2 Kokomo juveniles arrested for battery; teens were taping themselves to make YouTube video

On Thursday at 2:15 a.m., IU Police Department officer Scott Dunning was sent to the IU Psychology building area after receiving notification of an assault that had just occurred. The two assailants were reported to be driving a black Jeep, said Capt. Jerry Minger, using information from the police report.\nOfficer Dunning then saw a black Jeep Wranger driving down 10th Street toward him, and he turned and followed the vehicle, Minger said. The black Jeep Wrangler was then stopped on North Jordan Avenue while a second officer spoke to the victim of the assault outside the Psychology building. \nThe driver and passenger of the Jeep Wrangler were identified as 17 and 16 years old, respectively, and were from Kokomo. The juveniles had come to Bloomington to visit friends. In addition, the odor of alcohol on their breath was detected, Minger said. \nThe victim was then transported to the location on North Jordan Avenue where the vehicle was stopped, and the victim identified the driver and passenger as the ones who had assaulted him, Minger said. \nThe victim told officers that the juveniles had a video camera in their possession and had recorded themselves assaulting him. The juveniles had first started yelling at the victim from their vehicle, escalating into a verbal altercation. The victim then said that the subjects stopped the Jeep and threw him into the bushes, where he was not injured and declined medical treatment, Minger said. \nA video camera was then discovered in the bushes east of the Herman B Wells Library. The police report further states that the parents of both juveniles were contacted to pick them up, and after being advised of their Miranda rights in the presence of their parents, both juveniles admitted to assault. In addition, the passenger stated that he threw the video camera from the vehicle when he saw the IUPD squad car turn around to stop them. \nAfter obtaining a search warrant for the video camera, Minger said it appeared that the subjects had been going out every day since June 5 to videotape themselves harassing and yelling at people, including calling women a variety of profane names. Minger said the juveniles began taping themselves yelling at people and getting their reactions on tape so they could post the video on YouTube. \nBoth of the juveniles were placed under arrest for Battery, a class B- Misdemeanor, and were charged with illegal consumption. The juveniles, who were released to their parents that same day, are awaiting a court summoning, Minger said.