A 20-year-old woman told investigators that three men assaulted her during a Halloween event at Duke’s and Dottie’s.
ATHENS, GA — Athens-Clarke County police are investigating after a 20-year-old woman reported that three men sexually assaulted her inside a downtown Athens bar during a Halloween event, according to a police incident report cited by multiple local news organizations.
The woman told investigators she was at Duke’s and Dottie’s, a bar and dance club on East Broad Street, between about 11 p.m. Oct. 31 and 2 a.m. Nov. 1. The venue is in downtown Athens near the University of Georgia, although authorities said the woman is not a UGA student. Police had not publicly identified any suspects or announced arrests in the case as of the latest reports.
According to the police report, the woman said she met a man wearing a Joker costume during the event. She told police that the man offered her a drink and that she declined. She said the man later grabbed her arm and forced her into a restroom, where two other men were waiting.
The woman reported that the three men then sexually assaulted her. After the men left, she discovered that her purse and phone were missing, according to accounts of the police report. The allegations have not been proven in court, and police have not publicly named anyone accused in the case.
The woman did not immediately report the alleged assault to bar employees, according to the police account. She later told a friend what had happened, and the friend drove her to a hospital in Barrow County. Authorities there contacted Athens-Clarke County police at about 4 a.m. Nov. 1, beginning the investigation.
Police reports reviewed by local news outlets identified the missing phone as an iPhone 16 Plus. Investigators have not publicly said whether the phone or purse has been recovered. Authorities also have not released the names or detailed descriptions of the three men beyond the woman’s account that one was wearing a Joker costume.
WSB-TV reported seeing several surveillance cameras outside Duke’s and Dottie’s and said investigators were expected to review available video as they worked to determine what happened and identify possible suspects. Police have not publicly disclosed what surveillance footage, if any, has been recovered or what it shows.
The reported assault has also renewed scrutiny of the downtown venue. Atlanta News First reported that Athens resident Miles Peck started an online petition seeking suspension of the bar’s liquor license and an investigation of its practices. The petition cited broader concerns about safety and conduct at the establishment. Those claims are separate from the allegations in the current police investigation and do not establish wrongdoing by the business.
News organizations contacted representatives for Duke’s and Dottie’s or its parent company seeking comment. WSB-TV reported that a call to a number listed for the bar had not been returned, while Atlanta News First said it contacted the venue’s parent company and owner. No public response from the business was included in those reports.
The investigation remains open. Athens-Clarke County police had not announced arrests or publicly identified suspects in connection with the reported assault as of the most recent available reporting.
Author note: Last updated November 8, 2026.