MORROW, Ga. – The FBI is investigating the beating of an African-American woman inside a restaurant as a possible hate crime.

Police arrested 47-year old Troy Dale West for kicking and punching Army reservist Tawshawnea Hill at the Cracker Barrel in Morrow, Georgia.

Reports say 35-year old Hill was entering the restaurant with her 7-year old daughter when West swung the door really hard while walking out of the establishment. Hill told the man to be careful not to hit her daughter with the door.

“The man slung open the door pretty hard and fast and I had to push my daughter out of the way. I turned to the man and I just said, ‘Excuse me sir, you need to watch yourself you almost hit my daughter in the face.’ And from there it just went downhill,” said Hill.

The 250 pound West was angered and was heard yelling out racial slurs to the woman and started to beat her in front of her 7-year old daughter. He threw her to the ground and hit her in the head with his fists and feet. Hill kept telling West that she was an Army person.

West is arrested and charged with charges of cruelty to children, battery and disorderly conduct. He is out of jail after posting a $12,150 bond.

The FBI has conducted a preliminary investigation on the assault and is looking if the beating was racially motivated.