Prosecutor Chambers: What’s put on the internet doesn’t go away

Posted on October 19, 2017

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – McLean County State’s Attorney Jason Chambers said the fight that broke out over the weekend in Normal, and was broadcast on Facebook Live, is a reminder that what’s put on the internet stays there.

Speaking with WJBC’s Sam Wood, Chambers said anyone on social media has access to the video.

“In this instance, I’ve already seen where there were some comments that people said, ‘I didn’t get to see it,’ and someone would reply, ‘I’ve got it. I’ll send it to you.'”

“We’re talking about a situation of someone who is a minor. Based on some of the material that’s in there, I would argue that just possessing that, if the person knows they’re a minor, possessing it becomes a crime,” said Chambers.

Normal Police sent their SWAT team to the Parkinson Street apartment early Sunday when officers thought they heard a gunshot.

Police arrested a man for allegedly carrying a handgun. Officers booked another man on misdemeanor charges. Police have not made an arrest for the televised beating, which was said to involve three females, one of whom Chambers said is a minor.

Chambers said just because there’s video of the fight doesn’t make it any easier to prosecute. He said investigators still have to identify people, and find out what was happening before and after the video.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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