Decatur Parking Deck Attack: 19-Year-Old Arrested

DECATUR, GA — A 19-year-old has been arrested for robbing and sexually assaulting a woman in the DeKalb County parking deck in downtown Decatur.

Deonta Taylor, of DeKalb County, was arrested Tuesday and charged with robbery, kidnapping and sexual battery, according to Decatur Police spokeswoman Lt. Jennifer Ross.

At about 9:23 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a call from a woman at the parking deck at Swanton Way and Commerce Drive. The woman told officers she had walked to the deck from Decatur Square while talking on her cellphone when she realized she had walked up to the wrong level of the parking deck.

As she turned to re-enter the stairwell, a man appeared behind her and snatched her phone from her hand, police said. He then handed the phone back to her and ordered her to remove a phone case and unlock the phone, according to Decatur Police.

The woman complied. The man then put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her toward a nearby vehicle and tried to lift her skirt, Ross said.

The woman whirled around to face her attacker, shoved him and shouted "No!" and "Leave!" according to police. The man ran away, jumping over the concrete wall of the parking deck. The woman left the deck to call 911, with the help of a witness who was waiting for a bus at the Swanton Way MARTA stop.

The kidnapping charge against Taylor is because he allegedly grabbed the woman and physically moved her against her will, Ross said. She said Taylor was in custody as of Tuesday evening and that police expect more warrants to be filed against him in connection with other recent crimes.

The woman was not injured in the attack.

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