Original article at:  http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2014/11/suspect_in_salem_beating_video_latia_r_harris_indicted.html#incart_river


Latia R. Harris, the suspect apparently captured on video beating a woman behind a fast food restaurant in Salem, was indicted Wednesday, according to court documents.

Harris, 25, was charged with second-degree aggravated assault and third-degree terroristic threats in the three-count indictment handed up by a Salem County grand jury.

She is accused of viciously beating Salem resident Catherine Ferreira on a path behind McDonalds as Ferreira was walking with her son to her home at Harvest Point on Grieves Parkway on June 24.

Ferreira had just left McDonalds — where Harris was working. Harris followed her out of the restaurant after allegedly getting angry at Ferreira for reportedly spreading gossip about Harris and coworker.

Their confrontation was captured in a cellphone video that was later posted to social media and went viral. In the video, a group of people can be seen watching the attack while Ferreira’s 2-year-old son, Xzavion Ortiz, kicked Harris, trying to intervene.

At the end of the video, Harris can be heard asking the people recording the video to not post it on social media as she walked away.

Ferreira was taken to the Memorial Hospital of Salem County, in Mannington, for treatment. She was left with impaired vision in her left eye and other injuries after the attack, according to police.

Harris remained on the lam for nearly a week before she surrendered at the Salem Police Department on June 30. She was jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility in lieu of $35,000 bail that was later reduced to $20,000.

She was released from jail on bail on July 23.

Harris was charged with second-degree aggravated assault for allegedly “causing serious bodily injury” to Ferreira, according to the indictment. She faces two counts of terroristic threats for allegedly threatening to kill Ferreira and to assault Xzavion, according to court documents.

Harris is expected to appear in court for her arraignment on Jan. 5, according to the Salem County Criminal Case Management office.