Juveniles Caught Punching Disabled Man on Camera Arrested
Screenshot via Facebook
Police have arrested the juveniles who were seen punching a disabled man in a video that went viral on Facebook this week.
Four of the youths captured on camera, whose ages range between 12 and 15 years old, were identified and taken into custody yesterday. Aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment charges are pending against all four, according to CBS3. Police have declined to release their names because of their ages.
The disturbing video, which was recorded at the intersection of Knox Street and Chelten Avenue, shows at least three youths watching and laughing while two other juveniles assault the victim, who Philly.com identified as 38-year-old Mark Smith. Smith, an employee at a Cheltenham ShopRite, appears unsuspecting when the first attack is delivered, then attempts to back away before he is pursued and punched a second time by a different teenager.
Police are reportedly looking into a possible connection between some of the youths in the video and an assault that occurred last week against a Germantown principal.
In that incident, Fitler Academics Plus School principal Anthious Boone was struck with a brick when he attempted to break up a fight between Fitler students and students from neighboring Mastery Charter schools. Police have not yet identified the assailant.
Boone, who was rushed to an emergency room, needed eight stitches.
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