Late this evening, an arrest warrant was signed in connection with the videotaped assault of an incapacitated LSU football fan, following the BCS Championship game in New Orleans, between LSU and Alabama.
WDSU is reporting that Orleans Parish Magistrate Commissioner Robert Blackburn signed the warrant for arrest on two charges, sexual battery and obscenity.
The development clears the way for the arrest and booking of the individual suspected to be the abuser depicted in the video released earlier this week on the internet. Brian Downing and his attorney were supposedly en route from Russell County, Alabama to New Orleans to meet with NOPD detectives.
The signing of the warrant Thursday night makes it likely that Downing will be taken into custody and appear before a judge within the next 24 hours. The video, which began circulating through website and bulletin board postings over the past week, shows an unidentified man dressed in LSU gear slumped over a counter at the Krystal Burger restaurant on Bourbon Street. He is surrounded by men and women wearing crimson, and celebrating the University of Alabama’s 21-0 victory.
Several minutes later, people began mocking the passed out LSU fan, stacking fry containers and trash on top of him, placing their fingers in his ears and nose, and posing for photos and videos beside him. At one point, the man begins to stir, only to return to what appears to be a state of unconsciousness. Shortly thereafter, one individual unzips his pants to expose himself and thrusts his genitals in the face of the passed-out fan. He then pretends to sodomize him while many onlookers did nothing. The video even showed what appeared to be a Crystal Burger employee passing by, stopping to look at what was taking place, and then doing nothing to stop it.
On Wednesday, NOPD officials stepped up their investigation with a call for help in identifying the person committing the obscene act. The Ledger-Enquirer newspaper, based near Downing’s hometown, reported that Downing had stepped forward to meet with authorities about the incident. Downing’s cousin is reportedly the sheriff of Russell County, Alabama and claims he encouraged him to turn himself in after receiving a call notifying him that his cousin was the aggressor depicted in the video.
Source: New Orleans Crime Examiner
