Owner of popular Athens bars indicted on rape, kidnapping charges

ATHENS, Ga. — The owner of a popular Athens bar has been indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual battery.

David Ippisch, 38, owns Hedges on Broad near the University of Georgia campus, where he is accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman in November. The victim was not a UGA student, according to police.

Ippisch was arrested Nov. 26 2019. He was denied bail in December. A judge ruled that he was likely to pose a risk to the community.

Channel 2's Tony Thomas was in Athens after Ippisch's arrest, where police confirmed reports of the attack.

"About 3:15 a.m., we took a report from a 21-year-old female indicating she had been sexually assaulted at the Hedges bar," said Officer Geoffrey Gilland, with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. “The alleged assault happened somewhere in the bar. I don't have any information at the exact location.”

Students told Thomas they were horrified at the accusations.

“It’s pretty disgusting, honestly. It’s pretty scary 'cause I know a lot of people, especially young girls, that go in there,” college student Cole Harper said.

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