Accused Robbers Arrested After Police Conduct Manhunt

MONTEZUMA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Three suspects are in jail Thursday night after police spent hours searching for them in a wooded area off State Road 26 in Montezuma.

Cop cars, emergency vehicles and heavily armed officers covered the grassy field. The Montezuma Police Department along with the Macon, Houston and Dooly county sheriff’s deputies worked together and investigated a robbery that turned into an all out man hunt.

“It’s been pretty crazy. All these people looking for one person,” Lacey Chandler, a Montezuma resident, said.

Montezuma police say Benjamin McLemore and James White of Houston County met the victim around noon on Thursday to buy a camera system. They then robbed the victim, shot him in the arm and took off.

“The suspect[s] left the area and right here in this area, right here [is] where they wrecked their vehicle,” Montezuma Police Chief Eric Finch said.

One suspect ran into a nearby house to hide. Police found him and took him to the Macon County jail. Theother suspect fled into a wooded area.

“We’ve got the perimeter blocked,” Chief Finch said. “We got the KI-9 dogs going in to search the area we think he might be at.”

Residents of this area say they aren’t used to such excitement in this relatively quiet community.

“Our town is really small,” Cryshonda English said. “So we never have this many police coming to a small town like this this to help out.”

“You know you don’t see this. You don’t see helicopters, different counties coming to help out. You don’t see this,” KC Cochran said.

“It’s scary. I only live a mile away from here and he’s still maybe around here somewhere,” Chandler said.

Police also arrested a female suspect in relation to the manhunt. McLemore and White are charged with armed robbery and other charges are pending. All three suspects are booked in the Macon County Jail.