Third suspect in Friday hold-up turns self in

Published 10:00 am Monday, October 14, 2019

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A third suspect wanted in connection with the early-morning armed robbery of a Cordele man on Friday turned himself into authorities Sunday afternoon.

Saevon Hill, age 23, surrendered without incident at the Crisp County Detention Center. Two other suspects, 21-year-old Javier West and 19-year-old Tatiyana Whithers, were arrested Friday. Whithers faces one count of armed robbery and West faces a count of armed robbery along with a count of aggravated assault.

The charges stem from an altercation with 23-year-old Gearius Hestle, who was reportedly approached at his vehicle by two suspects wielding weapons at approximately 5:30 Friday morning near the 500 block of Oakland Ave, police say.

Two two suspects went through Hestle’s pockets, took several items, and left in a vehicle. Hestle, according to a Cordele Police Department press release, “made a decision to get into his behicle and follow the suspects that robbed him. The suspects’ vehicle stopped in the area of 8th Street and 4th Avenue where two of the suspects got out and at least one of them shot at Mr. Hestle’s vehicle.

“Mr. Hestle backed away from the area, [and] thankfully was not injured.”

Officers with the Cordele Police Department were able to arrest West and Whithers just hours within receiving the initial call about the incident. Authorities announced they were seeking Hill shortly after 7 p.m. Friday.