A Georgia woman’s morning jog allegedly turned into a terrifying ordeal after a man she didn’t know tried to run her over multiple times — apparently after she greeted him with a simple “good morning.”
Jesse Allen Davis, 21, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor hit-and-run in connection with the July 19 incident in Marietta, Georgia, according to jail records.
Police say the woman was jogging near the Sedgefield Apartments when she crossed paths with Davis.
According to local outlet WSB-TV, the woman wished him “good morning.” Moments later, Davis allegedly got into a vehicle and tried to hit her.
“He got into a vehicle, and for whatever reason he attempted to strike her with the vehicle while she was in the parking lot,” Cobb County Police Department Public Information Officer Eric Smith said.
Authorities say the disturbing encounter didn’t stop there.
“He attempted to strike her with the vehicle two additional times,” Smith added.
Police said Davis also struck a parked vehicle and a pole during the incident.
The woman, who reportedly did not know Davis, eventually hid behind a dumpster in an effort to get away from him before calling 911.
Witnesses in the neighborhood described a chaotic scene.
Lloydethan White told WSB-TV that he had seen Davis driving at a high rate of speed in the area and was stunned when he later learned about the alleged attack.
“When I had seen him, he almost hit my car and her,” White said.
He said the incident was especially disturbing because the woman had apparently been doing nothing more than exercising.
“I think it’s wrong that a woman has to fear for her life,” White said, “and she’s just trying to go about her normal day and workout.”
Another unidentified neighbor told the outlet that Davis nearly hit him as well.
The neighbor said he later checked on the woman after the alleged hit-and-run to make sure she was OK.
Davis, who is from Sandy Springs, Georgia, was later taken into custody.
Jail records show he was being held at the Cobb County Jail on a $5,720 bond.
It was not immediately clear whether Davis had hired an attorney to represent him.
The Cobb County Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment on Saturday, Aug. 8.
The charges against Davis are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
