Boy Charged In Attempted Assault At Cherokee Store: Sheriff

CANTON, GA — A juvenile once considered missing is facing multiple charges after being accused of shoplifting and attempted assault in a public restroom in the Macedonia area, authorities said Tuesday.

Deputies were first notified of the latter incident on March 10, the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office said. They said the suspect entered multiple women's restrooms, but they did not specify what took place in the restrooms.

Nearly two weeks later, authorities said they responded to a report of a missing or runaway juvenile around 8:30 p.m. Sunday in the Free Home area.

Deputies located the juvenile during a canvass and safely took him home, authorities said. However, they added he was carrying several bags containing items taken from a Macedonia-area grocery store connected to the March 10 incident.

He was then charged with theft by shoplifting and released into his mother's custody, authorities said.

While investigating, authorities said they determined the boy may have been involved in the restroom incident at the grocery store, which was investigated as an attempted assault.

Ultimately, the boy was arrested on charges of criminal attempt to commit rape and criminal trespass in connection with the incident and was taken to the Marietta Youth Regional Detention Center, authorities said.

They added they will not release further information due to the boy's age, which was not revealed nor was his name.