A bond hearing is set for Tuesday morning for the man accused of beating up an Army reservist outside a Clayton County Cracker Barrel. West, 47, is accused of kicking and punching Tashawnea Hill Sept. 9 as he screamed racial slurs outside a Cracker Barrel on Southlake Plaza Drive in Morrow, police said. West became enraged when Hill told him to be careful after he nearly hit her 7-year-old daughter while opening the restaurant's door, police said. "The man slung open the door pretty hard and fast and I had to push my daughter out of the way. I turned to the man and I just said, 'Excuse me sir, you need to watch yourself you almost hit my daughter in the face.' And from there it just went downhill," said Hill. West threw her to the ground and hit her in the head with his fists and feet, police said. During the exchange, witnesses said West could be heard screaming racial slurs at the victim. "Then he punched me in my face," said Hill. "And I fell to the ground and he proceeded to punch in my head and face." West was charged with battery, disorderly conduct and cruelty to children for the Sept. 9 incident. Many witnesses stepped up to assist police in the investigation by providing written statements as to the events that transpired. Cracker Barrel was also helpful to police in this investigation, Morrow police said. Cracker Barrel officials gave investigators security camera video that shows the alleged attack, according to a statement released by Cracker Barrel officials. "The video shows how Cracker Barrel came to the victim's aid, and that a Cracker Barrel manager put himself in harm's way to provide aid to the victim," the statement said. To read the full statement click here."I don't normally get personally involved in cases, but I am going to personally prosecute Mr. West on behalf of that victim and the citizens of this county," District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson said last week. FBI spokesman Stephen Emmett said the Justice Department's civil rights division has initiated a probe into the incident. The Georgia NAACP called for action at a press conference. "We hope the FBI along with our organization and others concerned about this issues will make sure justice is served," Edward DuBose, the NAACP State President told WSB-TV. "Whatever that justice may be, that justice is served in this case." West told Morrow police he became upset because Hill spit on him after accusing him of trying to hit her daughter, according to the police report. But several witnesses said they never saw Hill spit on West. source
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