ROCK ISLAND - Rock Island police Thursday confirmed they are investigating a beating in a city park that was later posted on YouTube. But say they still need to get more information to determine what the proper charge in the case would be and what can be proven.

''One of the things we need to do is to review what this qualifies as. Does this qualify as merely a battery or does it qualify for a more serious charge of a hate crime?'' said Deputy Police Chief Jeff VenHuizen.

The video shows 17-year old Mason Steiner being hit by four boys with what look like Nerf baseball bats, He claims the boys called him a gay slur during the incident. A fifth boy was videotaping it, and someone posted it on YouTube.

''If they were calling that young man a faggot, then that's a hate crime'', said Scott Smith, with Quad Citians Affirming Diversity.

It happened May 28th. Police were called but didn't know about the video until Tuesday.

''Obviously the video helps support the facts of the case from what the victim told us. The video speaks for itself'', VenHuizen said.

But, the video was posted without the audio, so there are no inflammatory words heard. The video was taken down from YouTube Wednesday.