Teen charged for vodka gang attack

"Remember my name, we will meet again," youth tells assault victim.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
alcohol teens 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
alcohol teens 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
A 17-year-old youth was charged on Wednesday for organizing a gang attack on a man in Petah Tikva last month after being refused a sip of vodka. The youth was charged at the Petah Tikva youth court.
The suspect approached twp couples who were sitting outside on the night of May 22 and asked for a drink, police said. "Due to his young age and his high level of inebriation,  his request was refused by the man holding the beverage," they added.
The youth began threatening the couples, police said, telling them his name and adding, "Remember my family name. We will meet again."
Youth returns with group of friends, attacks man
Minutes later, police said, the youth returned with ten friends armed with sticks, rocks and empty beer bottles. "That's him, that's him!" the youth told his friends, pointing to the man who had refused him a drink.
The gang launched a "vicious attack" police said. "The youth struck the man who had refused him a drink with a plank of wood and hit him over the head with a bottle. He repeatedly struck him with the plank of wood, aiming for the legs in order to cause him to fall to the ground."
Once on the ground, all ten youths punched, kicked and smashed bottles on the man. The man's girlfriend began shouting for the attackers to leave, and a rock was thrown at her. The attackers began attacking the man's girlfriend and the second couple, police said.  The attack was stopped by a passer-by intervened.
The assault victim was hospitalized with several wounds, and filed a complaint with police. Youth Officers from Petah Tikva police were able to track the main suspect thanks to his earlier threat, in which he gave his full name. "The assault victims looked up the suspect on Facebook and alerted police."
The suspect was arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm, aggravated assault, and making threats. Police are searching for the suspect's accomplices.