Six Men Arrested in Beating of Black Man at Bar in Fort Wayne

FORT WAYNE, Ind.–Six men are now in custody because police say they were involved in the beating of a black man at Pikes Pub in Fort Wayne.

Court documents filed Wednesday say one of the men arrested was the boyfriend of the bar’s owner while all six are part of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club. Both eyewitnesses and police say all six were wearing Outlaw gear on the night of the beating, May 30.

The video of the beating of James Simmons went viral on social media. It showed several white men in Outlaw gear attacking Simmons with racial slurs being heard in the background.

The Allen County Sheriff’s Department said Justin Wert, a Churubusco man, was arrested in Lima, Ohio on charges of criminal recklessness, strangulation, and battery resulting in serious injury. Police say eyewitnesses told them that Wert was the man who threw the first punch at Simmons and put him in a headlock. Wert was arrested while delivering materials to a tank plant.

Another was found and arrested at his workplace in Huntington County. Three others were found by investigators in Allen County. The final man involved was discovered to be hiding at a lake property in Steuben County.

On Thursday, court records showed that 52-year-old Jerrad Wade Impton was arrested on two counts of battery resulting in serious bodily injury. He is accused of punching Simmons in the back of the head.

Three others identified as those placed in handcuffs are Ryan Minick, Christopher Yoho, and Kent Adamonis.

Simmons has already vowed to press charges against every person arrested.

The FBI is involved in the investigation along with several other law enforcement agencies in northern Indiana.

The incident has also caused rallies in Allen County with many residents both calling for this case to be investigated as a hate crime as well as for stronger hate crime laws.