We’ve seen plenty of wild goose chases over the years. In this one, though, the goose wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.
A wanted drug suspect’s arrest in Georgia took an unexpected turn when the SUV he was driving ended up perched on top of a Sandy Springs Police patrol vehicle during an operation involving local officers and federal agents.
According to the Sandy Springs Police Department, officers with its Street Crimes Unit were assisting the Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Field Office on July 17 with the apprehension of a suspect wanted on Fulton County drug charges involving methamphetamine and cocaine. Authorities said the suspect also has ties to a larger criminal organization and is facing federal charges.
Police said officers attempted to safely box in the suspect’s vehicle near 8101 Colquitt Road. During the maneuver, the SUV struck a concrete barrier, causing its rear end to lift into the air and land on top of a Sandy Springs Police patrol vehicle.
Watch the Arrest Unfold
The video shows officers moving in around the suspect’s vehicle before it strikes the barrier and climbs onto the front of the patrol cruiser. Even with the SUV perched on top of the police vehicle, the driver opened the door, climbed out, and attempted to flee on foot. Officers quickly chased him down and took him into custody without further incident.
Despite the unusual collision and foot chase, police said no officers or members of the public were injured. Sandy Springs Police shared the video with the tongue-in-cheek caption, “Hey…You Can’t Park There.”
Because the operation involved a broader federal investigation, the department directed requests for additional information about the federal charges to Homeland Security Investigations.
Viewers React to the Unusual Arrest
The video quickly attracted attention online, with many viewers expressing disbelief that the driver still attempted to run after his SUV ended up on top of a police cruiser. Others repeated the department’s “You Can’t Park There” joke or imagined how officers might explain the damage to the patrol vehicle.
Many commenters praised officers for quickly taking the suspect into custody without anyone being injured. An unexpected goose wandering near the scene also became an unlikely star of the comments, with several viewers joking that the bird narrowly avoided becoming involved in the operation and another suggesting it had missed an opportunity to deploy “less than lethal.”
Other commenters raised questions about the damage to the patrol vehicle and how much it might cost to repair. While the SUV balanced on top of the police cruiser generated plenty of jokes online, the most important outcome was that officers safely apprehended the suspect without injuries to police or bystanders.