Teen sues Atlanta police over beating

A 17-year-old illegal immigrant is suing the city of Atlanta for an alleged beating. The teen's lawyer, Erik Meder, said the federal lawsuit was filed anonymously both because the boy is a minor and because he fears retribution from the police department. The suit says the accused officer was responding to a call about a dispute over a $5 entry fee to an adult entertainment establishment in Atlanta. The suit alleges the officer severely beat the teen and then drove him to a parking lot and left him there.

(Associated Press)

Ft. Benning soldier discharged in trainee beating

The Army has kicked out a soldier for beating a Jewish trainee who complained about religious harassment in their basic training unit, a Fort Benning spokesman said Monday.

Citing federal privacy laws, the Army had previously refused to discuss how it punished the attacker of Pvt. Michael Handman, 20, of Atlanta, other than to say the case had been handled as an administrative matter rather than as a crime.

That changed after the southeast director of the Anti-Defamation League met Fort Benning officials Friday. Col. Charles Durr, chief of staff at Fort Benning, told the ADL's Bill Nigut the assailant had been discharged.

"The soldier that was punished for the assault on Pvt. Handman has been processed for discharge from the Army," Fort Benning spokesman Bob Purtiman confirmed Monday.

The Army says Handman was beaten Sept. 24 by a fellow trainee in a laundry room near his barracks. Handman was treated at an Army hospital for a concussion and bruising to his face. He has since been transferred to another basic training unit at Fort Benning in Columbus.

Four days before the attack, Handman was interviewed by commanders of his basic training unit about complaints he'd made in letters to his parents that he had been harassed by two drill sergeants because he's Jewish.

The Army later acknowledged one drill sergeant had ordered Handman to remove his yarmulke, which he wore with his uniform, as he ate in a dining hall. Another drill sergeant had called him "Juden" - the German word for Jews.

Officials said last month that Handman's attacker had been punished administratively but refused to release further details, citing federal privacy laws.

Click here for previous GPB News coverage of this story.

(AP)

Army investigates Jewish soldier beating

Army officials at Fort Benning are investigating the beating of a Jewish soldier. 20-year-old Pvt. Michael Handman of Atlanta says another soldier knocked him unconscious Sept. 24. Before the attack, Handman told his parents one sergeant used an anti-Semitic slur and another ordered him to remove his skullcap in a dining hall. A Fort Benning spokeswoman said today an Army private is being held on suspicion of attacking Handman, but he has not been charged.

Teens plead guilty in Six Flags beating

Three teens charged with beating a Marietta teenager outside Six Flags Over Georgia have pleaded guilty in Cobb Juvenile Court. Authorities have not released names of the teens, who prosecutors say will testify against adults charged in the case. They will remain under house arrest until a court determines their sentences. The beating on July 6 left Joshua Martin in a coma. At least ten youths and four adults have been charged.

More arrests in Six Flags beating

Four teenagers are now in police custody in the case of the severe beating of a teen outside Six Flags Amusement Park in Austell last week. Cobb County police made two more arrests Wednesday. The two teens were both charged with aggravated battery, battery, simple assault and violation of the Georgia Gang Act.

Authorities believe that as many as 25 people may have been involved as participants or witnesses.

Nineteen-year-old Joshua Martin remains in the hospital with serious head injuries. Of the four teens in custody, Six Flags officials say, three are seasonal employees at the park.

Severely beaten south Georgia judge dies

A south Georgia judge who was severely beaten two weeks ago has died. 74-year-old Glenn Thomas Jr. succumbed to head injuries he suffered in an attack at his Jesup law office. Thomas was being treated at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah. Authorities now expect to file murder charges against Bobby Rex Stribling. He's been in jail since his arrest a day after the June 25th beating.
Police say Stribling attacked Thomas in his office, beating the judge multiple times in the head with a blunt weapon, then taking his wallet and stealing his truck.

Thomas was a Recorders Court judge and served as district attorney for 30 years in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit.