Viral Brawls Can Trigger Investigations and Lead to Charges

If you get into a fight and the footage ends up on social media, you could find yourself facing police action, even if nobody involved makes a formal complaint.

That is the warning coming from police as videos of public altercations continue to circulate online. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero, Head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch, says police monitor such footage and can launch an investigation and press charges once the people involved are identified.

He said, “Once the persons are identified, then we bring them into custody and they are charged.” Romero confirmed that this can happen with or without any formal complaint, “seeing the videos is sufficient,” he said. “We extract the information, and we can proceed with the video itself.”

According to Romero, disorderly conduct is among the charges that can be considered in these cases.

The most recent video circulating online involves a crocodile that appeared to be restrained by a cable or thin rope while several men and women surrounded it. At one point, two women are seen suddenly engaging in a physical fight. At that same moment, the crocodile attempts to move away from the crowd. The animal is stopped shortly afterwards by a male. 

Romero confirmed that police have seen the footage and that the Cyber Crime Unit is handling the report.