Police: Man attacks mall officer, steals badge and radio
A man is accused of beating a loss prevention officer at Lakeshore Mall in Gainesville to the point where he needed to be taken to a nearby hospital, police said.
James Jean Claude Pierre-Gilles of Lawrenceville allegedly approached the officer Sunday, demanded the officer’s radio and badge before beating the officer, Gainesville police spokesman Kevin Holbrook told Channel 2 Action News.
The officer was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for evaluation and has since been released, Holbrook confirmed.
He said Pierre-Gilles stole the officer’s badge and radio before running away, but witnesses were able to give a good description of the suspect, leading to his arrest.
The badge and radio, which Holbrook said Pierre-Gilles had when he was arrested, have been returned to the officer. Police haven’t identified a motive for the attack.
Pierre-Gilles faces battery, robbery and theft/shoplifting charges, according to Hall County Jail records. He remains in jail on a $6,650 bond.
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About the Author
Zachary Hansen, a Georgia native, covers economic development and commercial real estate for the AJC. He's been with the newspaper since 2018 and enjoys diving into complex stories that affect people's lives.
