This is a tough way for a nap to end. On Friday, May 10, 2024, a Douglas man was awakened by an Atkinson County investigator after his brother-in-law, identified as Vernon Christopher Royals, 36, of Willacoochee, was involved in a hit and run accident in Atkinson County. The vehicle Royals was driving also belonged to the complainant. Additionally, there were several items in the vehicle that belonged to the complainant as well. Royals had allegedly taken the items from the complainant’s home.
According to an incident report from the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, around 3 p.m. on Friday, deputies responded to a Bear Creek Mobile Home Park address. The complainant placed the call after the Atkinson County investigator had awakened him. The complainant stated that the day before, Royals had come to his house to work on a pickup. The two had an arrangement that Royals could have the truck if he fixed it and provided proof of insurance and registration, the report says. While he was working on the truck, Royals had access to the complainant’s home and property, the report states.
Royals had allegedly taken the truck along with several items from the complainant’s house and gone to Atkinson County. There, he allegedly crashed the truck and fled. Atkinson County authorities had apprehended Royals and taken the items in the truck to the Atkinson County Sheriff’s Department. The items that were recovered were a deer stand ($250), air compressor and attachments ($400), toolbox with tools inside ($250), turkey hunting bag ($200-300), and seven fishing poles and tackle box ($140). There were several other items that were missing from the home that were not recovered.
Royals was charged with burglary 2nd degree and transported to the Coffee County Jail. He faces charges in Atkinson County related to the alleged hit and run accident. Royals remains in the Coffee County Jail.