4 Arrested, Including 2 Teens, in Beating of Detroit Driver Steve Utash
Four people have been arrested for brutally beating up a 54-year-old man who accidentally hit a 10-year-old boy with his pickup truck in Detroit last week.
The suburban driver, who was identified as Steve Utash, was put into a medically induced coma after suffering severe head injuries when he was attacked and kicked by a neighborhood mob on April 2, reports the Associated Press. The beating occurred after 10-year-old David Harris stepped in front of Utash's pickup and Utash stopped to check on him. That's when he was attacked by at least a half-dozen people, said a witness.
Detroit police Sgt. Michael Woody said a 30-year-old man was arrested Sunday night and a 24-year-old man was taken into custody on Monday afternoon. In addition, 17-year-old Bruce Wimbush, Jr. was arrested and charged with assault with intent to commit murder and do great bodily harm on Monday. He was expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday, according to MLive.com. The fourth suspect, a 16-year-old boy, is being held in a juvenile detention facility.
Police initially said a group of at least six people attacked Utash, however, Woody said Monday that investigators are ''not trying to stick to one specific number.'' He added that, "we wouldn't have been able to get as far as we have'' without help from the public. We're not done yet. We're still very much at the beginning stages of this case.''
Although Utash is white and his attackers are black, officials said there was no evidence indicating the attack was racially motivated, reports ABC News.
Utash, who does not have health insurance, has received more than $128,000 as of Monday in donations for medical bills.
''Mr. Utash did the right thing by stopping to help a child in need, and, appallingly, was punished for doing so,'' said state Rep. Brian Banks, whose district includes the scene of the attack. ''People should not be punished for doing the right thing.''
The little boy was reportedly treated for a leg injury.