Man arrested for stealing car, kidnapping children

Police say a traffic stop has led to the arrest of a 43-year-old Griffin man for stealing a car with three children inside from in front of a Clayton County discount store earlier this month.

Bill Roden, Jr. was taken into custody January 16 for giving police a false name during a traffic stop. Police were able to match his description to that of a man who frequents the Dollar General located in the 6400 block of Tara Boulevard. That is where police say a 1996 Toyota Camry with three children inside was taken just 11 days prior. Witnesses tell police a man who goes by the name "12 Pack" and matching the description of Roden was seen pacing in front of the store prior to the car being stolen. They later identified Roden as that man.

One of the children inside the car was able to call police from a cell phone. Police were able to track the call to King Arthur Court and Valley Hill Road where the kids were found safe in the car. The suspect had taken off.

Roden was booked into jail on three counts of kidnapping, three counts of cruelty to children, and a count of theft by taking.