HollyMatkinClayton County, GA – Investigators are looking for a man who stole a Clayton County police car in July, and posted a video of his joyride on social media.
Authorities said they were unaware that the car had even been taken until they watched the man’s video, which recently surfaced on Instagram and World Star.
According to WSB-TV, the officer jumped out of the cruiser in July during a foot pursuit.
The door was open, and the vehicle was left running.
A man then recorded himself as he walked up to the abandoned cruiser and took off.
“We are driving a police car, man,” he said in the video.
He managed to return the police cruiser before the police officer returned, so the officer didn’t realize the police car had ever moved.
“If attention and fame was his goal he really hit the jackpot when the video came to the attention of the Sheriff,” the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office said in a Friday advisory. “Sheriff Victor Hill has now ordered the unidentified male placed on his most wanted list and has dispatched his elite Fugitive Squad to join in on the manhunt along with the County Police.”
The advisory noted that law enforcement administrators have made special arrangements for when the man is apprehended.
“When the Sheriff called Police Chief Joe Woodall concerning the incident, the Chief stated that he had already planned to make sure the suspect goes to jail in the same police car he took for a joyride to see if he finds the same joy riding in the backseat,” the advisory read. “The Sheriff plans to have a welcoming committee for him as well to ensure he enjoys his stay facing the wall at Georgia’s toughest para-military jail.”
Nestar Yankson, who watched the video posted on Instagram, told WSB-TV that some people will do anything to get attention on social media, even break the law – and post the proof.
“He’s just doing it for clout. Everybody wants clout these days,” Yankson said.
You can watch the suspect’s video of his theft below: