Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested a person of interest in connection with the burglary of several commercial businesses.
On December 28, 2023, just after 2:00 a.m., Thursday morning, Deputies responded to a commercial alarm at Macon Wings located at 4010 Northside Drive. Deputies arrived and discovered the business had been broken into. Video footage was obtained of the suspect and vehicle during the commission of the crime.
Over the course of a thorough investigation, Investigators were able to identify a person of interest related to the burglary. Investigators identified the person of interest as fifty-three-year-old James Darrell Essick, of Atlanta. Deputies located James Darrell Essick within the 2000 block of Bowman Road. Essick was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Criminal Investigation Division. After further investigation, James Essick was linked to eight commercial burglaries in the north Macon area.
On December 23, 2023, Jersey Mike’s Subs was burglarized. On December 24, 2023, during business hours, the theft of an undisclosed amount of money from a tip jar occurred at Tropical Smoothie. The next day on Christmas, Tropical Smoothie was burglarized. On December 27, 2023, Hype Wings was burglarized. A burglary attempt occurred at B. Monroe Salon, also on Wednesday. On December 28, 2023, Macon Wings, Fried Green Tomatoes, Wagers Grill & Bar, Jimmy John’s, and Sherwin Williams were burglarized. James Darrell Essick is a person of interest in each of these incidents that occurred over the holidays.
James Darrell Essick was transported to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center. Essick is charged with eight counts of Felony Second Degree Burglary, Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony, and Theft by Taking. James Essick is also wanted in Fulton and Cobb County. He currently has no bond.
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or the Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.