MEMPHIS — Memphis police say they have issued an arrest warrant for a man who attacked a panhandler and uploaded a video of it to Facebook.
Media report the warrant was issued Sunday for Joseph Johnson on a charge of simple assault.
Memphis police spokesman Sgt. Alyssa Macon-Moore told The Commercial Appeal that police issued the warrant after reviewing the Facebook video and speaking with the man who was attacked.
Johnson told WMC-TV that the beating was justified because the man stole some chain saws from him.
It wasn't immediately clear whether Johnson has an attorney.