Arrest related to Instagram account that showed fights

In February, the Hollister Police Department was made aware of an Instagram account posting nude photographs of a juvenile and videos of juveniles physically and violently fighting. With the collective efforts of Marguerite Maze Middle School, Rancho San Justo Middle School, San Benito High School, the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office and the Hollister Police Department, the suspect responsible for the account was arrested. 

On Feb. 6, Hollister School Resource Officer, Michael Paddy, was made aware of an Instagram account that had posted a photograph of a partially nude female juvenile. Officers began to investigate the account further and discovered the account had also posted several videos of male and female juveniles fighting. Hollister Police made several attempts to contact Instagram Inc. to advise them of the material posted to the account, but police said the company made no efforts to remove the content, close the account, or assist officers with the investigation. 

As a result, the account holder continued to post violent videos and the account gained notoriety among juveniles attending local schools. The account holder requested followers of the account to send their fights to be posted. At one point, the account had approximately 2,000 followers with 27 videos of juveniles violently fighting. In addition to the videos, due to the large amount of followers on the account, subjects began identifying involved parties by name. “This caused a large amount of bullying and posting of extremely negative comments about students attending local schools,” police said in a press release. “Subsequently, the bullying and comments posted to the account caused a large disruption to the local schools.”

Paddy was eventually able to identify the subject responsible for the account. The subject was a female juvenile who attended a local school and appeared to use the account to gain popularity, according to police. The subject was arrested and charged with 653(f) PC- Soliciting others to fight or use force likely to produce great bodily harm. Since the arrest of the subject allegedly responsible for the Instagram account, Hollister Police were able to have it closed.

Police want to remind parents to be aware of what social media applications their children are viewing and participating in.They also said that people using social media “in a negative or criminal manner will be caught and prosecuted.”

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Officer Paddy at 636-4330. Persons wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip Hotline at 800-87-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.