The man who allegedly videotaped the robbery and beating of a patron in a local strip club bathroom walked into the Police Department yesterday morning to turn himself in. He was arraigned a few hours later in Central District Court under the joint-venture law.
< Tien W. Russell, 25, was charged with kidnapping, assault and battery and unarmed robbery. The police log lists his address as 31 Wrendale Court, Leominster, and the court records have an address of 63 Farrar Ave., Apt. 1, Worcester.A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and he was ordered held on $1,000 bail by Judge Steven A. Thomas.
Authorities say Mr. Russell used a phone camera to videotape an attack on a patron last year at Platinum Premier, 241 Southbridge St. The footage was uploaded to the Internet and viewed by thousands, including the police. The incident occurred last year, but did not come to the attention of the authorities until last month, when the video showed up on YouTube and other websites.