VALDOSTA, Ga. – On Sunday, November 24, 2019, at approximately 2:20 am., the owner of a stolen vehicle reported locating the car in the 1700 block of North Ashely Street.

An off-duty officer with the Valdosta Police Department was in the immediate area and was able to quickly arrive on the scene and stop the vehicle before it could leave the area.

The vehicle was occupied by Anthony Dyal and Mordecai Lilley. Other patrol officers arrived on scene and officers were able to detain Dyal and Lilley without incident.

Officers located a handgun in the vehicle, which was reported stolen earlier this year.  Further investigation determined Lilley had an active arrest warrant out of Florida for aggravated assault.

Both Dyal and Lilley were transported to Lowndes County Jail on the following charges:

Dyal-

• Possession of tools for the commission of a crime (felony); and
• Theft by receiving stolen property (felony).

Lilley-

• Theft by receiving stolen property (felony);
• Theft by receiving stolen property (felony);
• Possession of tools for the commission of a crime (felony); and
• Fugitive from justice (felony).

“The victim, in this case, acted quickly which gave our officers the time needed to get these two criminals off of the street hold them accountable for their actions,” stated VPD Lieutenant Scottie Johns.