D.C. Police Officers Suspended After Viral Video Shows One Punching A Man During An Arrest ...

AUG 9, 1:54 PM UPDATED 7:10 PM

D.C. Police Officers Suspended After Viral Video Shows One Punching A Man During An Arrest; Charges Dropped

Catherine Whelan
Mary Tyler March https://twitter.com/mtmarch

MPD has placed three police officers on administrative leave and is referring their cases to the U.S. Attorney for D.C. after a video went viral showing one officer repeatedly punching a Black man being restrained by the other officers. ... The U.S. Attorney dropped all charges against the man late Monday.

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The incident, which took place Sunday near Ketcham Recreation Center in Southeast, was captured in a widely viewed video showing three officers restraining the man while placing him under arrest. In the video, one officer punches the man in the face, head, and torso. A male voice can be heard telling officers, “You know, under protocol, if someone’s being restrained that’s no reason for you to hit him.” Another officer takes his gun out of his holster, ordering the crowd to back away.

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At a press conference on Monday, D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee III said an initial search of the man, who has not been identified, found a gun. But he strongly decried the officers’ actions thereafter as “not consistent with our training… or our agency’s values.” Contee announced that all three officers have had their police powers revoked, and have been placed on “non-contact status,” meaning they are not allowed to have contact with the public pending criminal and administrative investigation.

The video drew widespread attention from D.C. lawmakers and residents, but also attracted national attention. Rapper Snoop Dogg posted the video on his Instagram account, drawing more than 8 million views in less than 12 hours. ... The United States Attorney’s Office says it’s “examining the actions of Metropolitan Police Department officers involved” but declined to comment further because of the ongoing investigation. A spokesperson also wouldn’t comment on why the charges were dropped.

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