Second beating
changes account
of minor assault

By Jessica Edwards

Police have arrested a second person, a 16-year-old, on assault charges for the beating Feb. 1 of a 15-year-old youth.

Police chief Gary Lowe said investigation last week revealed evidence the 16-year-old punched the 15-year-old youth multiple times the same night the youth was allegedly assaulted by 22-year-old Darren Shorty.

Shorty was arrested Feb. 2 on felony assault charges. On Feb. 5, police  arrested the 16-year-old, found to be in violation of probation for a prior offense, and sent him to a Juneau youth facility.

Police say they don’t have a motive for the second assault, and said the 16-year-old was among a group of youths who, along with the 15-year-old victim, went to the house Shorty was visiting.

The second beating occurred after the group and the 15-year-old had left the scene of the first assault.

Lowe said investigation continues into circumstances surrounding the assaults, and said further charges may be filed.

Lowe said police currently had no evidence the assaults were in retribution for revealing the identities of individuals burglarizing the Elks Lodge in January, stealing alcohol and cash.

Police said the victim had not reported being threatened.

Investigation of those crimes and the theft of beer kegs from a local brewery last fall is ongoing, Lowe said.

“We don’t have a direct correlation with them,” Lowe said of evidence linking the three crimes.

But, he said, the same persons of interest had cropped up in each case.

“We have the same players  involved. They are people we know are drinking and using illegal drugs. A lot of them are on probation for prior offenses.”