The manager of a fast food restaurant in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood is demanding answers from city officials after she was put on hold while trying to report a carjacking attempt.
City leaders and business owners have been working together on a plan to curb high crime in Atlanta’s most affluent neighborhood, home to rapper Cardi B, singer Tyrese Gibson, and the governor of Georgia.
Karen Harris, the manager of Ru San’s Sushi and Seafood in Buckhead, wants the city to do more to address crime, Fox 5 News reports.
“It certainly isn’t the responsibility of our staff to catch the bad guy,” said Harris, “That responsibility falls on our elected officials and our mayor.”
“It’s always been a safe place for our patrons in the community to walk and get great food,” said Harris.
According to Harris, a customer left his child in his car parked outside the restaurant to pick up a to-go order on Saturday. She said a man attempted to break into the car and the child ran inside the restaurant to get help.
Staff members snapped photos of the man fleeing the area. This screengrab shows an employee on the phone with 911 while the suspect flees in the background.
“The concerning part was our employees were on hold with 911,” said Harris, “Luckily, one of our employees knew an APD detective who she called who was able to dispatch APD.”
Police arrested the carjacker and identified him as 34-year-old Andrew Robert Fike. Fike was booked into the Fulton County jail and charged with attempting to enter a vehicle, obstruction, loitering and prowling.
Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms recently addressed the high crime in Atlanta. Bottoms privately expressed support for the “Buckhead Security Plan” which includes sending up drones over Lenox Square Mall and Phipps Plaza and using metal detectors at the doors and drug sniffing dogs inside the malls.
