>> CRIME WATCH
Brandon Ryan Moats, 25, was arrested for hijacking a motor vehicle at Kroger, near the pharmacy side, on Saturday, Sept. 16.
The victim, Cathy Gladdin, stated she was loading groceries into her 2013 Toyota RAV4 when she was approached by Moats.
According to one incident report, Moats reportedly told Gladdin not to be alarmed but that he had a firearm pointed at her, and that he was going to take her car. Moats then reportedly grabbed her car key and shoved her down into shrubbery beside her vehicle. A bystander reported that he saw Gladdin be shoved into the bushes and attempted to pull Moats out of the vehicle but was unsuccessful.
Lt. Brandon Towe and other deputies began patrolling for the vehicle. Thanks to several hits from Flock cameras, Towe was able to narrow the search area between Vinson Highway and Laying Farm Road.
When he turned onto Barnes Avenue, he looked left down McKinley Street and observed Moats next to the Toyota speaking to a white female. As Towe turned towards the vehicle and persons, the female began walking and Moats took off running up a trail towards Scott Hill Lane.
Towe began a brief foot pursuit after Moats and located him hiding behind the back corner of a trailer in a mobile home park.
Towe reportedly approached Moats at gunpoint and ordered him to show his hands, which Moats complied with. Reportedly, Moats lived in the area of Scott Hill Lane but not behind the house where he was hiding.
Deputies and other law enforcement officers, in the meantime, searched for a handgun in the area but did not find one.
The victim, Gladdin, was found to have coffee spilled on her, red elbows, and a mark on her hand from where the keys were ripped away due to the altercation. She was able to retrieve her vehicle on-scene.
Two witnesses and Gladdin submitted a photographic lineup statement to determine Moats as the offender.
Warrants for felony hijacking a motor vehicle, felony armed robbery, felony aggravated assault, felony theft by taking, felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, misdemeanor obstruction of an officer, and misdemeanor driving while license was suspended were secured for Moats.