Posted on 06/11/2004 7:27:23 AM PDT by FreedomPoster
A man allegedly attacked a soldier on a MARTA train Thursday morning and fought law-enforcement authorities before being taken into custody, MARTA police officials said.
The soldier, a major from Fort MacPherson whose identity was not released, got on the southbound MARTA train at the Lakewood station and was en route to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to pick up his wife.
On the train, the alleged attacker, 42-year-old Saffo Davis, began staring down the soldier and walked past him several times, according to MARTA police. Davis then allegedly struck the soldier on the side of the head, knocking him to the ground and then started beating him.
When an elderly woman came to the soldier’s aid, Davis allegedly struck her and knocked her out. As the train pulled into station outside Hartsfield-Jackson, Davis jumped onto the northbound train, where he got into a scuffle with a civilian. That train’s conductor and the civilian eventually got Davis under control, MARTA officials said.
As Atlanta police arrived at the scene, Davis broke free and apparently got into a scuffle with a police officer. He then got into another fight with a MARTA police office at the Clayton County Jail after he told officers he need to use the restroom.
Davis, who police officials said was dressed in a white robe and turban, has been charged with four counts of battery and four counts of obstruction.
He has an extensive criminal record in the Atlanta area stretching back to the 1980s.
>>>When an elderly woman came to the soldier’s aid, Davis allegedly struck her and knocked her out.
Good for her! Was she the only one on the train? No one else stepped up?
I will... a psychiatric patient or drug addict (meth or PCP would be my bet) is far more likely.
So, if someone had a gun on the train and shot the b*tch, would that be justifiable?
No.
GA FReeper pings
Huh? Did you read the same story I did?
Regardless of origin, they should let him go, after they get surveillence warrants for his phone, activities, associates, and finances. This is not the behavior of terrorists. It goes against what and how they are trained to blend in. That said, it would be interesting to see who/what he does and who may communicate with him.
And if you mean, if someone shot Davis, I'd say that's a resounding "yes".
If an overzealous prosecutor tried a good Samaritan who shot Davis to protect this Major, and I sat on the jury, there would be a "not guilty" verdict, or at worst a hung jury. And I'd make some really ugly comments to the press about the prosecutor afterwards.
Frankly, I'm suprised that other riders didn't help the perp beat the soldier and then steal everything he owned. Good for granny.
Yes, I meant Davis.
If I lose I'll be happy to pay up as soon as the mint gets their act together =)
Stinkin' "me too!" plastic banana wannabee ragtop bastards.
There's no way in hell that anyone like you or me is getting on an Atlanta jury. Maybe I'm just cranky this morning, but I don't see a CCW shooting on a MARTA train going over too well - even in a case like this.
I should know, but I don't...are permitted CCW's legal on public transportation? I do know you can't carry in bars, sporting events, school zones, etc. in GA.
HA!!
Not me, it's a sucker's bet.
...I'll take a piece of the house, though. :o)
Last time I was in downtown Atlanta was 1986. I felt like a baby gazelle in a Tarzan movie. Haven't been back since.
My understanding on that is that MARTA tried to ban CCW on public trasit, got challenged in court, and lost.
There has been significant intown gentrification since then. Still plenty of places I wouldn't be, though.
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