Athens man charged with choking stepdaughter

By Joe Johnson

Darius Akeem Bell, 39, of Benning Street, was arrested late the night of August 26th for allegedly assaulting his teenage stepdaughter during a family violence incident at the home of the girl’s mother.

The victim told police that Bell picked her up by the throat and held her against the wall before throwing her onto a bed.

The allegation was corroborated by her younger brothers, and EMTs found injuries on the victim’s neck when examining the her in an ambulance,

Police arrested Bell for aggravated assault and multiple counts of third-degree cruelty to children because the violence was in the presence of the victim’s siblings.

The Department of Family and Children Services were to be notified, according to police.