Police Beating Caught On Camera

Alabama Birmingham Five Birmingham police officers have been fired for beating an unconscious man after he was thrown from his van at the end of a police chase. MUST SEE VIDEO

by Jamie Burch

Published: Wed, May 20, 2009 - 5:59 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, May 20, 2009 - 6:43 pm CST

Five Birmingham police officers have been fired for beating an unconscious man after he was thrown from his van at the end of a police chase.

The Janauary 2008 attack was caught on a patrol car dashcam that didn't surface publicly for a year. Authorities believe numerous Birmingham officers and as many as a half-dozen supervisors saw the video over the past year, but none reported it.

Police Chief A.C. Roper says the officers were seasoned veterans but acted in a "shameful" manner. As he puts it, the department "terminated 50 years of combined service due to 10 seconds of injustice." The officers can appeal.

Roper says in addition to the terminations, he's also reviewing "supervisor's actions, reporting mechanisms and policies." And he says disciplinary could be taken. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation will review possible criminal charges.

The suspect, Anthony Warren, had an extensive criminal record including convictions for theft, receiving stolen property, and escape.

News release from the Birmingham Police Department

The Birmingham Police Department reports today that five Birmingham Police Officers are under investigation in connection with the use of excessive force against a 37-year-old male suspect, which occurred on Friday, January 23, 2008, at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Birmingham Police Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop in Birmingham. The suspect failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit ended in Hoover at I-459 and Highway 31. The incident was captured on video.

Chief A.C. Roper states, “The video was also troubling because these are seasoned veteran officers. In fact, we’ve terminated over 50 years of combined service due to 10 seconds of injustice. There are no winners in this situation. We have 5 officers who lost their jobs and a citizen who suffered unnecessarily.” Two officers served with the Birmingham Police Department twelve (12) years, the others served seven (7), eight (8), and thirteen (13) years respectively.

Chief Roper also states, “In addition to these terminations, we’re also reviewing our supervisor’s actions, reporting mechanisms and policies.”

This incident is still under investigation.

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southfan1981 Says:

Thu, May 21, 2009 at 2:23 pm

Gabriel, HUH?

BamaBob Says:

Thu, May 21, 2009 at 2:12 pm

I don’t think anyone is saying this guy was some type of innocent bystander. The questions have to do with a whole bunch of cops beating an obviously injured and unconscious person.

Then they tampered with the evidence that implicated them in the assault. So, it is clear they knew they crossed the line. That’s a break down in our legal system at a very serious level.

kevo Says:

Thu, May 21, 2009 at 1:53 pm

i dont think u people watched the whole story. the man almost killed a cop , the cops were just runnin on adrenaline.first of all he should have never ran in the first place.

SamRock Says:

Thu, May 21, 2009 at 11:23 am

In the words of Don Henley “It’s interesting when people die, give us dirty laundry”!

Gabriel305 Says:

Thu, May 21, 2009 at 11:22 am

I believe that these officials not only deserve themselves they dismiss that them but they spend a time after the grates through attempt of murder like can be so unjust to strike a person who this inconciente and supposed mind its obligation is to protect to which they need aid but to them true monsters are due to call them I do not understand because as much violence! I believe that never they were disciplined.

BamaBob Says:

Thu, May 21, 2009 at 11:18 am

If a person goes to work, does a good job, goes home, eats, sleeps and does it again the next day, that is not news. It is to be expected.

If that person goes to work and beats his boss within inches of his life, then that is news!

Is that concept difficult to understand?

bobcat Says:

Thu, May 21, 2009 at 11:12 am

What about these parents that are killing their children? All parent’s shouldn’t be considered dangers to their children or should they? How about preachers abusing drugs. All shouldn’t be considered drug abusers or should they? There are bad apples in every profession so why all of the focus on a few cops that did wrong? There’s many cases right now in the news of Military personnel killing fellow soldiers, killing their spouses for new relationships and even burning and burying them in their backyards and running off to Mexico. So should we even have Veterans day or condemn all military because a few went bad? Why aren’t the stories of these other groups not getting daily bashings and “BREAKING NEWS” headlines for having the same exact types of problems? Something is very wrong about this and is very biased for some reason and this News Channel is obviously causing controversy for a few cheap shots for ratings & Ads while labeling an entire group over a few seeds gone bad. (JMO)

rmseek1234 Says:

Thu, May 21, 2009 at 10:55 am

Right to be judged by peers only applies to criminals-not to the cops who arrest them.At least that seems to be a common thread.

SamRock Says:

Thu, May 21, 2009 at 9:59 am

Did you read the AP story?