Police in Los Angeles have launched an inquiry into the videotaped beating of a black teenager by white policemen in a scene reminiscent of the attack on Rodney King that led to riots in the city 10 years ago.
The incident, that took place on Saturday at a petrol station in the Inglewood area, was captured on video by an amateur cameraman who saw the arrest of the young car passenger from a nearby hotel.
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A still from the video showing handcuffed black teenager Donovan Chavez recoiling as he is struck by a LAPD officer on Saturday
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The dramatic film shows a police officer picking up the handcuffed 16-year-old boy and slamming his face down on the hood of a squad car.
The officer then punched the youth in the head while he was pinned to the car.
Police then booked the youth, who had been a passenger in a vehicle pulled over on suspicion that its driver was driving on a suspended driver's license, for allegedly assaulting a police offer.
He was later released following medical treatment, but police said yesterday that an investigation had been launched into the incident that recalled the 1991 beating of black motorist Rodney King.
That beating, which took place after a high speed chase and was captured on video, led to the worst race riots in US history after the policemen accused of assaulting him were acquitted by a mostly white jury in April 1992.
"The incident is being taken very seriously," said Inglewood police Lieutenant Eve Irvine, describing the tape as "extremely disturbing."
The officer accused of slamming the youngster down on the car has been relieved of his duty and placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Three other officers who were present were also under investigation to decide if they used excessive force.
Lt Irvine said one of the policemen and the boy - whose family says he suffers from a "developmental disability," were involved in an altercation that was not captured on the videotape in which the officer suffered lacerations.
But the attorney for the boy's family, Mr Joe Hopkins, slammed the officers' behaviour, saying the video would become key evidence in a lawsuit the family plans to file against the city of Inglewood.
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"My reaction is that nothing has changed since Rodney King," he told reporters. "They've done a grave injustice to this young man, and they need to 'fess up and do what's right by him."
Los Angeles County sheriff's Sergeant Richard Myers said two deputies stopped a vehicle driven by 41-year-old man and cited him for driving with a suspended license.
The boy - who was a passenger in the car then got into a confrontation with four Inglewood police officers who had been standing as back-up, and became "combative," Sgt Myers said.
"Force was needed to subdue him and take him into custody," he said
But Mr Mitch Crooks, the amateur photographer who filmed the incident said he was shocked by the police action.
"This is disgusting, you know? I mean, we all love our police and our firemen, but this has got to stop. I saw the guy getting beat and I was shocked that I was seeing what I was seeing," he told KCAL 9 local television.
AFP