3 arrests by police in Tuscaloosa Waffle House fight caught on video

TUSCALOOSA, Al.

Brandon Dequan Harper, left, and Justin Darnell Harper

Tuscaloosa police arrested three suspects and have identified up to three more in a Sunday morning fight at a Waffle House that was caught on video and uploaded to YouTube.
Video can be seen here: Waffle House Brawl

Brandon DeQuan Harper, 21, and Justin Darnell Harper, 19, both of Tuscaloosa, were charged with disorderly conduct and transported to Tuscaloosa County Jail, Tuscaloosa Police Department spokesman Sgt. Brent Blankley said. Both bonds were set at $300.

A 17-year-old juvenile also was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Blankley said two to three other suspects have been identified and warrants will be obtained for them.

Investigators have determined that the fight was linked to an August robbery, Blankley said. The suspect in the case saw the victim in the Waffle House, then started an altercation that led to the fight.

The camera that captured the fight on video was turned on after security in the restaurant made the parties involved leave the building. 

Blankley said videotaping of incidents like this have both potentially negative and positive effects.

"Naturally, that's going to stir something up," Blankley said. "On the different side of it, it did help us because we had very clear video on YouTube showing the suspects, showing the fight. Normally when we get surveillance videos from stores it's not that clear and the suspect isn't walking up to us basically telling us that he was just in the fight that we just saw."

Investigators were able to identify suspects by watching the video and by receiving tips via Crime Stoppers. 

"We took it very seriously," Blankley said. "We had a team of investigators today simply trying to identify these people and get warrants on these suspects.

"This stuff breaking out won't be tolerated in the city of Tuscaloosa."