Philly cop facing refiled charges, accused of hitting protester in head with baton

Philadelphia courts have approved the refiled charges against a former police commander who was caught on video hitting a college student with a baton during a racial justice protest last year.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office had refiled charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment and possession of an instrument of crime in February against 55-year-old Joseph Bologna Jr. after they had been dismissed by a judge in January. On Tuesday, the court of common pleas approved the those refiled charges against Bologna, NBC 10 is reporting.

Video that circulated widely on social media showed Bologna hitting the 21-year-old in the head and neck area with a baton during a June protest. The student was knocked to the ground, and another officer put a knee on him to keep him down.
Gorski’s head injury required about 10 staples and 10 sutures, reports indicate.

Bologna, a 30-year-member of the Philadelphia police force, was later fired, and an internal investigation was launched, according to reports. John McNesby, president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5, which represents law enforcement officers in the city said in a statement Tuesday the organization would “vigorously defend Joe Bologna against these baseless charges.”

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/09/philly-cop-facing-refiled-charges-accused-of-hitting-protester-in-head-with-baton.html