The issue of his girlfriend's sexuality apparently prompted a Gainesville man to attack her in front of relatives so he could "reclaim his pride," police reported.
The beating, followed by a two-county pursuit involving area law enforcement, ended Sunday evening with the arrest of John Russell Eddy Jr., 38.
Eddy, who is a registered sexual predator, is facing charges of aggravated battery, assault on an officer, battery, fleeing and eluding police, as well as a moving traffic violation. He also is accused of failing to provide home and cell phone numbers to officials, as required by his designation as a sexual predator. He was being held Monday at the Alachua County jail in lieu of $82,500 bond.
Police have said additional charges could be filed. Officers said Sunday that Eddy would be accused of attempted murder, but that charge was not listed on jail records Monday.
The Alachua County Sheriff's Office on Monday released a 911 call in which a woman told a dispatcher she had been dating Eddy for several weeks and that he was aware she was a transgender individual. But when others found out, she said he "freaked out" about it.
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