Suspect Accused Of Attacking Man At Homeless Camp

CARTERSVILLE, GA — A Bartow County man is accused of attacking a man with a stick at a homeless camp in a wooded area along Interstate 75. A deputy was dispatched around 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 to the southbound side of I-75 near exit 278/Glade Road in reference to a fight at the camp.

Dispatchers relayed to the deputy that a man allegedly "poured gasoline on another male and had hit him with a stick that was on fire," the report states. 9-1-1 dispatchers added that the suspect left on foot and was last seen walking towards the Kangaroo convenience store on Glade Road.

The deputy relocated to Glade Road and made contact with a man fitting the suspect's description at a Shell gas station (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here).

The officer approached the man, identified as James Leonard Cox, who said he had been at the camp and gotten into a fight with another man who was at that location. The deputy went back to the camp and met with the alleged victim, who said he was at his tent when Cox, 56, strolled up and "became verbal," the report adds.

"James had a stick in his hand that was on fire and had a container with an unknown liquid in it," the report states.

The victim said Cox told him there was gasoline in the container and struck him in the face with the stick. He also said Cox began to pour liquid around the area, the report notes. A witness told the deputy she witnessed Cox come up to the camp and exchange words with the victim. She also said she saw Cox pour liquid on the ground and hit the victim in the face "with a stick that was on fire," the report documents.

The deputy observed a large red mark on the left side of the victim's face and had Bartow County EMS check out the wound. He also located the stick used in the alleged assault, which appeared to have a burnt end, and the container. That container, the report stipulates, contained water, not gasoline.

Cox was charged with one count of aggravated assault and transported to the Bartow County Jail. Jail records show the Cartersville resident remains in custody with a $5,000 bond.

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