Alabama

Childers is charged with theft by taking, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of meth with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, giving false information to police, fugitive from justice, and obstruction.

UPDATE

After several days of intensive investigation, multiple false leads, and long hours, The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that Gary Jody Childers was taken into custody in Floyd County Georgia at approximately 9:15pm central time.  Childers faces charges in DeKalb County for Attempted Murder and Certain Persons Forbidden to Possess a Firearm, as well as federal charges. 

According to Sheriff Nick Welden, a DeKalb County deputy attempted to stop a white van driven by Childers, who had an active warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm. When the deputy activated his blue lights, the vehicle initially appeared to stop, but then accelerated. Childers then pointed a handgun out of the window and fired multiple shots at the deputy, striking the patrol vehicle. The pursuit ended when Childers crashed into a utility pole and fled the scene on foot.

Childers will remain in custody in Floyd County Georgia until he is extradited to DeKalb County Alabama.

DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the incident: “We are grateful for the prompt response of our officers and partner agencies, whose coordination ensured that this hazardous situation was resolved safely.”

“God Bless!” Concluded Sheriff Welden.