The young girl who was punched in the video declined medical attention
By Teddy Grant, Ebony
A White North Carolina man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly punching a young Black girl in the face outside of a mall, Newsweek reports.
David Stephen Bell, 51, was charged with assaulting a female under the age of 12 and with two counts of assaulting a female, an Asheville Police Department spokesperson told Newsweek.
A video that was shared online shows a group of young girls yelling at Bell outside Asheville Mall. Bell, who was described by activist Shan King as 6 foot 5 and 250 pounds, is seen pushing the young girl and then punching her in the face.
“I’m sorry to share this, but I need the police and prosecutors to feel our full wrath on this,” King wrote on Instagram. “Mall cops hardly took the thing seriously and local police charged the man with a damn misdemeanor.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsmJe-dFI_q/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
The young girl who was punched in the video declined medical attention, per Citizen Times.
“We are aware of the videos circulating on social media. The @AshevillePolice responded immediately and the situation was diffused,” Asheville Mall tweeted on Saturday. “An arrest has been made. Please contact the Asheville Police Department with further questions.”
We are aware of the videos circulating on social media. The @AshevillePolice responded immediately and the situation was diffused. An arrest has been made. Please contact the Asheville Police Department with further questions.
— Asheville Mall (@AshevilleMall) January 13, 2019
