Cracker Barrel Beating Suspect Facing New Charges

A grand jury took just thirty minutes Wednesday to upgrade the charges against Troy West, the man accused of beating a woman in front of her 7-year-old daughter outside a Cracker Barrel restaurant, from three misdemeanors to a list of felonies.

Cracker Barrel Attacker Ordered Back To Jail

At a hearing where the new charges were announced, a judge ordered West taken into custody and held without bond. He had been free on $5,000 on the misdemeanor charges.

The grand jury indicted West on new, felony charges of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, battery and disorderly conduct.

After the Sept. 9 attack, police arrested West on two misdemeanor battery charges and a felony charge of cruelty to children. A judge reduced the latter charge to a misdemeanor.

Shocked by the alleged attack and the minor charges against West, Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson took the case to the grand jury, asking for the more serious charges against West. Lawson has promised to handle West's prosecution herself.

A group of protestors gathered outside the Clayton County courthouse Wednesday morning, calling for the upgraded charges against West.

West, 47, is accused of kicking and punching Tashawnea Hill Sept. 9 as he screamed racial slurs outside a Cracker Barrel on Southlake Plaza Drive in Morrow, police said. West became enraged when Hill told him to be careful after he nearly hit her 7-year-old daughter while opening the restaurant's door, police said.

"The man slung open the door pretty hard and fast and I had to push my daughter out of the way. I turned to the man and I just said, 'Excuse me sir, you need to watch yourself you almost hit my daughter in the face.' And from there it just went downhill," said Hill.

West threw her to the ground and hit her in the head with his fists and feet, police said. During the exchange, witnesses said West could be heard screaming racial slurs at the victim.

"Then he punched me in my face," said Hill. "And I fell to the ground and he proceeded to punch in my head and face."

Many witnesses stepped up to assist police in the investigation by providing written statements as to the events that transpired. Cracker Barrel was also helpful to police in this investigation, Morrow police said.

Cracker Barrel officials gave investigators security camera video that shows the alleged attack, according to a statement released by Cracker Barrel officials Wednesday.

"The video shows how Cracker Barrel came to the victim’s aid, and that a Cracker Barrel manager put himself in harm’s way to provide aid to the victim," the statement said. To read the full statement click here.

Cracker Barrel Statement District Attorney Appalled At Cracker Barrel Beating, Will Personally Prosecute

"I don't normally get personally involved in cases, but I am going to personally prosecute Mr. West on behalf of that victim and the citizens of this county," District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson said last week.

FBI spokesman Stephen Emmett said the Justice Department's civil rights division has initiated a probe into the incident.

The Georgia NAACP called for action at a press conference last week.

"We hope the FBI along with our organization and others concerned about this issues will make sure justice is served," Edward DuBose, the NAACP State President told WSB-TV. "Whatever that justice may be, that justice is served in this case."

West told Morrow police he became upset because Hill spit on him after accusing him of trying to hit her daughter, according to the police report. But several witnesses said they never saw Hill spit on West.

His mother said in a brief phone interview Tuesday that her son would never hurt a mother, especially in front of a child.

"This just doesn't sound right," said Johnny West from her Poulan home.