Man Charged in Simpsonville Carjacking Drama

A Greenville man is behind bars without bond after he allegedly carjacked another man in Simpsonville, robbed him at gunpoint, and beat him before eventually being caught, Simpsonville Police said.

The suspect was identified as Ricky A. Cota, 24, of Greenville. He is charged with Armed Robbery, Carjacking, Kidnapping, Assault and Battery 1st Degree, and Possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Cota was arraigned by a judge at a bond hearing Saturday and given no bond due to the nature of the charges.

According to police: At approximately 9:20 a.m., a man was allegedly carjacked by Cota at the Spinx located at 625 Fairview Rd. The victim was approached by the man in the parking lot who first asked for a ride. When denied, he showed the victim he had a weapon, entered the vehicle, and forced the victim to drive. 

While at gunpoint, the man took the victim’s wallet, money, and debit card, then told him to drive to several locations around Simpsonville. At approximately 9:40 a.m., the man told the victim he was going to kill him and placed the gun, later determined to be a BB gun, to his head. 

The victim then purposefully wrecked the vehicle into a power pole on W. Georgia Rd. next to Food Lion at 1004 W. Georgia Rd. The man then assaulted the victim with his hands and fled on foot from the vehicle.

With the assistance of Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, a perimeter was set and K-9 units attempted to track the man but he was not located. At approximately 11:50 a.m., while officers were still actively investigating the scene, a taxi cab was seen leaving the area where the suspect fled. Officers pulled the taxi over and found the suspect in the back seat. He was taken into custody without incident.

The victim sustained non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Hillcrest Hospital for further treatment.