Findlay teen arrested in beating of fellow student

10/11/2008

FINDLAY A teen was attacked and beaten yesterday by another student as he cut through a cemetery on his walk home from school, police said.

The victim, Jonathan Straley, 18, of Findlay, was admitted to Blanchard Valley Hospital in fair condition, a hospital spokesman said. Mr. Straley was treated for facial fractures, broken ribs, and head injuries, police said.

The suspect, Cody Karrick, 17, of Findlay, was arrested on a charge of delinquency related to felonious assault and held in the Wood County Juvenile Detention Center, police said.

Mr. Straley was walking alone in Maple Grove Cemetery about 3 p.m. when the Karrick youth struck him on the head from behind and knocked him to the ground, police said. The Karrick youth kicked Mr. Straley in the head and abdomen several times with steel-toed work boots, police said.

A passer-by yelled at the Karrick youth, and he and two teen boys with him fled,

police said.

When the Karrick youth was arrested at home about an hour later, police said

he admitted he hit Mr. Straley and fled. The youth said Mr. Straley had threatened him during a shop class yesterday, police said.