After being repeatedly stabbed by a customer, a Cobb County taxi driver then helped police identify the man responsible. That’s because the suspect left behind his cellphone, which contained pictures and a resume, according to police.
Cecilio Garcia told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he drove a customer in his Rayo Taxi about 6 miles on July 11. But when Garcia stopped the car on Juliet Lane, his customer began to fight with him and pulled out a knife.
“I had a fight with him inside the taxi,” Garcia said Monday. “He started to hit me in the face.”
The suspect then used the knife to repeatedly cut Garcia, according to Marietta police.
“Said accused did pull out a kitchen knife from his pants and did attack said victim causing a cut to the side of said victim’s head, a cut to his chin, two cuts on his chest, and a large cut to said victim’s left cheek,” an arrest warrant states. “The attack ceased when the knife blade broke into said victim’s cheek.”
Garcia required stitches on his face, the back of his head and his chest. While recovering from his injuries, Garcia was able to help police identify the man responsible. After finding the suspect’s phone in his taxi, Garcia turned it over to police. On the phone, investigators found the suspect’s resume and several selfies, which Garcia said were of the same man who assaulted him.
Late last week, an arrest warrant was issued for Harold Lee Clinton, of Marietta, charging him with aggravated assault, aggravated battery and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime. But Monday afternoon, Clinton had not been arrested, according to police. When he is arrested, his bond is expected to be set at $100,000, the arrest warrant states.
Garcia said he has no idea what prompted the attack, but is glad his injuries weren’t more severe. After a few days off, Garcia has returned to work.
“I’m feeling good right now,” Garcia said.
The investigation into the assault continues.
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