Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor's cousin arrested for committing sexual battery on a passed out LSU fan

 New Orleans, La.

The Alabama football fan accused of committing sexual battery on a passed out LSU fan, seen in a now-infamous video, was arrested and charged with one count of sexual battery and one count of obscenity late Thursday night by the New Orleans Police Department.

Brian Downing

Brian Downing, 32, a Smiths Station resident who once lived in Phenix City, turned himself in to the New Orleans Police Department and was released at 11:46 a.m., Friday morning after a first appearance hearing in Magistrate Court.

New Orleans Police Department Public Information Officer Frank Robertson said Downing was held in an Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office jail.

NOPD sex crimes detectives met Downing Thursday night after obtaining a warrant for his arrest earlier that day. Downing brought himself before Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor, his cousin, earlier Thursday. He then commuted, on his own will according to Taylor, to New Orleans for questioning.

Downing was identified in media reports as the fan seen in an amateur video rubbing his genitals on the neck of an LSU fan, a crude gesture referred to as “tea-bagging” inside the Krystal restaurant on Bourbon Street. The LSU fan, who is not identified and has not come forth, was passed out.

According to a release from New Orleans police, detectives were first alerted to the videotape on Sunday and started a preliminary investigation. The video surfaced on a number of websites.

“Through further investigation, including the collection of more evidence and information with the assistance of LSU and Alabama University campus police, New Orleans detectives were able to secure a warrant for Downing’s arrest,” the release said.

Taylor noted, “It’s not legal to put your genitals on somebody else. Certainly, there are problems here. He shouldn’t have done it, period.”