Crime & Safety

After Man Lost Consciousness, Kicks Continued

When authorities pulled over Melvin Floyd in Alabama last Sunday, they found a badly beaten man in the trunk of the car he was driving.

Before , authorities said he kicked him repeatedly until Smith lost consciousness.

"Accused continued to kick victim after he lost consciousness," according to an arrest affidavit.

The 22-year-old from Atlanta kicked Smith so hard, he "maliciously caused bodily harm to the person by seriously disfiguring him," an investigator wrote in the affidavit.

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The narrative outlined in the document, culled from statements Smith made to law enforcement, offers a glimpse into what happened at the home at 4140 Gold Mill Ridge at 3 p.m. March 4.

But it doesn't explain what led Floyd to attack Smith, stuff him in the trunk of the man's own car, steal the car and drive to Alabama.

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"A clear and definitive motive for the attack has not been established as of yet,"  Lt. Jay Baker, the spokesman for the , told Canton-Sixes Patch on the day news of the attack surfaced.

Floyd, he said, is an acquaintance of Smith's relatives, who reside at the BridgeMill home where the attack occurred. When a reporter stopped by the home, no one answered the door.

Investigators believe "others were present when the attack occurred," and more arrests are possible in the ongoing investigation, Baker said.

Cherokee learned of the attack last Sunday, shortly after the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office in Alabama pulled over Smith's gold 2004 Mercury Sable. Floyd was behind the wheel. Authorities found a badly beaten Smith in the trunk. Cleburne County officials told Cherokee authorities that they believed the beating happened in BridgeMill. Evidence obtained through a search warrant confirmed as much.

Smith was transported to a hospital with broken facial bones and broken ribs, while Floyd was taken into custody in Cleburne County. He was .

Floyd is at the  on charges of kidnapping with injury, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and theft of motor vehicle. Bond has been set at $88,800, Baker said today.

He said Smith "is expected to recover from his injuries."


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