TOCCOA, Ga. — A routine traffic stop in Stephens County led to the arrest of a Statesboro man after deputies determined he was allegedly involved in a shoplifting incident at a local convenience store.
According to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, deputies stopped a black BMW X6 at approximately 3:21 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, on the Toccoa Bypass near Mize Road for a traffic violation.
The driver was identified as David Michael Simms, 39, of Statesboro.
While deputies were conducting the stop, Stephens County 911 dispatchers notified them of a reported shoplifting at a convenience store on West Currahee Street. A caller reported that a man had left the store with multiple packages in a black BMW, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies at the convenience store reviewed evidence that allegedly showed a man matching Simms’ description carrying multiple packages from the store before leaving in what appeared to be the same vehicle. That information was relayed to deputies at the traffic stop.
During a roadside interview, Simms gave deputies consent to search the BMW, where they located the reported stolen merchandise, the sheriff’s office said.
Simms was arrested without incident and taken to the Stephens County Detention Center. Authorities also determined he was wanted by the Statesboro Police Department and the Hall County Sheriff’s Office on similar charges.
He was charged with theft by shoplifting and cited for the traffic violation.
According to the sheriff’s office, Simms was released Monday, July 20, on a $2,000 bond before being extradited to another facility on the outstanding warrants.
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