An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged with the aggravated child abuse of a 14-year-old boy in a brutal encounter that was captured on video at Sunny Isles Beach park. According to Local 10, the suspect, identified as Mykola Sokol, was taken into custody after the footage of the assault went viral on social media, prompting an investigation by local authorities.
The violent altercation took place on March 16 at Gwen Margolis Park. A disturbing video shows the suspect Sokol attacking the younger boy, wrestling him to the pavement, and stomping his head after the teen already appears to be unconscious. Another teen is seen joining the fray, landing punches on the helpless victim. "It appeared that he beat him unconscious and then once he was he punched and kicked him after he was rendered unconscious," Sgt. Brian Schnell, a Sunny Isles Beach police spokesperson, said Friday in a statement obtained by Local 10.
The suspect approached the 14-year-old and attempted to snatch his hat, which led to the victim batting Sokol's hand away and the subsequent fight, as WSVN reported. Following his arrest, Sokol exercised his right to remain silent and now faces charges, according to the police. The footage proved to be crucial evidence leading to Sokol's capture, with both the suspect's and victim's mothers recognizing their sons in the shared video.
Sgt. Schnell was quoted saying, "This young man has now been arrested, taken to TGK, and he faces serious felony charges as an adult. I mean, the consequences of that could stay with him for the rest of his life. That’s as serious as it can get," according to a WSVN interview. The police are currently on the lookout for the other teen involved in a attack. The extent of the 14-year-old victim's injuries was not disclosed, but he was visibly injured when led away post-assault.
Sunny Isles Beach police have reiterated their commitment to maintaining law and order and assured the public that such acts of violence will not be tolerated. "Here in Sunny Isles Beach, we’re not gonna let people run amok and fight and commit crimes like this," Schnell told Local 10. Sokol remains incarcerated at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center as the legal proceedings unfold.
