Crime & Safety

Man Charged With Child Molestation In Decatur Library

Police said library patrons and bystanders helped officers track down the suspect in the Marta tunnel.

have charged a man with child molestation in an incident that allegedly occurred Thursday afternoon in the .

This information comes from a police report.

Officers were called to the library a little after 4:30 p.m. Police said they were told a man exposed himself to a boy and touched the boy with his genitals. A parent and bystanders said they'd tried to detain the suspect and chased him as he fled to the nearby Decatur Marta Station.

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The man jumped onto the train tracks and continued to run up the tunnel. Decatur and Marta police with the help of a DeKalb police canine covered several exit points until the man was captured.

Johnta Mackenzie Baker, 19, of Green Hawk Trail in DeKalb County was charged with child molestation, a felony, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, a misdemeanor. Marta police may file other charges.

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Decatur Deputy Police Chief Keith Lee said, "This incident was resolved quickly not only due to the determination and cooperation of officers from three police departments but because of the commendable efforts of a parent, a security officer and concerned citizens."


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