Voice of Kony 2012 Video Detained for Public Drunkenness, Nudity, Lewd Acts (Video)
According to NBC's San Diego affiliate, Jason Russell, Kony 2012's co-founder and "grand storyteller and dreamer", whose face and voice are prominent in the recently viral Kony 2012 video, was detained last night by police after reports of disturbing behavior.
According to Lt. Andra Brown, San Diego Police responded to calls that Russell, 33, was seen running between traffic in only his underwear, allegedly masturbating in public and vandalizing cars. According to the police, Russell was cooperative, but appeared to be "under the influence of something".
Indeed, when police arrived on the scene, Russell was wearing only his underwear, and behaving erratically. "Due to the nature of the detention, he was not arrested," said Brown at a SDPD press conference. "During the evaluation we learned we probably needed to take him to a medical facility." Brown added that Russell was not arrested because his condition appeared to be "more of a medical situation."
TMZ was able to procure a short, 12 second video of Russell in the midst of his erratic behavior. The video is graphic enough to show that Russell was standing outside in broad daylight on a public intersection, completely nude.
According to a Kony 2012 press release, issued today at 1:40 p.m., "Jason Russell was unfortunately hospitalized suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition. He is now receiving medical care and is focused on getting better. The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday."
The widely spread Kony 2012 video has over 80 million views now, and is one of the most rapidly spread videos to be shared in YouTube history. Although Russell and the Kony 2012 organization had high hopes for public interest in their cause to bring infamous Ugandan LRA guerrilla leader Joseph Kony to justice, nobody expected the level of social interest it wrought.
According to reports from Kony 2012 CEO Ben Keesey, Russell is hospitalized, and his "exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition" are being taken care of.
"Jason's passion and his work have done so much to help so many, and we are devastated to see him dealing with this personal health issue," said today's press release. "We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time."
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