ATLANTA -- Atlanta Police located the vehicle that was taken from a 76-year-old woman during a carjacking.
Officer Lisa Bender tells 11Alive that authorities found the victim's car Thursday around 6:20 p.m. on Cleveland Avenue, SW.
Three minors were at the scene, but police said they did not locate the driver. Police released the juveniles to their parents and the car was returned to the owner.
The husband of the victim, Dr. Walter Young said his wife, was standing outside of her black Mercedes E350 that was still running and speaking with someone at 2265 Cascade Road, SW.
During her conversation, a man slipped into her car on the driver's side. The victim tried to remove him but then he threw her to the ground and fled the scene.
The suspect then ran into a tree, uprooting it, but kept going.
Before his wife was thrown to the ground and carjacked on Wednesday, Dr. Young believed the neighborhood had been improving as far as morale but said the carjacking definitely knocked down the optimism the community had been feeling ever since Atlanta City Studios moved in.
"We can't get the criminals out of here," Dr. Young said.
Young has lived in the neighborhood for almost 50 years. He hurts seeing it deteriorate since starting his dental practice off Cascade Road in 1970. Young said he could have left but chose to stay to help the area.
According to Young, the neighborhood had been suffering for almost a decade but believes Atlanta City Studios gave the community a boost in pride, pushing some business owners to repaint their establishments and becoming more hopeful.
"Atlanta City Studios is a pop-up urban design studio within the City of Atlanta's Department of City Planning. It serves as an incubator, workspace and meeting place for residents, visitors, design professionals and curious urbanists to connect and share ideas, as well as development plans," according to the city.
The studio had moved in to help revitalize the neighborhood.
Young said neighbors were feeling better about the future. He also gave credit to Atlanta Police Zone 4 officers for being responsive and caring about the community.
"911 probably knows my name by heart because I call them so often," Dr. Young said.
He believes the area that is causing the most trouble for himself and residents is Herring Road off of Cascade but says the crime rate in the area is high overall.
"The neighborhood has changed for the worse." Dr. Young said. "It was a beautiful neighborhood."
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
