Woman says prayer stopped assault

An Austell man has been charged with kidnapping and assault after he forced his way into a neighbor’s home and attacked her, police said.

The woman said he only ceased his assault when she prayed out loud for him to stop.

Anthony Pruitt of 6030 Winter Nest Drive was booked Tuesday night and taken to the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. He is being held without bail.

Pruitt, 37, is charged with kidnapping, battery, two counts of aggravated assault and other charges.

The woman’s daughter, who was in an upstairs room, called police just after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, saying she heard someone in the house and that she heard her mother scream for help.

Responding officers saw Pruitt run out of the house. He was apprehended in front of his home, police said in a statement.

The neighbor told police Pruitt forced his way into the house, hit her head against a bathroom sink and pushed her head into a toilet. Medical personnel treated her, police said.

The woman told WSB-TV Pruitt stopped his assault after she invoked Jesus’ name and prayed for him to stop.

The neighbor told the station it was divine intervention that stopped Pruitt.

Efforts to reach the woman for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.