Community supports security officer after YouTube Taser incident
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By Trey Thomas, All News 106.7
ATLANTA -
An Atlanta shopping mall security officer has become pretty well-known after a YouTube video showed him Tasering a woman who attacked him last year. Supporters are raising money to buy him better security equipment.
It started out as an in-your-face confrontation between the woman and the on-site manager at Metro Mall at Atlanta's Little Five Points. But things turned violent when the woman went on the attack. Darien Long says he doesn't know why the woman decided to attack him, but when she did, he fired the Taser he carries on the front of the bulletproof vest he wears to work every day.
The incident took place last May. Since then, the Tasing video has gone viral, and Long has gotten lots of support from folks familiar with the crime in Little Five Points.
On the streets, Long is a bit of a folk hero. People stop to take pictures of him and with him, and an artist even depicted him as a super hero in a sketch. But Long says he's no hero-- he's just doing what needs to be done.
Since Long has been on the beat at Metro Mall, many business owners say they feel more safe.
As for the Tasing incident that started it all, Long says he took no pleasure in defending himself. Atlanta police charged the woman with simple battery, criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
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