Local

Police: Victim fights off robber who jumped out of car trunk

ATLANTA — Atlanta police said a man escaped an attacker who jumped out of a trunk and tried to tie him up.

The man was walking near Ponce de Leon Avenue NE and Juniper Street at about 4:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Atlanta Police Communications Officer Kim Jones said the man was talking with the car driver, and then, "the driver got out of a vehicle and pointed it at the victim and another guy got out of the trunk."

Jones said the gunman took the victim's bag and two cellphones, then the man from the trunk came after the victim.

"The guy in the trunk popped out trying to tie the victim up and put him in the trunk," Jones said.

However, the victim fought back and called police, providing a good description of a dark car with a paper plate.

Within about 15 minutes officers said they spotted Jaquon Hampton and Xavier Carter, who are now in the Fulton County jail facing robbery charges.

The brazen attacked stunned people on Ponce.

"Jumped out a trunk of a car? That's pretty creative," tourist Al Segars told Channel 2's Linda Stouffer.

Another nearby worker just said "wow" when he heard about the trunk sneak attack.

Atlanta officers also recovered 10 cellphones and three laptop computers in the suspects' car. They are investigating to see if those electronics were also stolen.

Jones told Stouffer recent changes in overnight Midtown patrols are paying off, because officers were nearby as soon as the 911 call came in.

"This morning we were very successful," Jones said.

Mark Dowdy lives in Midtown and told Stouffer he's noticed more Atlanta police cars.

"There's a big police presence here at nighttime. Up from the balcony, I see them a lot," Dowdy said.

http://bcove.me/w02emtwm