A man who allegedly tried attacking a woman at the Buckhead Target has been taken into custody by Atlanta police. They are now searching for the person who stepped in to help the woman during the incident.
However, 11Alive recently found out that the suspect, later identified as Torrin Mott, 30, was only released from prison on August 29, one week before the incident. He was only gone for a few days before being charged with new attacks.
The attack occurred Wednesday morning. The victim informed Atlanta Police that she was headed toward Target at 3535 Peachtree Road NE shortly before 8 a.m. when she noticed the business was not yet open and began walking away.
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However, she observed a man approaching who, she claimed, made “grunting” noises before charging at her and tackling her to the ground.
According to the victim, when she noticed Mott, she thought to herself, “I hope he doesn’t try anything,” as reported by Fox5Atlanta.
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According to police, the man dragged her down a stairwell, pulled down her trousers, and attempted to force oral sex. She claimed that she yelled and struggled until he forced her to stop by putting his fingers in her mouth.
According to investigators, Target surveillance cameras filmed the whole attack.
When a second man came up the stairwell, the culprit was seen in the video stopping the assault. The victim had time to flee to the store for assistance after the other person grabbed the suspect and got into a fight with him.
Atlanta Police are now looking for the witness, whom they describe as a Good Samaritan who intervened during the assault and effectively stopped it. According to APD, officials are asking him or anyone who knows who he is to come forward so that “their heroic actions do not go unrecognized.”
The witness was seen wearing a black sweatshirt, a black helmet, and Nike sneakers in a photo that the police attached.
According to police, the assault that was captured on camera was eventually connected to Mott, who is suspected of carrying out several attacks that resembled the one that occurred at the Target.
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According to court papers acquired by 11Alive, Mott is also accused of attempting to assault another woman at MARTA’s Lenox Station on the same day. According to warrants filed by MARTA Police, he chased the victim while wielding a belt, forcing her to fall off her bike and hit her head.
Mott was also connected by MARTA Police to an attack that occurred at the same station in January. According to the officers, Mott grabbed a woman, covered her mouth with his hand, and wrapped his arm around her waist before she was able to run.
Police said Mott also assaulted someone the day before the alleged Target attack at 960 E. Paces Ferry Road, near the MARTA station.
MARTA Police and Atlanta Police have charged Mott with criminal attempt to commit a felony, simple assault, kidnapping, aggravated sodomy, and battery
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