MONROE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is investigating an incident that occurred on Lake Monroe on July 4, according to a story reported by The Republic’s newsgathering partners WISH TV in Indianapolis.
In a viral Facebook post, Vauhxx Booker, a member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission who is originally from Columbus, says he was attending a lunar eclipse viewing party at Lake Monroe.
Booker says a dispute over crossing private property occurred, then he learned that the event organizer was not the property owner.
He says an attempt to smooth things over led to people following him down a trail, then jumping him from behind.
He says five people overwhelmed him and that he was pinned against a tree, with someone saying “get a noose,” according to Booker. Booker says someone yelled “white power.”
Video of a physical altercation and argument was included in Booker’s social media post.
No one was arrested at the time, according to Booker.
DNR released a statement on Sunday evening, which said: The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Division can confirm our officers responded to this call for service. The incident is under investigation and the final report will be forwarded to the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Officer upon completion.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
