ATLANTA — Police say one man is responsible for more than 100,000 tires dumped all over metro Atlanta.
Investigators told Channel 2's Justin Wilfon they think they're close to catching him.
Officers say Donald Leverette, 35, dumped one of his biggest loads of tires behind an old Clayton County building in Conley.
The property is right next to Debbie Elder’s home.
“It’s terrible. We’ve got animals, I’ve got kids who play out here,” Elder said. “(They) can harbor animals, critters, snakes, rats.”
Clayton County police announced Friday that they need the public’s help to find Leverette after nearly catching him this week.
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“We just encountered him on Tuesday, where he ran from police, left the truck. We impounded the truck and found it filled with tires,” said Lt. James Robinson, with the Clayton County Police Department.
Wilfon traveled down several rural roads Friday to find thousands of the tires police say Leverette dumped.
Police said he disposes of the tires for local tire shops, making $1 to $5 per tire. Several of the shops are being investigated, too.
“They are in violation of the law, as well, because Mr. Leverette is not licensed to move tires at all,” Robinson said.
Police believe he’s also dumped tires in Cobb and Fulton counties.
Elder told Wilfon that she wants him caught before he returns to her backyard.
“If he can dump that, imagine what else can be dumped there,” Elder said.
If you have any information about where Leverette could be, you are asked to call the Clayton County Police Department at 770-477-3747.