A 23-year-old mother was allegedly assaulted Tuesday afternoon at the Fulton County Elections Hub before the father of her eight-week-old son reportedly took the infant and drove away.
Witnesses said the man struck the woman, grabbed the baby from her arms, and fled the area in his vehicle.
The mother was left injured and without her child as officers arrived and began working to locate the suspect and ensure the baby's safety.
Police identified the suspect as Richard Benton. Investigators reportedly discovered that Benton had taken the woman's cellphone during the alleged attack, giving officers a direct way to contact him.
Sergeant Jonathan Lyons called the stolen phone, and Benton answered.
Rather than escalating the situation, Lyons reportedly spoke calmly with Benton and worked to convince him to stop.
The conversation eventually led Benton to pull over at a MARTA station, where officers took him into custody without a struggle.
The infant was safely recovered, bringing an end to a frightening situation that had unfolded in a matter of minutes.
The case remains under investigation, and authorities are expected to determine the full circumstances surrounding the alleged assault and taking of the child.
🤍 What began as an ordinary afternoon quickly became a terrifying ordeal for a young mother, but the safe recovery of her eight-week-old son brought a measure of relief after the frightening incident.
