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Myspace Posting Leads To Arrest

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Chris Echegaray and Jackie Barron

Published: October 22, 2007

VIDEO: WFLA Jackie Barron Report

BRADENTON - Three Manatee High School students who attacked a girl are facing charges after they bragged about giving her a concussion and broken blood vessels on the Internet, police said.

Meggan Van Wagner, a Manatee High School student, was kicked and punched by three girls while a fourth took pictures during the Sept. 23 beating, which were posted on Myspace, police said.

Police turned over the case to the state attorney's office and the girls may face criminal charges pending review, authorities said.

Van Wagner's mother, Angel Van Wagner, said her daughter went to a park to play flag football. The attackers called Meggan to tell her they were on their way to beat her up, Angel Van Wagner said.

Meggan Van Wagner called police and the 9-1-1 tape confirms it.

911:"Yes how can I help you?"

Meggan: "There's these two or three girls saying that they want to jump me."

The girls got there before police did. They took turns beating her. Meggan Van Wagner nursed a concussion and her head suffered swelling.

Angel Van Wagner said the Bradenton Police did little until she sent an email to Maj. Bill Tokajer.

"I reviewed the case," he said, "and saw that there was more that could be done than was done on the patrol side. "

The attackers later admitted to detectives what happened thanks to the MySpace posting, police said.

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