Bibb County Sheriff’s Patrol Deputies responded to 3771 Mercer University Dr., Van’s Pawn Mart, in regards to two black male suspects trying to pawn stolen items. While enroute, deputies were told that one of the suspects was standing outside the store near a red pickup truck. When deputies arrived on scene and approached the suspect, later identified as 26yr old Brian Chadwick Billingslea, he fled on foot across Mercer University Dr. towards Atwood Dr. where he was taken into custody while trying to jump a fence. The other suspect, identified as 26yr old Ellis Laron Smith, was taken into custody while still in the store without incident. The victim of the burglary was at the store while the suspects were trying to pawn the items and had contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report the crime and the suspects.
Both suspects were taken to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Property Investigations Office for questioning. Ellis Laron Smith was charged with Burglary, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Obstruction of Peace Officer and a Probation Violation Warrant. Brian Chadwick Billingslea was arrested for outstanding warrants. During the initial investigation it was found that Smith committed the burglary.
Anyone with information in reference to this incident is urged to contact the Bibb Sheriff’s Office at 478-751 -7500 and ask to leave a message for the on-call investigator or Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.