Six months ago, a well-known YouTuber, PopularMMOs, also known as Patrick Julianelle, was arrested and pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer on Nov. 20, 2024. The bodycam footage was released recently to the public after he reportedly violated his parole, and a warrant was placed for his arrest. The bodycam footage has gone viral, and many fans are feeling shocked. This follows past arrests for charges of domestic battery that were eventually dropped.
On March 20, 2024, according to the recently released footage, police received reports of a man lying on the side of a residential street, and when law enforcement arrived to perform a wellness check, it turned out to be the popular YouTube star. He was lying unconscious and, when woken up, was very clearly intoxicated. When asked what he was doing, he responded, “I was just drinking with friends. Wanted to come over to make sure I was good, that’s all,” and when questioned about how he ended up on the side of the road, he confirmed that someone dropped him off.
At this point, the police are mainly concerned about getting him home safely until they ask if they can search his bag, which Julianelle consents to, and in the bag, the police find alcohol and marijuana. Julianelle has had a past of struggling with substance abuse, and the marijuana found on his person led to him being arrested, but not before one of the police officers attempted to confirm that he is indeed the YouTuber he thinks he is, which Julianelle confirmed. During the arrest, Julianelle made an escape attempt, which ended up failing as one of the officers claimed that Julianelle resisted with violence.
Julianelle’s fans have voiced their distress over the situation, stating that it’s sad to see him like this and pointing out how he seems in dire need of professional help. Many fans also feel that the way the police officers act toward Julianelle, after realizing he is indeed a YouTuber, feels belittling and mean-spirited.
