The suspect in a robbery and beating that left a man with several broken bones in Hall County last month is behind bars, due in part to a cell phone he dropped at the crime scene, deputies said.
The attack happened on January 19, when the victim was waiting for a ride to work near his residence off of Lamplighter Cove and Browns Bridge roads, according to the Hall County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities said the suspect, Christopher John Herrera 18, of Gainesville, drove up to the victim, got out of the vehicle and demanded the victim's cell phone and wallet.
"After giving Herrera the items, the victim was struck multiple times by Herrera with a baseball bat," Deputy Chad Mann wrote in a news release.
Investigators said a passerby stopped to help the victim, but also helped in the investigation.
"At some point, during the altercation, Herrera dropped his cell phone and left it behind at the scene. The image on the locked screen of the phone was identified by the passerby as the subject that assaulted the victim," Mann said. "The victim and Herrera had previously worked at the same company."
Later on the day of the robbery, authorities said Herrera filed a report claiming his phone had been stolen from his vehicle.
Deputies arrested Herrera on January 28. He's charged with aggravated battery, armed robbery and false report of a crime.
The victim was treated at Northeast Georgia Medical Center for injuries including, "multiple broken bones," Mann said.
