Three men who led sheriff’s deputies on a brief chase Monday evening have been charged with breaking into vehicles at New Hope Baptist Church just prior to the pursuit, officials said.

Witnesses to the crime provided a description of the suspicious vehicle to a 911 operator, and that led to deputies spotting the vehicle on Ga. Highway 314 as it headed north towards Clayton County, officials said.

The pursuit began when the suspects refused to stop for deputies, police said. The chase ended on Riverdale Road near Interstate 285 in Clayton County when the suspects’ vehicle crashed.

No one was hurt and all three suspects were immediately taken into custody; the stolen items were recovered inside the suspects’ vehicle, officials said.
Arrested were Derek Curtis Edwards, 29, of Atlanta; Donald Rashad Cooney, 27, of McDonough and Eric Antwine Phillips, 19, of Lithonia.

Police have also connected the suspects to a theft from a vehicle earlier in the day in Fayetteville. They are also believed to be involved in other crimes outside of Fayette County, police said.

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