Arrest in SJ beating of teen that went viral

A man seen on video punching and dragging a teenager in a West Deptford home has been charged, police said Monday, nearly a week after the video was posted on Facebook and viewed more than two million times.

Paul A. Cojocaru, 26, of National Park, was charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats. Police said the incident, which happened Jan. 30, occurred at a home of someone other than the man and the teenager, who are not related and are not West Deptford residents.

Authorities said Cojocaru posted bail, which had been set at $50,000, and was released Monday pending court hearings.

In the video, the man whom police have identified as Cojocaru asked the teenage boy, who was sitting on a couch, "You think I'm playing with you?" and then punched him numerous times.

Cojocaru, police said, then pulled the teenager off the couch and told him: "I will destroy you, do you hear me? Are you going to the cops?"

"No, bro," the teenager replied.

"Clean yourself up," Cojocaru said, according to the video. "If the cops call, you're dead. Do you understand me?"

The teenager replied, "Yes," and Cojocaru kicked him in the ribs and said, "Take care of yourself," before the video ended, police said.

The video sparked outrage on Facebook and caused police to plead for calm, as people created fake accounts on social media to disparage Cojocaru and call for his arrest.

West Deptford Deputy Police Chief Sean McKenna said last week that the suspect, who had not been identified by authorities at the time, was cooperating with investigators.

It wasn't clear who recorded the attack or how the Facebook user, who posted the video March 22 with a #STOPBULLYING2016 hashtag, obtained it.

mboren@phillynews.com

856-779-3829 @borenmc