A Greek Orthodox priest was severely beaten by a U.S. Marine Reservist in Tampa Florida in an apparent case of mistaken identity. Lance Cpl. Jasen D. Bruce was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after chasing and beating a man he thought was a terrorist.
On October 9, Father Alexios Marakis, 29, was visiting the Greek community and an ailing fellow priest in Tampa . Father Alexios apparently got lost while driving northbound on Interstate 275 and wandered into downtown Tampa. Exiting his car at the Seaport Channelside Apartment complex, he asked Bruce for directions. Instead of providing assistance, Bruce allegedly beat the Orthodox priest in the head with a tire iron.
The priest then fled on foot with Bruce in pursuit while Bruce phoned 911 emergency services to report that he was going to take an Arab into custody. When police finally arrived, Bruce allegedly declared that the priest was actually a terrorist. According to Tampa police, Bruce claimed that the priest had shouted “God is great!” in Arabic. The bearded priest speaks Greek and was wearing a black cassock at the time of the incident.
Father Alexios was taken to hospital and there a translator helped to unravel his story for police. When police went to Bruce's apartment, he was already lawyered up and would not speak to them. The priest was treated and released from Tampa General Hospital. Alleged assailant Bruce was arrested on the evening of November 9 and released from the Hillsborough County jail at 8 AM on November 10 on a $7500 bond.
In an appearance in court on November 10, Attorney Jeff Brown – who is of counsel to Bruce – said that Bruce was followed into the parking garage of his apartment complex by the priest who allegedly made sexual comments and fondled the Marine’s crotch. Brown claims that the Tampa Police Department’s version of events is “one-sided” and “tainted.” Added Lawyer Brown, "We are confident that the surveillance videos, the long 911 call, the eyewitnesses will all conclusively show that Lance Cpl. Bruce was attacked and was the victim in this case." Brown referred to the priest as a "bearded attacker" six times and used his client's military rank 17 times. The attorney criticized the local police for their handling of the case and suggested that the officer in charge is a “Marine basher”.
The president of the Tampa Human Rights Council, Ahmed Bedier, has called on police to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime. The assault happened just a day before President Obama was eulogizing the victims of a possible terrorist attack at Fort Hood TX that is being blamed on a fervent Muslim, U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan.
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