Man charged with brazen assault on woman in downtown Dallas – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

A man is in custody. He is accused of hitting a woman on the head and throwing her to the ground in downtown Dallas last week.

The victim works in the Dallas County Clerk's office, according to County Clerk Felicia Pitre, adding that the victim and suspect did not know each other.

Pitre identified the employee as Elizabeth but refused to reveal her last name to protect her privacy.

“We see this every day. We're not jaded, but when it affects you directly, it's personal,” Pitre told NBC 5.

Pitre says Elizabeth left the courthouse for a walk during her lunch break Thursday afternoon. Her colleagues became concerned when Elizabeth did not return.

They learned that she had been the victim of a brutal attack on a street corner less than half a mile from her workplace.

Pitre says first responders identified Elizabeth by the name tag she was wearing and called the office.

“I'm just panicking trying to get there,” said Pitre, who drove to the hospital.

Surveillance video surfaced Friday showing a woman waiting at the corner of Field and Elm Streets in downtown Dallas around 1:15 p.m. Thursday when she was approached from behind by a man holding an object. The video shows the man hitting the woman on the head, causing her to fall to the sidewalk.

“When I saw the video, I was shocked,” said Pitre.

After striking the woman, the man calmly crossed the street. Three other people who were only a few meters away from the woman when she was struck continued walking without attempting to stop their attacker or check on her well-being.

“It's almost as if she was scum that just walked by like it was nothing, like she was nothing,” Pitre said.

Pitre says employees were nervous after the attack, then they received news of the arrest.

According to Dallas police, 36-year-old Antonio Banks was arrested Monday on a trespassing charge on Main Street in downtown.

An affidavit states that Banks matched the suspect's description and was wearing the same clothes as the suspect in the surveillance video, including mismatched shoelaces.

“It's a feeling of relief, but still concern for Elizabeth,” Pitre said. She said Elizabeth is still in the hospital with head injuries, but she is in good spirits and looking forward to returning to work.

The affidavit states that before the attack, several surveillance cameras showed Banks walking behind Elizabeth, who was unaware she was being followed.

As Elizabeth waited to cross Field Street, the affidavit states, “Suspect Banks approached her from behind and intentionally swung an unknown blunt object wrapped in a red piece of clothing” directly at Elizabeth's head.

The object caused her to immediately fall unconscious to the ground, resulting in numerous cuts and facial fractures, the affidavit states.

Colleagues would donate sick days to help Elizabeth, Pitre said.

“We just need to be nicer to each other. It's sad when a person who is just minding his own business is attacked,” Pitre said.

Online Dallas County Jail records show Banks is being held on bail totaling $150,500. He is charged with aggravated assault, trespassing and a probation violation. It is unclear if Banks has an attorney representing him.