Athens man charged with assaulting two women in daytime carjacking

By Joe Johnson

An Athens man was arrested Monday afternoon for a brazen daytime carjacking in which he assaulted the driver and a passenger, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

Two Athens women, ages 53 and 55, were driving in a 2004 Honda CR-V on Sycamore Drive at about 12:15 p.m. when they had to stop because a man was standing in their path on the road, police said.

The man, later identified as 23-year-old Trentavious Kwondrius Watkins of Chalfont Lane, pulled the passenger out of the SUV and struck her several times in the head and face, according to police.

He then entered the vehicle and kicked the driver in the head, police said, and the driver escaped from the CR-V, at which point the suspect drove off in the vehicle.

Police said that a description was given of the suspect and responding officers located him on West Broad Street near Alps Road.

Watkins was apprehended after a brief foot chase, police said, and the stolen vehicle was located and at a business nearby on Broad Street.

Both victims were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to ACCPD’s public information officer, Lt. Shaun Barnett.

Watkins was taken to a local hospital, "due to his condition and behavior," Barnett said, adding that the incident report did not specify what that meant.

After being medically cleared by the hospital Watkins was booked into the county jail at 12:46 a.m. Tuesday, charged with hijacking a motor vehicle, two counts each of kidnapping and aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, battery, simple battery and obstruction.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office placed a hold on Watkins’ release for an unspecified reason.