NORWICH, N.Y. (AP) - Police have charged a man and a teenager in central New York state with forcibly tattooing an obscenity on the forehead of a 17-year-old boy.

They won't describe the obscenity except to say it's a phrase. One officer calls it "just ludicrous" that someone would do something like this.

The suspects are charged with assault and unlawful imprisonment. They're in jail in lieu of 25-thousand dollars bail, and a court hearing is set for tomorrow.

The victim walked into a police station Friday to file a complaint. He says the suspects held him down and used a homemade tattooing instrument.

No word on a motive.

Police say the victim will likely require plastic surgery or a laser process to remove the ink.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Date published: 3/28/2005

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