Police Locate Vehicle Possibly Used in Cyclist Attack

Authorities believe they may have located the red Dodge Nitro suspected of being used to deliberately hit a Decatur cyclist earlier this month in the Piedmont Heights neighborhood near Ansley Golf Club.

A tip led Atlanta police to an apartment complex, Gables Midtown, where they found the SUV that reportedly had been covered by a tarp for the past two weeks.

On Monday, Police impounded the vehicle, which had visible front end damage. The license plate had been removed, but neighbors told Fox 5 that it previously sported a Michigan plate.

The complex is not far from where June 9 incident took place that sent Greg Germani, 50, to the hospital with serious head injuries.

Germani was transferred from Grady ICU to a private hospital in Midtown on Monday.

Atlanta police had previously released a nine-second video depicting the vehicle traveling down Flagler Avenue in one direction, and then later a cyclist pedals down the street in the opposite direction with the Dodge Nitro following.

Investigators say following a verbal confrontation, the driver of the vehicle pursued and hit Germani before fleeing in what police are calling an aggravated assault.

Germani was reportedly dragged 50 feet by the vehicle. A Fundly account has been established to increase the Crime Stoppers reward for information leading to an arrest of the suspect. See here to donate to that account.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477).

See Also:

Road Rage: Atlanta Police Say Driver Ran Down Cyclist

APD Video Shows Vehicle that Hit Cyclist in Assault