ATLANTA — Atlanta Police have put out a be-on-the-lookout alert for a group of people who they say “viciously attacked” the manager of Underground Atlanta last month.
Craig Waters, 66, told Channel 2′s Tom Jones that he was called to Underground Atlanta by security after looters vandalized several businesses on May 30. He arrived after midnight, and while surveying the damage, saw a group of people approach him. Water says he tried to warn the group about broken glass on the ground and they jumped him.
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"Witnesses told police that Mr. Waters was at the location when a woman began to assault him without provocation," police said. "Shortly after that, a group of males began to assault the victim and he tried to flee. According to witnesses, the crowd chased Mr. Waters down and beat him severely."
A security guard arrived and pulled Waters to safety and he was taken to the hospital. Doctors say he has several injuries and cuts, including a broken eye socket.
“My face hurts pretty bad. My jaw hurts,” Waters said.
Waters added that he’s sympathetic toward the protesters and is upset by what happened to George Floyd, a man killed by police in Minnesota that touched off protests across the country.
“The gentleman that was killed, it was horrible, but I don’t believe that beating me had anything to do with helping that gentleman out,” Waters said. “Just quit being so violent out there. This has nothing to do with it.”
Police say one of the suspects has a distinctive tattoo on the back of his neck.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS.
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