James Smith: Georgia man bites security officer after being caught shoplifting, ditches son, 11, to escape

COBB COUNTY, GEORGIA: Cobb County police are searching for a father who ran away after biting a security officer when he was caught shoplifting. Investigators claim that James Calvin Smith left his 11-year-old son behind at Macy's at Cumberland Mall as he made his escape.

Smith, according to the police, stole $852 worth of clothing and fragrance. According to investigators, he attempted to flee after stuffing the goods into a bag he had stolen and tucking it all under his coat.

James Smith 'bit director of security's arm'

A loss prevention officer allegedly approached him, but he shoved her aside, according to the police. Things became even more violent at that point, and the director of security intervened.

"During that physical struggle, the subject bit the director of security's arm in order to get away," Cobb County Police Sgt Eric Smith stated.

Police subsequently discovered that Smith's 11-year-old son was in the car in the parking lot while he was inside the mall. According to investigators, Smith made the decision to flee rather than return to check on his son when given the option to avoid being arrested.

"He had left the mall with his child still in the vehicle. So essentially, he abandoned the child," Sgt Smith went on to say.

The warrant states that the child was visibly shaken and "stated multiple times he was scared and started to cry." Authorities stated that the boy was under the care of a responsible adult, Blaze Media reported. 

Public criticizes James Smith for abandoning his son

FOX 5 spoke to people outside the mall and they slammed the father for his act. Teal Bird, a teacher, stated, "As a teacher, it just breaks my heart. As a mother, a human being, why would you leave your child?"

Another person, Meghan Elliott, said, "There's absolutely no excuse for abandoning a child in a car. Why shoplift anyway? There are jobs out there, there's help out there. I don't understand why you shoplift and risk your kid."

James Calvin Smith is currently wanted on charges of simple battery, battery, shoplifting theft, and second-degree child abuse. Smith's whereabouts remain unknown to the police even after this incident in late December.