Marine reservist attacks Greek priest

TAMPA, FL — A Marine reservist is accused of attacking a priest he accused of being a terrorist.

Alexios Marakis, a 29-year-old priest visiting from Crete, Greece, was taken to Tampa General Hospital after being attacked by Jasen Bruce.

According to police, Marakis was driving after performing a blessing on another Greek priest when he accidentally exited I-275 and wound up lost in downtown Tampa.

He entered the Seaport Channelside Apartments and got out of his car to ask Jasen Bruce for directions.

That is when police say Bruce took out a tire iron and hit Marakis over the head and chased him for three blocks.

During the chase, Bruce called 911 and claimed that he had a Taliban terrorist that he was chasing after.

When officers arrived, Bruce claimed Marakis was a terrorist. Marakis was taken to TGH and released after police interviewed him.

Surveillance video of the scene will be released after an investigation. Police say it depicts a slight man (Marakis), being chased by a 6’3” man (Bruce).

Bruce is charged with agravated assualt with a deadly weapon. Detectives are working to determine if the incident meets the criteria for a hate crime.