NC - 51-year-old man assaulted child at Asheville Mall, Buncombe County, 12 Jan 2019

[cybervampira]

Police: 51-year-old man assaulted child at Asheville Mall

A 51-year-old white man was arrested Saturday after punching an 11-year-old black girl in the face during an incident outside of a mall in Asheville, North Carolina, authorities say. David Steven Bell was caught on video striking the girl in the face with a punch, sending her to the ground at the Asheville Mall.

David Bell was taken into custody by the Asheville Police Department and charged with assault on a female under the age of 12 and two counts of assault on a female, according to records and the Asheville Citizen-Times. The girl was not taken to the hospital, police told the Citizen-Times. Two other girls, both 13, told police Bell pushed them, according to the Citizen-Times.

David Steven Bell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com

Asheville Mall incident: Black Mountain man assaulted 3 girls, warrants say

MAN PUNCHES GIRL AT ASHEVILLE MALL: Police: Girl knocked to ground after being pushed, punched by man at Asheville mall

Black Mountain man charged with assault on girl at Asheville Mall

Middle-aged white man punches black girl in the face outside mall | Daily Mail Online

 

[bwt42]

It's hard to see what exactly happened before the shove. After that, the girl aggressively approached him in a fighting manner. Self defense.

 

[cybervampira]

It's hard to see what exactly happened before the shove. After that, the girl aggressively approached him in a fighting manner. Self defense.

All right. I’m sure everyone is proud of him for shoving that 11-year-old girl and punching her in the face.

 

[bwt42]

All right. I’m sure everyone is proud of him for shoving that 11-year-old girl and punching her in the face.

Not proud of either of the combatants.

 

[cybervampira]

Not proud of either of the combatants.

Well, only one “combatant“ has been arrested and charged. But I‘m sure they will figure out if that girl needs serious time in jail for provoking the attack. Seems crystal clear that poor guy didn’t stand a chance.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

she's 11 and IMO did not deserve that punch no matter what. Hope there's lessons to be learned here by many.

 

[MsFacetious]

Bell has been released from custody. His attorney issued a statement Tuesday night saying that his client suffers from PTSD and felt threatened by “a large pack of youths,” the Asheville Citizen-Times reports. Bell’s attorney, Andy Banzhoff, said Bell was trying to help a woman who was being harassed by the group of girls.

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Bell walks menacingly at the girls and they appear to back off. One girl then pushes Bell in the back, barely shifting his balance.

As the girl walks toward Bell, he shoves her backward, sending her into a metal pole and nearly to the ground. The girl gets back up and Bell punches with a closed fist, knocking the girl out and down to the ground. The other girls then run away screaming as the video ends.

Online jail records show that Bell is 6 foot 5 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds.

David Steven Bell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know


I am very sympathetic to PTSD sufferers. However, you must know your triggers and avoid them when possible. Walking into a large group of people to "break it up" when you are afraid of large groups of people, not smart. Alert someone else if you are concerned but don't walk into a situation that you cannot control yourself in.

Unless one of these girls had a weapon, kicked him in the nuts or was a legitimate giant... I see ZERO chance of self defense here. I totally understand that she may not have looked 11. Many 11 year olds are bigger than I am these days so I might feel threatened by a group of them. I certainly know they can be extremely rude and viscious.

However I find it VERY hard to believe that she was any kind of threat to a 6"5 - 250 pound man who could have easily just walked away. Or not interjected himself into the situation to start with.

You don't just punch a girl because she got back up after you pushed her down. We teach our girls to defend themselves but this girl couldn't even get back off the ground without getting knocked out.

 

[bwt42]

Bell has been released from custody. His attorney issued a statement Tuesday night saying that his client suffers from PTSD and felt threatened by “a large pack of youths,” the Asheville Citizen-Times reports. Bell’s attorney, Andy Banzhoff, said Bell was trying to help a woman who was being harassed by the group of girls.

------------------------------------------------

Bell walks menacingly at the girls and they appear to back off. One girl then pushes Bell in the back, barely shifting his balance.

As the girl walks toward Bell, he shoves her backward, sending her into a metal pole and nearly to the ground. The girl gets back up and Bell punches with a closed fist, knocking the girl out and down to the ground. The other girls then run away screaming as the video ends.

Online jail records show that Bell is 6 foot 5 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds.

David Steven Bell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know


I am very sympathetic to PTSD sufferers. However, you must know your triggers and avoid them when possible. Walking into a large group of people to "break it up" when you are afraid of large groups of people, not smart. Alert someone else if you are concerned but don't walk into a situation that you cannot control yourself in.

Unless one of these girls had a weapon, kicked him in the nuts or was a legitimate giant... I see ZERO chance of self defense here. I totally understand that she may not have looked 11. Many 11 year olds are bigger than I am these days so I might feel threatened by a group of them. I certainly know they can be extremely rude and viscious.

However I find it VERY hard to believe that she was any kind of threat to a 6"5 - 250 pound man who could have easily just walked away. Or not interjected himself into the situation to start with.

You don't just punch a girl because she got back up after you pushed her down. We teach our girls to defend themselves but this girl couldn't even get back off the ground without getting knocked out.

We must be looking at different videos. The man was standing still when the girl ran at him. He decked her before she could hit him.

 

[Doghairrules]

We must be looking at different videos. The man was standing still when the girl ran at him. He decked her before she could hit him.

She ran at him AFTER he shoved her and knocked him down. And she must weigh all of about 80 lbs. he must have been soooo threatened. Give me a break.

 

[bwt42]

She ran at him AFTER he shoved her and knocked him down. And she must weigh all of about 80 lbs. he must have been soooo threatened. Give me a break.

Thanks for agreeing with my version of what happened.

 

[bwt42]

IF his attorney's version of events are true, I hope I would have the courage to protect a woman who was being harassed by a pack of girls.

 

[glamourkitty1922]

I have no problem with him pushing her away when she was attacking, I have no problem with him intervening with a pack of bullies harrassing their victim. However, I do have a problem with anyone punching a child. That is not acceptable in my opinion. Others may have a different opinion and theirs is as valid as mine.