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Published Monday, October 06, 2008 in Local

Couple robbed, attacked near their home

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Times-Herald

A Newnan couple was allegedly robbed and assaulted in front of their Woodberry Court home early Sunday morning.

According to the report filed by Deputy D.L. Patterson, Richard and Giggie Tibbetts had dinner at Red Lobster Saturday night and left to head home shortly after midnight. They stopped at Metro Petro to buy cigarettes on the way home, according to the report.

When they arrived home, Mr. Tibbetts went up on the front porch to unlock the door while Mrs. Tibbetts stopped to put out her cigarette.

Mr. Tibbetts heard Mrs. Tibbetts say something and turned around to find her being held by an unknown man, according to the report.

The man was demanding money. Mr. Tibbetts told the man that he had the money, not his wife. According to the report, the robber then came up on the porch and grabbed him. Mr. Tibbets gave him cash from a money clip, but the robber demanded his wallet as well. Mr. Tibbets stated that when he was sure the man didn't have a weapon, he began to try and fight his attacker off. An attack to the groin area finally made the man pull away, according to the report.

As the assailant ran off, he grabbed Mrs. Tibbets' purse, according to the report, and struck her on the side of her head with his fist, knocking her unconscious. The purse was found nearby, behind the wheel of the vehicle, according to the report. Mrs. Tibbets was transported to Piedmont-Newnan Hospital. She was no longer at the hospital on Monday.

The assailant is described as a black man with a shaven head, between 30 and 35 years old, and between 5 foot 8 and 5 foot 9 inches tall. The man was wearing a yellow and black striped shirt and dark pants.

When Patterson arrived, according to the report, Mr. Tibbetts had scratches and bruises on his face, and a swollen area on his head. Mrs. Tibbets was not responsive. No additional information was available on Monday.

The Coweta County Sheriff's Office is in charge of the investigation.