Man Accused Of Beating Elderly Driver Outside Walmart

CARTERSVILLE, GA — A Cartersville man is accused of pulling a 68-year-old resident from his truck and assaulting him Thursday afternoon outside Walmart. Davontea Jerome Mallett was arrested and charged by the Bartow County Sheriff's Office with aggravated battery, exploitation and intimidation of disabled or elderly person, and battery against a person age 65 and older.

Mallett was arrested following a fight reported around 5:46 p.m. Dec. 13 at the big box retailer at 101 Market Place Boulevard. According to a BCSO incident report, Mallett said he was walking in the parking lot when he noticed a 2013 Dodge Ram truck driving towards his wife, who was riding in a scooter owned by Walmart.

"He said he jumped in front of the truck, yelling 'stop'," the deputy wrote in the report.

Mallett said he exchanged words with the 68-year-old male driver, grabbed him out of the truck and began to hit him. Mallett's wife corroborated her husband's claims, adding she didn't think the truck was going to stop before striking her, according to the incident report.

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One witness to the incident said Mallett grabbed the driver out of the truck, and began to punch and kick him in the back of the head. Another witness told the sheriff's deputy that the truck was about 15 feet from the scooter and was moving slowly through the parking lot.

The victim said he was struck in the face and believed he briefly lost consciousness during the alleged assault. He reportedly suffered from a broken wrist stemming from the encounter, the report indicates.

Jail records show Mallett, 23, remains at the Bartow County Jail with a $5,000 bond.

Photo: Davontea Jerome Mallett. Credit: Bartow County Jail