strongernow
07-21-2004, 04:56 PM
Escaped inmate caught getting food at Arby’s
By Andria Simmons
Staff Writer
BUFORD — A convicted armed robber who escaped from Phillips State Prison in Buford was recaptured Tuesday afternoon when he stopped at an Arby’s restaurant to grab a bite to eat.
Authorities were searching the area of Interstate 285 and Chamblee Tucker Road with the aid of a helicopter after receiving a tip that Kenneth D. Dixon, 38, may be nearby. They zeroed in on Dixon as he was pulling his motorcycle away from an Arby’s on Savoy Drive, according to Sgt. Pat White of DeKalb Police.
“He had a drink in one hand and some food and was trying to drive at the same time,” White said.
The Northeast Regional Fugitive Squad moved quickly to box in the motorcycle and arrest him. At the time of his arrest, Dixon was no longer wearing his prison uniform, according to Peggy Chapman, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Dixon was transported to the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Atlanta, where he will likely face a charge of felony escape.
White said Dixon was linked to a residential burglary that occurred Tuesday morning on Haynes Bridge Road in Fulton County. The burglary may have provided him with cash to purchase the fast food, White said. Dixon was allegedly carrying some jewelry believed to have been stolen during the burglary.
The motorcycle was Dixon’s, and authorities speculate he had picked it up from storage during his short time on the run.
Officials were still investigating how Dixon managed to escape from Phillips State Prison. He was last seen at 10 a.m. Monday picking up chemicals used for cleaning at the back gate of the prison on West Rock Quarry Road. Dixon was assigned to an inside work detail cleaning the administrative offices, according to Chapman. When the prisoners were counted at 4 p.m. Monday, Dixon was missing.
A medium-security prisoner, Dixon was convicted in February for armed robbery and he was scheduled for release in October 2006.
Dixon has an extensive criminal history. He was convicted for credit card theft, drug possession, possessing stolen property, theft and burglary in December 1988 in Cobb County. In Fulton, Dixon was convicted for possessing stolen property, aggravated assault, armed robbery, burglary in November 1988. He also has been convicted on similar charges in DeKalb, Rockdale and Cobb counties as far back as 1983, jail records show.
By Andria Simmons
Staff Writer
BUFORD — A convicted armed robber who escaped from Phillips State Prison in Buford was recaptured Tuesday afternoon when he stopped at an Arby’s restaurant to grab a bite to eat.
Authorities were searching the area of Interstate 285 and Chamblee Tucker Road with the aid of a helicopter after receiving a tip that Kenneth D. Dixon, 38, may be nearby. They zeroed in on Dixon as he was pulling his motorcycle away from an Arby’s on Savoy Drive, according to Sgt. Pat White of DeKalb Police.
“He had a drink in one hand and some food and was trying to drive at the same time,” White said.
The Northeast Regional Fugitive Squad moved quickly to box in the motorcycle and arrest him. At the time of his arrest, Dixon was no longer wearing his prison uniform, according to Peggy Chapman, spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Dixon was transported to the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Atlanta, where he will likely face a charge of felony escape.
White said Dixon was linked to a residential burglary that occurred Tuesday morning on Haynes Bridge Road in Fulton County. The burglary may have provided him with cash to purchase the fast food, White said. Dixon was allegedly carrying some jewelry believed to have been stolen during the burglary.
The motorcycle was Dixon’s, and authorities speculate he had picked it up from storage during his short time on the run.
Officials were still investigating how Dixon managed to escape from Phillips State Prison. He was last seen at 10 a.m. Monday picking up chemicals used for cleaning at the back gate of the prison on West Rock Quarry Road. Dixon was assigned to an inside work detail cleaning the administrative offices, according to Chapman. When the prisoners were counted at 4 p.m. Monday, Dixon was missing.
A medium-security prisoner, Dixon was convicted in February for armed robbery and he was scheduled for release in October 2006.
Dixon has an extensive criminal history. He was convicted for credit card theft, drug possession, possessing stolen property, theft and burglary in December 1988 in Cobb County. In Fulton, Dixon was convicted for possessing stolen property, aggravated assault, armed robbery, burglary in November 1988. He also has been convicted on similar charges in DeKalb, Rockdale and Cobb counties as far back as 1983, jail records show.