By Justin George, The Baltimore
Sun
City police and union officials
moved quickly on Tuesday to address a video of Baltimore police officers
involved in violent arrest outside an East Baltimore nightclub.
Authorities said they believed
the officers' use of force — which included batons and Tasers — was justified.
But the incident early Tuesday was the second time in nearly a week that police
officials had to respond to video footage of an arrest.
"I want officers never to
use force that's not necessary," Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts
said. "But I also don't condone [residents] punching officers."
Last week, Baltimore police
officials suspended an officer shown on camera repeatedly punching a man at a
North Avenue bus stop in an incident that has prompted a $5 million lawsuit
against the department.
In the case of Tuesday's arrest
of 29-year-old Jamar Kennedy, a bystander captured the arrest in the 3100 block
of Greenmount Avenue on video using a cellphone. Kennedy was being held without
bail on charges of second-degree assault and resisting arrest, court records
show.
Police are still investigating
and asked people to come forward if additional videos exist. All five officers
are on paid administrative leave during the inquiry.
Batts showed the video to
reporters after a television station obtained a copy and questioned police
about the incident. Police said they would release the video on Wednesday — a
delay attributed to technical difficulties.
A call to a relative of Kennedy
was not returned Tuesday.
Deputy Commissioner Dean
Palmere said police were on foot outside Melba's Place, a nightclub, before 2
a.m. when they saw Kennedy fighting with a bouncer. Col. Garnell Green said an
officer tried to use a Taser on Kennedy but it had no effect. The video shows
the Taser was knocked to the ground. Soon the video shows a female police
officer on the ground in a struggle.
Other officers then move in
swinging batons at Kennedy, who police say continued to resist arrest. At one
point Kennedy raises his clenched fist above his head to try to shield himself
from the blows while he walks toward officers. Police try and take him to the
ground, and Kennedy ends up on top of one officer. Police stun Kennedy with a
Taser once more, and officers are finally able to detain him, the video shows.
As police arrested Kennedy,
officials say a female officer pulled out Kennedy's inhaler and gave it to him.
They say that shows that not only did police stop the blows once the situation
was under control but also that they "rendered aid."
Kennedy suffered minor injuries
and was treated at a hospital, police said. Three officers also suffered minor
injuries.
Batts said the incident
"further adds to my resolve to bring body cameras to Baltimore."
Fraternal Order of Police
President Robert F. Cherry said the officers followed all protocols and did
nothing wrong.
When using their batons, the
officers swung only at Kennedy's midsection and hamstrings and not his head or
knees, Cherry said.
Last week, a video showing
Baltimore police officer Vincent E. Cosom repeatedly punching a man became
public after the man, Kollin Truss, filed a lawsuit. The incident happened in
June, and Cosom remained on the job until the video was circulated in the news
media. Cosom has since been suspended.
