Homeless man chased UGA student with knife on Athens greenway

By Joe Johnson

Whitney Dustin Beck was arrested in the afternoon of October 25th after he chased a University of Georgia student while wielding a knife on the North Oconee River Greenway.

The 55-year-old homeless man had a crack pipe and open whiskey bottle when police located him.

The incident was at around 3:20 p.m. when the 20-year-old student was walking on the trail between Inglewood and Old Winterville roads when Beck accosted and began chasing him while swinging a knife.

He told police that Beck got within 10 feet of him before making it to safety, at which time he warned others about what had happened,

Police officers found Beck lying on a bench along the trail and in his pockets were the knife, crack pipe,and whiskey bottles,

He was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, possession of a knife in the commission of a felony, possession of drug objects and open container of alcohol.

He was denied bail at a hearing in Municipalities Court.