Car chase leads to arrest of theft suspect in Bibb County

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A man is now in jail after leading Bibb County deputies on a brief car chase in Macon.

Deputies say 25-year-old Richard Varner was driving a stolen vehicle on Hartley Bridge Road around 5 p.m. Sunday.

A deputy realized it was a stolen car and chased after him.

Varner refused to stop in his 2012 silver Chevrolet Impala, and led deputies to the Oak Grove Mobile Home Park on Houston Road.

Two other passengers were in the car with Varner–a man and a woman.

The man ran off and deputies are still searching for him, while the woman was turned over to her parents.

Varner is charged with theft by receiving stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, criminal use of an article (a gun) with an altered ID number, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license and a parole violation.

Varner also has a hold placed on him at the Jones County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Complex.

There is no bond for Varner.

This incident is under investigation. Anyone with information in reference to this incident is asked to call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 and ask to leave a message for the on call property investigator or call Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.