A 24-year-old Hall County man was arrested early Saturday after he reportedly attacked an Athens resident because the victim was gay, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report obtained Monday by the Athens Banner-Herald and OnlineAthens.com.

The 20-year-old Highland Park Drive resident was walking past the Georgia Bar on West Clayton Street at about 2:45 a.m., when Chad Andrew Weaver, 24, of Gainesville yelled at the victim that he was a "faggot" because the victim was dressed in women’s clothing, according to police.

The victim said something in response to the slur, at which time an argument ensued in which Weaver reportedly punched the victim in the face, according to the police report. The pair continued to fight until they were separated by onlookers, the report states.

An acquaintance of the victim and another witnesses verified for police that Weaver was the aggressor by yelling slurs and throwing the first punch.

At one point, Weaver reportedly was on top of the victim on the sidewalk and had to be pulled off by onlookers, according to the police report.

Part of the altercation apparently was observed by an off duty police officer who was working across the street at Waffle House, the report states.

Weaver was arrested on a charge of simple battery, police said.

According to the Clarke County Jail’s website, the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office placed a hold on Weaver’s release from custody for an unspecified reason.

Follow Criminal Justice reporter Joe Johnson at www.facebook.com/JoeJohnsonABH or www.twitter.com/JoeJohnsonABH