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Marine Reservist Seriously Fouls Up
A U.S. Marine reservist attacked a visiting Greek Orthodox priest he believed to be a terrorist, Tampa police say. When the priest tried seeking directions from Jasen D. Bruce, 28, of Tampa, on Monday, Bruce struck the priest with a tire iron and chased him.Police say he attacked the Rev. Alexios Marakis, 29, of Crete, Greece, who was visiting St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs and wound up lost in Tampa. Marakis had performed a blessing of another retired Greek priest in the West Shore area and then accidentally exited Interstate 275 north into downtown Tampa. He followed cars into the Seaport Channelside Apartments on Twiggs Street and got out to ask Bruce for help. Bruce hit him over the head with a tire iron and chased him for three blocks, to the corner of Madison and Meridian avenues, police say. "During the chase, the suspect called 911 and claimed an Arabic male attempted to rob him and he was going to take him into custody," a Tampa Police Department news release states. "When officers arrived, the suspect claimed the man was a terrorist." Marakis, who speaks limited English, was treated at Tampa General Hospital and released. Marakis declined to comment today, saying he did not speak much English. The Rev. Michael Eaccarino of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral said Marakis is doing well. Police came to Bruce's home for a follow-up interview. Bruce's lawyer was there, and Bruce wasn't helpful, police say. Bruce was arrested about 6:35 p.m. Monday in the first-floor parking garage of 1120 E. Twiggs St. He was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Officers say they are trying to determine if the attack meets the standard for a hate crime. Posted by: Anonymoose 2009-11-11 |
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