HOBART – Police say they have one man and two teen boys in custody as a result of an attack on a fourth boy that was recorded on video and posted online.
First Sgt. Jeremy Ogden said Saturday that police responded to a call about midnight from a concerned parent alerting them to a video posted to social media showing the beating. The 49-second video, viewed by the Post-Tribune, shows one suspect, dressed in a black jacket, jeans and black shoes, picking up a boy and throwing him to the ground. The suspect proceeds to start punching the boy about the head and neck.
In the video, a second suspect yells from off-camera, “Can I get in on this, please?” The reply is: “Yeah, just start throwing punches, dude.” Two more suspects start kicking the boy in the upper back and face.
After two of the suspects deliver one last kick to the face and stomp to the upper back, a girl off camera then says, “Is it done?” and the video stops. It ends with the boy attempting to get up off the ground.
After being alerted to the incident, Hobart officers went to talk to the victim’s guardian as soon as they were able to identify him. The beating was Thursday at City Ball Park near the pavilion, and the victim, a 16 year-old, was initially hesitant to come forward with information, Ogden said.
Officers arrested three suspects – an adult, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old – by midmorning Saturday, Ogden said.
“We started around midnight and continued through the night, which resulted in their arrests. We took this very seriously,” Ogden said.
The investigation is ongoing, but Ogden said charges are expected to be brought against the three Monday.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter.
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