A UF student faces a criminal charge after he slapped another student in the face outside the Swamp Restaurant on Thursday morning.
According to a Gainesville Police Department arrest report, John Michael Peterson, 22, was arrested at 1:50 a.m. after he slapped Andrew Bacha, 20.
Peterson said he saw Bacha talking to one of Peterson's ex-girlfriends.
He told officers, "Boys will be boys, and I slapped him."
Bacha said he and a friend recalled the night differently.
"There were no girls around us," said Bacha, an applied physiology and kinesiology sophomore.
Swamp bouncer James Healy, 21, a friend of Bacha's and a UF psychology senior, said Peterson tried to walk into the restaurant after Healy told him it was closed. Healy said Peterson was drunk.
Healy said Peterson became agitated, cursed at Healy and harassed a nearby group, which included Bacha.
Peterson tried to start a fight with the strangers. He finally singled out Bacha, the smallest of the group, Healy said.
"I want him," Peterson said, pointing to Bacha.
When Bacha refused to fight, Peterson slapped him across the face, leaving a red mark, Bacha and Healy said.
Healy said he grabbed Peterson in a headlock and waved two officers over for assistance.
Peterson managed to free himself and escaped from the scene.
"He bitch-slapped me and took off like a little punk," Bacha said.
Police caught Peterson nearby and arrested him, according to the report.
Bacha said he's still angry and confused by the situation.
"I would not be in a good state of mind if I saw him again," Bacha said. "Who hits someone and then sprints away?"
According to the Alachua County Jail, Peterson was released Thursday afternoon.
