Gwinnett Man Injured Ex-Girlfriend, Led Police Chase: Cops

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A man is accused of injuring his ex-girlfriend after refusing to give back her car following a breakup, an incident Gwinnett County Police said was partly captured on video.

Police said Wednesday that officers first responded on July 29 to a Royal Cove residence after a woman told him her ex-boyfriend hurt her and broke her phone during an argument.

The woman had asked her ex-boyfriend to return her car after a breakup, but he refused, police said.

Subsequently, police said they engaged in an argument and the man was accused of grabbing the woman's wrist and leaving visible injuries. The man was accused of then breaking her phone.

A witness partially captured the incident on video, leading to warrants being issued against the man, police said. The warrants were taken out for battery, second-degree criminal damage to property, simple battery and third-degree cruelty to children.

The man fled the area before officers arrived, police said. But, police returned Saturday to the home, where they said the same woman reported the man punched her during an argument.

Police said officers tried to arrest the man that day for the July 29 incident; however, the man ran and led a brief police chase.

The man was accused of running to the woods and disappearing from officers. Police then called in a police K9 to the scene, who police said was able to track the man through multiple properties. The K9 eventually found the man hiding in a group of bushes, police said.

Police released on Wednesday body cam footage of a man appearing to run from officers before eventually being located by a K9 near a home.

Police identified the man as Javaris Virgin, 30, of Lawrenceville. Virgin was additionally charged on suspicion of false imprisonment and obstruction of police officers, police said. He remained incarcerated Wednesday.