AP pics NOPD beating; photog gets warned off
Tags: nopd, police abuseNEW ORLEANS (AP) - Two New Orleans police officers repeatedly punched a 64-year-old man accused of public intoxication, and another city officer assaulted an Associated Press Television News producer as a cameraman taped the confrontations.
There will be a criminal investigation, and the three officers were to be suspended, arrested and charged with simple battery Sunday, Capt. Marlon Defillo said…
The APTN tape shows an officer hitting the man at least four times in the head Saturday night as he stood outside a bar near Bourbon Street. The suspect, Robert Davis, appeared to resist, twisting and flailing as he was dragged to the ground by four officers. One of the four then kneed Davis and punched him twice. Davis was face-down on the sidewalk with blood streaming down his arm and into the gutter.
Meanwhile, a fifth officer ordered APTN producer Rich Matthews and the cameraman to stop recording. When Matthews held up his credentials and explained he was working, the officer grabbed the producer, leaned him backward over a car, jabbed him in the stomach and unleashed a profanity-laced tirade.
"I've been here for six weeks trying to keep … alive. … Go home!" shouted the officer, who later identified himself as S.M. Smith…
UPDATE: The video is here.
October 10th, 2005 at 8:02 am
At least we know things are back to normal in the French Quarter. NOPD beating the hell out of drunks who refuse orders. Now that's normal.
October 11th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
i dont know how i feel about the fact that it took 4 or so cops to restrain a 64 yr old DRUNK, HANDCUFFED, SENIOR CITIZEN… maybe those guys should resign and look for employment in the day care section. oh well.. give them a gun and a badge… look what happens. keep in mind. those are the guys who always got picked on in school.