Marion police issuing warrants in recent beating

Marion police said they expect to issue warrants for the arrest of a 19-year-old man and two juveniles after the alleged gang-related beating of a 57-year-old man.

The suspects, whose names aren’t being released, will be charged with assault and battery, Lt. Farmer Blue said Wednesday afternoon.

“It hasn’t been determined to be a gang-related incident. It most likely is, but I have to finish my investigation before I could say that,” Blue said.

On March 4, the victim was beaten with brass knuckles and kicked while walking home on Henry Street about 10:45 p.m.

“It happened right in front of 715 Henry St. and that’s where a lot of gang members hang out,” Blue said “... Guys were just drinking, hanging out, and decided they wanted to beat the first person that came along.”

Chief Willie L. Smith said the department is in the process of applying for a grant that will allow him to hire an additional officer and be better equipped to investigate gang activity.

“We’ll be a step ahead simply because of the data our officers have already gathered identifying gangs and some of the members,” he said.

Establishing a reputation, marking territory or having initiations could have prompted the March 4 incident, Smith said.

“As far as I’m concerned, none of the streets belong to them. They don’t own no streets around here and won’t ever.”