By Joe Johnson
A Madison County man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a bat assault and robbery in Athens four months ago.
Omar Jesus Lopez, 24, of Danielsville was arrested on warrants charging him with aggravated assault and armed robbery.
According to an Athens-Clarke County police report, officers on Oct. 30 responded to a residence on Walton Creek Road where they met with the victim, a 30-year-old Gainesville man, who told officers that he was riding with “an unknown individual who stopped the car where he said his father lived.
The victim said that when he got out of the car, another unknown person came out of the woods and the driver struck him in the side of the face with a bat, according to the report.
The victim said when he ran the driver chased after and hit him again with the bat, according to the report, and when he fell the person who came out of the woods punched and kicked him, and a smartphone valued at $1,400 was taken from him and smashed on the ground by the attackers.
The victim ran to a home nearby where he sought help.
Police said the victim was transported by ambulance to Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center.
Detectives have not determined a motive for the attack.
As of Thursday afternoon, Lopez was being held at the Clarke County Jail without bail being set.
Additionally, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office placed a hold on his release for an obstruction charge.