Aaron Parsons, suspect in brutal beating caught on tape, arrested by Baltimore police

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Aaron Parsons, 20

/ CBS Baltimore

(CBS/WJZ/AP) BALTIMORE - Authorities say they have arrested one of the suspects in the brutal beating of a tourist that was caught on tape St. Patrick's Day weekend.

CBS Baltimore reports 20-year-old Aaron Parsons turned himself in to the police Friday night.

In the video, Parsons approaches a man behind him. A rowdy crowd gathers and it appears Parsons grabs something from the victim, who shoves his hand away. A few seconds later, Parsons hits the man. After the victim falls down, others kick and hit him, before stripping him of all his clothes as bystanders laugh.

"What he did was heinous. What he's accused of doing is heinous," said Baltimore City Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

After police learned of the video, they connected it to a report from a 31-year-old man from Arlington, Va., on March 19. The then-unidentified victim told police that he had been at a club the night before, but woke up with a black eye. He was also missing his watch, phone and car keys.

Several people called to identify Parsons, a well-known Baltimore party promoter and graduate of Mount Carmel High School, where he played basketball.

Parsons is now being held on $1 million bond. Police announced the charges Friday night, after releasing images of three people from the video. Parsons is charged with robbery, assault and other offenses. His lawyer says he will plead not guilty.

"Just to know they're off the streets makes me feel better - one less fool out there," said Baltimore resident Broady Best.

7 Comments +

Add a Comment


by ElGato1979 April 20, 2012 4:54 PM EDT: Looks lika a racist crime to me. Where the outrage from the black community over this?; Reply to this comment


by chyenna-2009 April 17, 2012 1:41 AM EDT: After the victim falls down, others kick and hit him, before stripping him of all his clothes as bystanders laugh.

ANIMALS. EVEN BYSTANDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by lily777 April 16, 2012 5:57 PM EDT: Stupid animal-like behavior---what is wrong with these individuals! Everyday another story of people committing crimes that show that they have no regard for other peoples rights--no regard for human life--no respect for themselves or anyone else---disgusting -de-evolution--; Reply to this comment


by Ferndocker April 16, 2012 3:02 PM EDT: Let me know when Al Sharpton and Jesse are going to hold a vigil until this outrageous crime, committed by these viscious thugs is handled and prosecuted to the fullest extent by the law!!!.......What??? you say scrawny Al and jelly Jesse do not give the petunia of a rat about THIS ONE?? How come????; Reply to this comment

by audemus April 16, 2012 2:46 PM EDT

Well, I guess it was okay, he's been arrested....

Reply to this comment


by Ferndocker April 16, 2012 3:04 PM EDT: You think that it is ok audemus that this tourist victim was beaten,stripped, kicked and publicly humiliated by this brutal gang of thugs?? How long do you think it will take him to get over this disgrace???? Maybe never?


by audemus April 16, 2012 3:43 PM EDT: Ferndocker...if you'd been keeping up with current events , you'd probably realize that the present public sentiment for such barbaric acts as these is that as long as a person is arrested, everything's okay, when clearly it's not. My comments were meant to be sarcastic.

I refer to the repeated rape of an eleven year old girl in Texas by 18 to 25 people, a 13 year old boy being doused with gasoline on his front porch and set afire, two English tourists being murdered because they wandered into a bad neighborhood, and an Hispanic child being nearly beaten to death by a gang of thugs. In all these cases, and there are others, people have been arrested, and every time any of these crimes are brought up on these boards, someone will invariably say, "at least the perpetrators were arrested....," as if that makes it all better, and every one can rest well tonight....

This type of insanity should be met with an outpouring of community indignation, as in the Martin/Zimmerman case, each and every time it occurs. It shouldn't matter if someone's been arrested or not. There should be protest marches, and leaders of our many faiths giving speeches, and special prosecutors and the whole nine yards. There should be a public outpouring of rage and a loud demand for extreme punishment each and every time cases as horrendous as these occur. Perhaps then we'd see less of this madness.

We are more in agreement than you thought. I apologize for any lack of clarity in my earlier comments.

Popular Now in Crime

recommended

Follow Crimesider

Most Popular on CBS News

Stories More »

Videos More »

5 Photos | View Gallery »
Photos: Inside the jail cell of Jodi Arias
13 Photos | View Gallery »
Twisters touch down in the Midwest
11 Photos | View Gallery »
Children rescued from elementary school in Okla.
12 Photos | View Gallery »
Environmental Working Group's top sunscreens for 2013
17 Photos | View Gallery »
Fla. teen charged over underage same-sex relationship

Scroll Left

Scroll Right More »

48 Hours 48 Hours for iPad^® A perfect companion to TV's most popular true-crime series.

CBS News on Facebook

Aaron Parsons, suspect in brutal beating caught on tape, arrested by Baltimore police

Report offensive content:

E-mail this comment to a friend.

Follow Crimesider

48 Hours iPad App