A man accused of attacking a group of University of Georgia students who were on a kayaking excursion last weekend has turned himself in, authorities said.
Justin Matthew Bruce, 31, of Carnesville, surrendered to Madison County deputies Friday morning after warrants were issued charging him with aggravated assault and simple battery, sheriff’s office spokesman Capt. Jimmy Patton said.
He was wanted in connection with an incident that occurred Saturday on the Broad River near Roy Woods Road, AJC.com previously reported.
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The students were getting out of the river about 8 p.m. when Bruce approached them and began harassing one of them about his long hair, a sheriff’s office incident report said.
“Are you a man-(expletive) or a (expletive)-man?” the man reportedly asked.
After a second student intervened in the altercation, Bruce reportedly said he would “(expletive) every one of them up,” according to the report. He then jumped the man with the long hair, authorities said.
The student who intervened ended up with a cut on his ear and a knot on the back of his head, according to deputies. At some point, the suspect dragged a third student underwater and held him there for nearly 45 seconds, authorities said.
A woman in the group tried to hit Bruce with her paddle, but he allegedly punched her so hard that she fell into the water. Deputies who responded to the scene noted redness and swelling under her eye.
The students tried to get Bruce's friends to intervene but none of them did, one of the group members told the Athens Banner-Herald. The woman urged someone to call 911, but the man's friends reportedly told her: "You don't want to do that. He knows everyone in this town."
The students ran into the woods and called 911 from a cellphone after Bruce reportedly threatened to get a gun from his truck, according to the Banner-Herald.
He was gone by the time deputies arrived.
Bruce remains held at the Madison County Jail as he awaits his bond hearing, Patton said. The incident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 706-795-6202.
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