After a five-month search, authorities finally charged two men with assault and other charges for causing bodily harm to an e-scooter driver.

On May 20, 2022, a 28-year-old man was riding a rented e-scooter alongside his friend on the West Coast Highway footpath in Perth’s north, Australia, when the two accused allegedly smashed him in the face with a huge potato, costing him his eye, police confirmed.

Records show that the victim was hit straight in the eye by a potato hurled at him. As a result, he suffered serious facial injuries and a fractured arm that forced him to be taken to the hospital.

Authorities said that the potato must have been hurled with a lot of force that made it feel as if it was fired, thus, causing a serious injury to the victim’s eye, and it had to be surgically removed.

The two accused men were John Nutu Micicoi, 20, and Trent Phillip Green, 19.  The latter faces a string of charges, including causing grievous bodily harm, endangering the life, health, or safety of an individual, possession of a prohibited weapon. The former faces the same charges as well as three additional counts of common assaults. The accused didn’t enter a plea when they were presented in court.

In August, authorities released footage of vehicles of interest in the investigation. They confirmed they were looking for a Silver Ford Falcon, which they believed the perpetrators of the act were in, with the Mirrabooka Detectives pleading with the public to help them apprehend the occupants.

According to Brett Baddock, Midland District Inspector, although the incident might have been well choreographed and well planned, it was not targeted at any specific individual.

“It would appear that those involved in this act might have thought that it would be fun to use potatoes as projectiles aimed at people enjoying our coastal strip and minding their own business,” he added.

However, the so-called “fun act” ended in tragedy, with the victim losing his eye.

Inspector Baddock issued a warning for others allegedly involved in the incident citing that detectives will not stop until those involved are caught. The case has since been adjourned until November 17.