Gwinnett County

Man accused of stealing 4 cars during wild police chase (MUGSHOT)

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News has learned the identity of the man accused of stealing four vehicles, including a police car, and leading officers on a three-city chase.

The ordeal began Thursday afternoon in Norcross when an officer was called to a hit-and-run crash.

According to Gwinnett County police, the suspect -- identified as Joshua Jones -- fled in a box truck toward DeKalb County.

Investigators say he struck several cars while fleeing and was detained by witnesses.

An arriving officer handcuffed him and placed him in a patrol car after discovering he had a warrant.

At that time, police say Jones maneuvered his hands from behind his back, squeezed through the patrol car's window cage and fled.

He abandoned that car nearby and stole a pickup truck.

According to police, Jones then drove to a restaurant and stole another pickup and fled to Duluth, striking more cars.

Officers eventually forced him to flip the truck onto its side on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard near Campus Drive.

Police told Channel 2's Tony Thomas that Jones had meth and oxycodone on him when he was arrested.

He was taken to a hospital and faces multiple charges.