Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Lip-Biting Suspect Turns Self Into Police

A well-known Midtown homeless man is wanted in connection to an attack outside the Flying Biscuit.

Update: 3/17/13

After seeing his face reported through news outlets, the suspect, Carl Winston, walked into an Atlanta police station on Saturday and turned himself in. He is now at the Fulton County jail and charged with aggravated battery.

Original Story:

Find out what's happening in Midtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Atlanta Police are seeking the public's input for information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect who assaulted a Flying Biscuit waiter on Friday, March 8.

Surveillance footage from The Flying Biscuit Cafe, located at the corner of 10th Street and Piedmond Avenue, captured portions of the assault on video, and with the help of witnesses and locals in the area, APD was able to identify the attacker as Carl Winston, according to the police.

Find out what's happening in Midtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The initial police report says that the suspect is a homeless man who goes by the name of "Cyrus" and, "hangs out frequently around the local Midtown businesses." The waiter who was assaulted, and is familiar with Cyrus told police that on the day of the incident their store manager asked the homeless suspect to leave the business twice and the suspect did.

Moments later the victim decided to go outside to make a phone call, when he says he was attacked by Cyrus. The police report states, "while the victim was out back using his cell phone "Cyrus" ran from around the corner of the building to him and struck him in the face with an open hand, and the victim began hitting "Cyrus" back in self defense."

The attack continued all the way until the victim became pinned down by the suspect in front of Jason's Deli. "Cyrus had him pinned down on the ground, on top of him, and he bit his lip causing a laceration," reported the responding officer.

The waiter told WSB, that amidst the fight, the suspect, "reached up and latched onto my face and bit my lip off.” In a photo on WSB's website, you can see the victim's lip and the stitches doctors used to mend it.

The Atlanta Police Department believes the suspect is probably still in the area, and hopes that someone will see him and call police so he can be apprehended. 

Police say that, "the subject has a history of violence against the police and has spent time in prison for violent crimes." 

Atlanta police ask that people who have tips contact the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online www.crimestoppersatlanta.org or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637).


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Midtown