CLAY COUNTY, MS – A man reported missing for over a year is now in custody after allegedly robbing a chicken restaurant and leading police on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash.
West Point Police responded to an armed robbery at Connie’s Chicken and quickly identified a suspect vehicle. Officers initiated a pursuit that was temporarily halted in a construction zone on Highway 45A in Clay County. However, Clay County Chief Deputy Steven Woodruff picked up the chase and followed the vehicle into Lowndes County, where he coordinated with local deputies.
Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins joined the pursuit and brought it to an end when the suspect crashed at the Highway 45 exit on Highway 82 in Columbus. The suspect, 32-year-old Corey Thomas, was arrested without further incident. No injuries were reported.
Thomas had been listed as missing from Clay County since July 2024. He was located just one day earlier by a family member in Starkville and had returned to his family’s home. The morning of the robbery, Thomas reportedly stole his father’s vehicle before committing the crime.
He is now facing armed robbery charges in Clay County, with additional charges likely in both Clay and Lowndes Counties. Multiple agencies, including the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Columbus Police, assisted in the arrest. The investigation is ongoing.
