Some people are just stupid, and sometimes they get what they deserve
What led to this dispute at an Atlanta mini-mall in January, I don’t know. This video went viral and already has more than 2 million views. By the time the security guard’s camera starts rolling, two obstreporous women are hurling the “n-word” and various obscene slurs at the guard, who repeatedly warns them to leave. Finally, after one of the women physically assaults the guard, he zaps her with the taser:
As you watch the video, notice that the guard kept trying to go back inside the mall, but returned to the entrance because these women — and their ill-mannered children — continued causing a ruckus on the sidewalk. The guard was simply trying to keep the peace, and these women wouldn’t let him.
And of course, given our backasswards values, the guy who did the right thing is in trouble
From Christian Moore and Mike Morris of the Atlanta Constitution, the shocking sequel:
The security guard who became an internet sensation after posting videos of himself fighting crime at downtown’s Metro Mall was arrested late Thursday afternoon and charged with battery.
Atlanta police officers were called to the mall near the Five Points MARTA station after Darien Long, 45, allegedly tackled a patron to the ground unprovoked. . . .
It’s been a tough week for the vigilante guard, who, before his arrest, learned he was fired, effective at month’s end.
“The party line is that they can’t afford me,” said Long, the onsite manager of the mall who became a hero to many for his no-nonsense approach to dealing with criminals. “But it’s not like I make much money.” . . .
Long will be missed by merchants including Francisca Shokane, who owns a hair salon in the mall.
“Before they hired Darien, they used to rob our customers and snatch pursues,” Shokane told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Now it is much better and safer. They don’t come in here and bother us anymore.”
Metro Mall management could not be reached for comment.
So sad.