Caught On Cam - Police Beating
By: Ray Doughty
Updated: January 5, 2011
The St. Louis, Missouri police chief and Mayor Francis Slay are responding to a YouTube video that appears to show a St. Louis officer repeatedly hitting a man with a baton.
The video was shot by someone in a car on New Year's Day at a gas station at I-55 and Arsenal and then posted on YouTube.
The department said it first learned of the video on Tuesday morning and found it to be extremely disturbing and Internal Affairs is investigating.
During an interview on Wednesday morning, Chief Dan Isom said the department takes it very seriously and that everyone who was a part of the incident is being interviewed, including the person who shot the video.
Chief Isom said even in incidents when the use of force is deemed appropriate, there are procedures that must be followed afterwards.
Investigators will be looking into the officer's actions following what happened on the video and if they were not followed, then that could lead to discipline.
The officer's personal record will be considered if any discipline is ordered, according to Chief Isom.
The officer has already been placed on administrative duty pending the results of the investigation.
Mayor Francis Slay posted a blog comment about the incident:
"It looks bad, and most likely is. I cannot imagine anything that could have happened before (or after) the recorded incident to justify or explain the officer's actions...No arrests were made; no reports were filed. The department says it knows who the officer is and is investigating. It would be useful for the witnesses to come forward. I will let you know what happens."
