Oct 3, 2015
Police cited a Lake Havasu City man Thursday who attacked a personal watercraft racer underwater at Body Beach during an altercation.
Rusty Gewecke was charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct in the September incident, police said.
The victim told police he and Gewecke have had issues in the past because their watercrafts have similar design. The altercation started when Gewecke “flipped off” the victim and called him racial slurs.
The victim said Gewecke punched him several times at the beach while he was wearing his helmet and life vest, then took off his helmet and dragged him into the water where he held him under for about 15 seconds before a friend of Gewecke intervened.
The victim said Gewecke made threats toward him and his family while leaving the beach, saying things such as, “I know the route your wife takes to drop your daughter off at school,” the arrest report said.
Witness statements mirrored the victim’s story, police said.
Gewecke admitted to being the aggressor in the fight but denied punching the victim. Gewecke told police he was upset the victim stole his personal watercraft design.
