Several Philadelphia police officers, in a department under stress from the killing of another officer, are under investigation for using excessive force. (Read full story here)
The officers were videotaped kicking three shooting suspects and hitting them with blackjacks after pulling them from their car late Monday, WCAU-TV reported.
Police chased the car down just after 10 p.m. Monday. The men inside were suspected in a shooting. Police said the gunman ran away and was still on the loose Tuesday afternoon. The three later caught in the car were charged with aggravated assault.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said the other suspects also have priors, but he added that their criminal history has nothing to do with police arrest procedures.
"On the surface, it certainly does not look good in terms of the amount of force that was used. But we don't want to rush to judgment," Ramsey said.
Ramsey said he does not want to make any excuses for what appears to have happened on the tape. But he did want to remind everyone that many officers are emotionally drained and under a great deal of stress.
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