Conyers Police capture serial commercial burglary suspect

Conyers’ Police have captured fugitive Jarvas “Big Show” McElroy of Covington, who was wanted for a spree of commercial burglaries in metro Atlanta.

The 34-year-old “Big Show,” so nicknamed because of his 6’9” stature, had eluded law enforcement officials until his encounter with Conyers Police on July 7.

Sgt. Travis Smith was patrolling high-risk burglary locations when he saw a man in dark clothing duck behind the 76 Foodmart at 1256 Green Street.  The man ran into the woods and Sgt. Smith called for additional units to establish a perimeter.  An intensive search began at 4 a.m. but was called off about two hours later. Police found two gloves and a handgun that the suspect had dropped while fleeing. As Sgt. Smith and Detective Marshall Thompson conducted a final sweep of the area, they heard a rustle behind the 76 Station and located McElroy hiding in the thick brush.  He was arrested without further incident.

McElroy had cut the power to the building and had a crowbar, sledgehammer and bolt cutters in a vehicle parked in the 76 Foodmart lot.  The vehicle had been stolen out of DeKalb County during a previous burglary.

McElroy is suspected of committing burglaries of convenience stores, liquor stores, pawn shops, and ATM machines throughout at least six metro-Atlanta jurisdictions.  He was indicted in Rockdale County Superior Court on multiple charges while he was on the run early this year.

McElroy is facing charges for two Best Buy burglaries, Sound Pro and Sigman Bottle Shop burglaries, and the attempted theft of a Community and Southern ATM machine in 2016 in Rockdale.

McElroy’s 26-year-old co-conspirator, David John Olson, of Stone Mountain has entered a guilty plea for his crimes and has been sentenced to 20 years, eight of which to serve in prison.