The Griffin Police Department (GPD) received a complaint Wednesday in reference to juveniles at the Dollar General on West Taylor Street wearing masks and harassing customers.

When police officers arrived at the scene, they spoke to the store manager, who said that a black male was wearing a Star Wars mask and harassing customers. During the conversation, a woman approached police and stated that the juvenile in question was her 23-year-old nephew.

As the woman offered to go get her nephew, he walked up to the scene and was told by officers to take off the Star Wars helmet and not wear it inside of any public business. Telling police that he “is just a big kid,” the nephew apologized and was advised that he and his aunt were free to go.

As the nephew was about to get into a vehicle, a 36-year-old male — later identified as Sheddrick Dallas, of Griffin — came walking out of the store, grabbed the nephew by the head and began striking him in the face. According to a GPD incident report, Dallas then repeatedly kneed the nephew in the face.

When attempts to pull the nephew away from Dallas were unsuccessful, police Tased Dallas in his shoulder and lower back. He was then handcuffed and placed in the back of a GPD patrol car.

After EMS cleared Dallas, he was taken to police headquarters, where he was booked and fingerprinted. Dallas was issued a citation for simple battery and released on a signature bond.

In another incident, police officers were flagged down by a 50-year-old male Thursday at about 11:15 p.m. at the intersection of North 13th Street and Hallyburton Street.

According to a GPD incident report, the male told police that he had just been jumped on by a black male. As he was walking down the street, the victim said that he noticed the 35-year-old suspect having an altercation with another unknown male.

The suspect then reportedly looked at the victim and made threatening comments toward him. The suspect then approached the victim, knocked him on the ground, kicked him in the face and dragged him through the leaves. The suspect finally let go of the victim and ran off.

Police observed visible injuries to the victim’s face and took photos of his injuries at the scene.