NEW YORK (AP) — Four New York City police officers have been stripped of their guns and badges after a video surfaced of them striking and kicking a suspect.
The internal affairs department is investigating, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Wednesday. The officers are on desk duty in the meantime, he said.
The shaky amateur footage was posted anonymously Saturday on the website WorldStarHipHop and titled “These Cops In The Bronx, NY Are Out Of Control!”
The video shows 19-year-old Jatiek Reed appearing to resist arrest by throwing a couple of kicks and swats at a group of officers. Then it shows him being struck with police batons and kicked. His arms and legs flail. One officer holds him down.
The footage also shows one of the officers turning and pointing chemical spray directly at the videographer, who then flees.
Reed was arrested on assault charges. His mother told the New York Post he required staples in his head and arm.
Kelly called the video is troubling and said the department is fully investigating.
Source AP