Columbus police arrested and charged a Columbus man for burglary with possibly more arrests and more charges on the horizon.
A three-minute video was posted on YouTube showing the incident. According to Interim Columbus Police Chief Selvain McQueen, it occurred earlier this month inside an apartment located on 27th Street North. Two females attacked a woman while two males “assisted,” McQueen said. At least one other observer is shown recording the attack. A child’s screams are heard at the beginning of the video, and McQueen said a 1-year-old boy and 3-year-old boy were present for the incident.
“This lady was inside her apartment. Someone knocked on the door. She opened the door and someone said, ‘Get her,'” McQueen said, noting he does not know a motive for the incident but did say the victim alleges that one of the subjects involved accused her of theft.
McQueen said Tanessa Murphy, 24, and Bianca Johnson, 24, physically engaged the victim while Octavian Hodges, 24, and DeMontrell Hodges, 28, “allowed and aided” the incident to occur. The identity of the person video taping the incident is unknown.
Police arrested Octavian Hodges, of 1106 Railroad St., on Thursday. Police have warrants for the arrests of Murphy, Johnson and DeMontrell Hodges, who also face a burglary charge, McQueen said.
During the incident, a woman asks for the incident to stop, but McQueen said Octavian Hodges and DeMontrell Hodges “ran her off.”
“They will be charged as if they did it because they assisted,” McQueen said.
Terrie Songer, CPD public informations officer, said anyone who enters a residence without permission faces a burglary charge even if they did not take anything.
According to McQueen, the charge of assault is pending.
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