By Salma El-Sakka
A 20-year-old woman has alleged she was raped by a man wearing a Joker mask and two other men at a bar in Athens, Georgia, after she declined a drink during a Halloween event, according to police reports reviewed by local media.
Alleged assault at Halloween event
The incident reportedly occurred at Duke's & Dottie's, described as a high-energy country bar and dance club, located about 70 miles from Atlanta. The woman told Athens-Clarke County police she was at the venue from 11 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday when she encountered the masked individual.
After she refused the drink offer, the man in the Joker mask dragged her into a bathroom where she was raped by him and two others who were waiting inside, the arrest report states.
Property stolen during attack
Police records indicate the suspects also took the woman's purse, valued at approximately $100, and her iPhone 16 Plus, worth around $800. Staff were unable to locate the phone, and the woman did not report the assault to employees at the time.
Victim seeks medical attention
The woman eventually confided in a friend who drove her to a Barrow County hospital. She met with Barrow County deputies around 4 a.m. on Sunday to report the attack.
Community response and petition
Athens resident Miles Peck told Atlanta News First he hopes a thorough investigation is conducted. Peck has also launched an online petition calling for Duke's & Dottie's to be stripped of its liquor license, arguing the venue and the town have developed "an alarming culture of unchecked drunkenness and abuse." The petition had garnered over 3,500 signatures as of publication.
The Independent has contacted Duke's & Dottie's and Athens-Clarke County police for comment on the alleged incident.
