Videotaped Midwest City fight ends up on YouTube

MIDWEST CITY — A graphic video police consider as evidence against a Midwest City man facing an aggravated assault charge has ended up on a popular Internet video site.

The 32-second video, titled "Frank's Fight,” has popped up on YouTube. Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes said the video shows Frank Palmer Ready, 20, knocking out Scott Mounce, 23, of Midwest City with a single left hook. Ready then punches Mounce several times as Mounce lays unconscious on the ground, Clabes said.

"It's pretty darn brutal,” Clabes said. "We could almost understand the first punch being self defense, but after that it turns into an attack.”

Ready was arrested in March after a misdemeanor charge was filed in Oklahoma County District Court. On Wednesday, he made an initial appearance in court and was allowed to remain free on $500 bail.

Clabes and Ready's attorney, Jaye Mendros, said they don't know how the video ended up on the Internet. More than 2,400 people have viewed the clip, according to a count posted on YouTube.

Mendros said she doesn't believe the footage hurts her client's self-defense claim, because it depicts only a small portion of the story.

"If the case goes to a jury, I'm confident the other evidence will put the video in a different light,” Mendros said. "There's a lot of background in this case.”

Police reported the incident occurred about midnight on Jan. 10 at All American Fitness, 711 S Air Depot. Clabes said the video was shot by one of Ready's friends.

The chief said Ready and five of his friends went to the business to confront Mounce after hearing Mounce had been looking for Ready. Mounce was angry about a tattoo Ready had given Mounce's girl-friend and accused Ready of having sex with her, Clabes said.

Clabes said when police interviewed Mounce at the hospital, he was drunk, belligerent and didn't want to pursue charges against Ready.

Ready later telephoned Mounce at the hospital to apologize, Clabes said.

"Regardless of the circumstances, the beating was caught on tape,” Clabes said. "We can't ignore that.”