A Gainesville man was arrested Tuesday after police said he stole a car with an 8-year-old child inside.
Kevin Holbrook with the Gainesville Police Department said officers were called Sunday to the CVS Pharmacy on Jesse Jewel Parkway to a report of the stolen vehicle.
"Police immediately learned that there was an 8-year-old child in the vehicle at the time it was stolen. It's believed one of the parents left the child in the vehicle for a moment, went inside the store, came out about three minutes later and the vehicle was gone with the child."
Holbrook said the vehicle was found less than a half of a mile away from the scene near the intersection of E.E. Butler Parkway and College Avenue with the child still safely inside.
"Through the course of the investigation, police were able to identify Ashon Isaiah Fussell, age 18 of Gainesville, as the suspect in the case," Holbrook said.
Fussell was arrested Monday on charges including theft of a motor vehicle and kidnapping. He was also charged with shoplifting of an amount less than $500 for allegedly stealing items from the CVS Pharmacy before stealing the vehicle.
"It's believed that he shoplifted a drink as well as some chips. I know it was less than $10 worth," Holbrook said.
Fussell is being held in the Hall County Jail without bond as of Tuesday afternoon.
"It's very fortunate that the child was found safely, but this could have been a very different outcome," Holbrook said.
