Two Pierceton men were arrested Monday after beating a man and stealing the contents of his pockets in September. According to an affidavit filed by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, a sheriff’s deputy responded to a robbery on West Elm Street in Pierceton Sept. 29. Dispatch had advised the officer the suspect had left the area in a blue minivan. The officer spoke with the victim who said that he and Bryan Frush, 26, and Austin Frush, 19, both of 109 E. Elm St., Pierceton, had just finished smoking a bowl of marijuana when either Bryan or Austin kicked him in the groin. As the victim was bent over in pain, Austin then came up from behind him and placed him in a chokehold. The men reportedly then began beating the victim with their fists. The victim told the officer the men then went through his pockets and took his wallet, keys and marijuana. The men left and the victim ran to a friend’s house to call police. The officer noted that the victim had blood coming from his nose, blood on his face, abrasions to his elbows and the whites of his eyes were bright red. Two witnesses who had been walking home told the officer that they heard people screaming and heard someone yell “there are people coming.” They then saw a van leave very quickly. As they approached the area, they found the victim bleeding and vomiting blood. The officer located the two suspects and Bryan Frush advised that he, Austin Frush, another male and another female were all hanging out with the victim. He further advised the victim had punched the female subject in the face, so he responded by striking the victim. The female subject corroborated Bryan’s story, but later advised she had lied to the officer and was never struck in the face by the victim. The victim reported he went to Columbia City Hospital because he was vomiting blood and that Columbia City advised he go to Parkview Medical Center in Fort Wayne for treatment. Doctors reportedly told the victim he suffered a cracked rib, had blood in his lungs and his eyes were red from being choked. Both Bryan and Austin Frush were booked in the Kosciusko County Jail on charges of robbery, battery causing serious bodily injury and strangulation – all felony charges – and each was held on a $50,000 bond.
