| Birmingham police beating video |
Five Birmingham police officers have been fired for a January 2008 beating of an already-unconscious suspect with fists, feet and a billy club, a battering caught on videotape until a police officer turned off the patrol car camera, city and police officials said today.
Authorities believe the video, [see the full chase here] taken after a high-speed chase by several area law enforcement agencies ended when the fleeing suspect’s van flipped, has been seen by numerous Birmingham officers and up to a half dozen supervisors over the past year. But top city and police officials weren’t made aware of the taped beating until they were contacted by the district attorney’s office two months ago.
In fact, investigators say, the suspect, Anthony Warren, didn’t even know he’d been beaten until the tape surfaced at his trial in March. Warren was ejected from the vehicle and knocked unconscious, and thought all of his injuries were sustained in the wreck.
Police Chief A.C. Roper called the video “shameful.” Mayor Larry Langford said it was “disgusting.”
If the cops ever get wise to the fact they are being taped, we will being seeing much less of this. Of course it will still go on, we just won’t see it.
RTFA. The guy pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and was sentenced to 20 years. Even if he and/or his family wins a lawsuit, he’s not likely to see the light of day for at least 10 years. If he lives that long, he’ll be 50 years old and likely somewhat less of a troublemaker than previously.
Anyone who saw him fall 20 feet to the ground like a sack of potatoes and lie there unmoving should realize he was at least unconscious if not already dead. Are cops to be allowed to beat up on the people they kill as well?
I don’t think anything I could write would be as good as a local commenter on the Birmingham News website posted:
“I have a long family history of cops and they are very noble, caring people so not all law enforcement officers are this way but now the fingers will be pointed at all because of this. Guys, Great Job…now look what you’ve done. You’ve given your fellow officers (all of them) a bad name and you have put no telling how many millions of dollars in the criminal’s hands.”
The cops heard that one of their own was just run over by this thug and you want them to kiss his civil rights on the ass. They were chasing a TERRORIST. They deserve medals of courage and their jobs back.