Police say several drivers were followed or confronted before investigators located a black pickup truck and made an arrest hours later.
COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A 51-year-old man faces multiple charges after Cobb County police said drivers reported being followed and threatened with a handgun during a series of early-morning encounters in East Cobb.
Police identified the man as James Cooper. Investigators said the incidents began before 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, when a person driving a black GMC pickup truck allegedly began following motorists and pointing a gun from the vehicle. Cooper was arrested later that day after investigators gathered victim accounts, vehicle descriptions and doorbell-camera footage.
One of the first reported encounters involved a delivery driver who was making a stop in a residential area, according to police. The driver told investigators that the pickup followed him into a cul-de-sac, blocked his vehicle and that the person inside aimed a gun at him. Police have not released additional details about the driver or said whether anyone was injured during that encounter.
Less than 15 minutes later, police received another report involving what investigators believed was the same pickup truck. A woman told authorities that the vehicle followed her along Woodlawn Drive and onto Johnson Ferry. Police said she eventually pulled into a Walmart parking lot while trying to get away from the driver.
Investigators spent the day collecting information that could connect the reported encounters. Cobb County Police Sgt. Eric Smith said authorities reviewed doorbell-camera recordings and compared descriptions provided by victims as they worked to identify the truck. Police located the vehicle and arrested Cooper at about 11 p.m., roughly 18 hours after the first reported encounters.
Authorities said Cooper was charged with aggravated assault, false imprisonment and a drug offense. The charges are allegations, and the available reporting did not provide information about a court appearance, bond decision or attorney representing Cooper. Police also have not announced a suspected motive for the alleged conduct.
The investigation may extend beyond the two incidents described publicly. Police said they believe other people could have encountered the same driver during the early-morning period and are trying to identify any additional victims. Authorities have not said how many other motorists may have been involved.
The arrest came after residents in the area learned that privately recorded security video had played a role in the investigation. One East Cobb resident expressed relief that the recordings helped investigators identify the vehicle. Police have not disclosed whether investigators recovered a firearm or released additional evidence connected with the charges.
As of Saturday, police were continuing to seek information from anyone who was followed or had a gun pointed at them in Cobb County during the morning of Aug. 23. No motive had been publicly confirmed, and authorities had not announced whether additional charges or victims had been identified.
Author note: Last updated August 29, 2026.