By Joe Johnson
An Athens man was arrested this week for allegedly beating and choking an elderly man during a domestic dispute two months ago.
According to an Athens-Clarke County police report, 40-year-old Antonio Luvara Barnes of Atlanta Avenue assaulted the 74-year-old victim the night of Oct. 30 when the victim intervened in an altercation between Barnes and an ex-girlfriend.
The suspect’s ex reportedly told police that she was sleeping when Barnes entered her bedroom and attacked her, hitting her about 20 times in the face.
The older victim went into the bedroom to check on the commotion when Barnes allegedly hit him in the face and grabbed him by the throat.
The victim said he felt dizzy but never lost consciousness, according to the police report.
While attacking the man, Barnes allegedly said that he was going to kill him, according to the report.
When the elder victim tried to leave the scene, Barnes allegedly knocked him down and dragged him back into the home, according to the report.
The victim was then able to lock Barnes outside and call 911, the police report noted.
Barnes had fled the scene by the time officers arrived.
Investigators subsequently obtained warrants charging Barnes with inflicting pain on an elderly person, making terroristic threats, as well as battery and simple battery – both under the state Family Violence Act, according to the police report.
Police arrested and booked Barnes into the Clarke County Jail Thursday night, according to the jail’s website,
He was being detained without bail being set as of Saturday afternoon.
The Madison County Sheriff's Office placed a hold on Barnes arrest due to a probation violation that stemmed from an aggravated assault conviction, according to the local county jail's website.