FRANKLIN, Ind. — A social media prank in Franklin has left five juveniles arrested, according to the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, officers were dispatched to a home in Franklin after the resident and neighbors reported hearing kicking and beating on a door in their community. When the homeowner opened the door, juveniles fled the scene.
The juveniles were engaging in a trend known as the ‘TikTok Door Kick Challenge.’ This challenge encourages people to kick in a door and run away.
In a statement, the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office said there were multiple problems with the challenge:
“This new twist to the old ‘ding-dong-ditch’ prank is dangerous. In the old days, a kid might ring the door bell or knock and then run away. This new ‘challenge’ (and it seems viral ‘challenges these days are frequently something foolish and dangerous), involves not just a doorbell ring, but pounding on the door and kicking it. It’s very alarming to residents,” Lance Hamner said.
“There are three serious problems with this behavior:
First, a prank like this could result death or serious injury to the perpetrators because a reasonable homeowner, awakened in the middle of the night by what sounds like someone trying to break in, might conclude that he’s about to become the victim of a home invasion and arm himself. Around the country we have seen a number of people being shot because they deliberately or even inadvertently frightened residents by causing tumult at the door.
“Second, a medically-fragile person could be in the residence. Hearing the pounding on the door could cause a severe or fatal medical event, like a heart attack.
“Third, this knucklehead behavior will likely result in criminal charges against the perpetrators for Trespass and possibly attempted Residential Entry, a Level 6 felony. Even if the perpetrators don’t enter the residence, it could be considered an attempt to do so,” Hamner said. “We take this kind of behavior seriously and we will prosecute for it.”
“I have talked with Sheriff Duane Burgess and other law enforcement officers and we agree we must take action to put a stop to this stupid and dangerous behavior in Johnson County before someone gets hurt.”
Lance Hamner, Prosecuting Attorney
