Fort Wayne, Indiana – A sixth person charged in the beating of a Black man by six white men inside a Waynedale bar was arrested about three weeks after the video went viral on social media.
Vard Anthony Warnock, 58, was booked into Allen County Jail late Friday afternoon on a Level 5 felony charge of battery resulting in serious bodily injury and a misdemeanor count of criminal recklessness in connection with the beating of James Simmons.
The attack on Simmons occurred on May 31 at Pikes Pub, 7536 Winchester Road. A video of the beating, which showed six white men dressed in Outlaw Motorcycle Gang attire punching, kicking, and possibly choking Simmons, quickly circulated on social media.
At least one of the men yelled racial slurs at Simmons during the attack.
The video sparked public outrage, prompting responses from city, county, and federal officials.
In court documents describing the attack, Allen County Sheriff’s investigators described a flood of tips about the identities of those who assaulted and battered Simmons.
According to court documents, investigators received emails and phone calls, as well as tips to look at various Facebook pages.
Five other men have been charged with similar offenses to Warnock in connection with the attack.
All five have been booked into Allen County Jail and have made court appearances. Four were released on bond shortly after their arrests, and one was arrested in Wells County on a separate warrant for a probation violation.
That man has since been released, too.
Initially, Allen County prosecutors charged another man in the attack based on an eyewitness’ description of the beating. In those documents, the man was described as having a “handlebar mustache” and the witness claimed to have known him for years.
Those charges were dropped a day later after the man provided video evidence that he was not at the bar at the time of the attack. The man’s son later told WANE 15 that his father was not a member of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
In court documents describing Warnock’s alleged involvement in the attack, investigators described him as having a handlebar mustache and punching and kicking Simmons in the same manner as the previous arrestee.
Warnock’s initial court appearance date has yet to be set.
The others facing charges in the attack include:
Douglas Zuber, 66, who is charged with felony counts of battery resulting in serious injury and criminal recklessness.
Jerrad Wade Impton, 52, who is charged with felony counts of battery resulting in serious injury and criminal recklessness.
Ryan Minick, 44, who is charged with felony counts of battery resulting in serious injury and criminal recklessness.
Christopher Yoho, 42, who is charged with felony counts of battery resulting in serious injury and criminal recklessness.
Justin Wert, 35, who is charged with felony counts of battery resulting in serious injury and criminal recklessness.
