Armed Carjacking Suspect From Rome Area Arrested Here After Pursuit

by | Mar 18, 2022 | Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, March 18, 2022

Armed Carjacking Suspect From Rome Area Arrested Here After Pursuit

Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:

At about 6:30 a.m. this morning in the pre-dawn darkness, Gordon County sheriff’s deputies received a ‘lookout’ for an armed carjacking suspect who’d hijacked and stolen two automobiles in succession near Rome (Georgia), evaded authorities there, and was believed to be heading toward our community. Deputies immediately deployed to the Highway 53 (Rome Road) area in response, where a deputy saw the stolen car driven by the hijacker travelling eastward toward Calhoun. The deputy tried to stop the car whereupon the suspect vehicle fled away at a very high rate of speed on State Route 53 Spur. The deputy pursued the car to the area of Court Street and River Street where the suspect, after striking a civilian vehicle, lost control and crashed near the (Calhoun) Post Office. This offender exhibited absolutely no regard for the welfare of others while fleeing into town at such an hour and in such conditions. The deputy, who was quickly joined by Calhoun Police, arrested the offender without resistance. Deputies recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the armed carjacking. There were no injuries involved to officers, innocent bystanders, or anyone else during the pursuit and arrest. The suspect was identified as one ALEX BERNARD JOYNER, age 30 of 94 May Road, Cartersville, Georgia. Records from Bartow County indicate that JOYNER pled ‘guilty’ to charges of Aggravated Assault, a Firearms Violation, and Theft in Bartow County in 2009 and received a 15 year sentence. He served time in prison and was paroled.. He is currently (still) on probation for those charges. JOYNER is lodged in the Gordon County Jail where he faces new charges here of Felony Fleeing and Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement Officers, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and a number of other traffic-related charges. He will face additional charges in Floyd County. The officers involved in this pursuit and arrest handled the entire event in an excellent manner, during what could potentially have been a catastrophic situation. JOYNER will now be held accountable here in our courts.