YouTube post of alleged 'snitch' assault in Olympia spurs arrests
JEREMY PAWLOSKI
An Olympia police detective found a video of an alleged assault involving brass knuckles at the Olympia Transit Center posted on YouTube under the title “Olympia Gangstas,” leading to the arrest of two suspects.
Crushante Richburg, 19, and Noel Ramirez Jr., 20, were being held Wednesday at the Thurston County Jail on suspicion of second-degree assault and intimidating a witness. Richburg is being held without bail; Ramirez’s bail is $10,000.
According to court papers:
The victim reported that the men on Friday accused him of being a “snitch” and threatened to kill him, then assaulted him.
He said Ramirez struck him repeatedly in the head with brass knuckles. Detective Chris Johnstone noticed that the man had multiple head contusions and a split lip.
Richburg had been awaiting trial on a charge of first-degree robbery while armed with a deadly weapon. He is accused of helping to rob three people at gunpoint Feb. 17 at an Olympia home. The three allegedly were going to sell marijuana to a group that included Richburg. Richburg and the other suspects are accused of stealing the trio’s marijuana and wallets.
The victim in the alleged Transit Center assault said Richburg and Ramirez have been “increasingly hostile” to him, “focusing on his “cooperation with police in providing information during the robbery investigation.”
Olympia police arrested the pair Monday at a home on Black Lake Boulevard. Richburg reportedly admitted he was angry at the victim because he had provided information to police.
Richburg also told police that a portion of the assault was videotaped “by someone” and placed on YouTube. Johnstone found the video and downloaded it for preservation. The video has been removed from YouTube.
The video begins after the incident has begun, so it does not show Richburg’s involvement. However, it does apparently show Ramirez repeatedly hitting the man with his fist.
jpawloski@theolympian.com
360-754-5445
theolympian.com/thisjustin
@JeremyPawloski
