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Teen charged in beating case

16-year-old faces felony; Middletown man injured in attack remains in intensive care unit.

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By Danielle Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 1:02 AM Thursday, June 25, 2009

Middletown police arrested and charged a 16-year-old boy Wednesday, June 24, in connection with the severe beating of a man outside a Central Avenue business.

Store surveillance video and witness descriptions led police to the youth, who was arrested at  4:29 p.m. at 2000 Central Avenue without incident, said Middletown police Detective Rich Bush.

The juvenile, whose name was not released, was charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony. He is being held in the Butler County Juvenile Detention Center in Hamilton.

Randy Rogers, 54, of Middletown, was knocked unconscious in the beating that occurred at about 9:20 p.m. Friday, June 19, after he left the NYC cell phone store on Central Avenue.

Following the attack, Rogers was taken to Atrium Medical Center and later flown to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, where he remained Wednesday night in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

Bush described the incident as “a verbal disturbance that turned physical,” and said that he did not know whether the boy and Rogers were acquainted. The boy charged in the assault is not known to police for involvement in any violent crimes, he said.

Before the attack, Rogers apparently had been arguing with someone inside the store. He was knocked to the ground and beaten, possibly with his own cane, once he got outside, Bush said.

Although initially it was reported that several males may have been involved in the beating, police are not looking for any other suspects.

“I think there were other people there. I don’t believe anyone else is involved,” Bush said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2511 or dwilson@coxohio.com.

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