Police arrest man accused of driving car reported stolen Friday, resisting arrest

Columbia police say they’ve arrested a man who was allegedly driving a car reported stolen on Friday.

This comes after Columbia police officers responded to the 4800 block of Clark Lane for a vehicle theft involving a handgun on Friday night.

The investigation revealed that the male victim was sitting in his silver Toyota Talon when a black male opened the victim’s driver’s side door and forced him out of his car.

The suspect got into the victim’s car, and as he was leaving with the vehicle, pointed a gun at the victim.

On Saturday, police say officers spotted a vehicle that was reported stolen at that same location and time.

They say they tried to pull the driver over in the 1200 block of Grindstone Parkway.

Officers say 23-year-old Rodney Kemp was driving and refused to stop.

Officers later found the stolen vehicle unoccupied in a parking lot with the lights on and the driver’s side door open in the 3900 block of Buttonwood.

Officers say they eventually found Kemp walking on the Taco Bell parking lot located at 508 E. Nifong Boulevard and say he matched the description of the person seen driving the stolen vehicle.

Kemp was arrested on suspicion of resisting or interfering in an arrest and tampering. Police have not said if Kemp in connected with the car theft on Clark Lane on Friday.