Caught On Tape: Did Cops Who Beat Driver Go Too Far?

By: Sammy Rose Saltzman
Topics: Caught on Tape

VIDEO COURTESY OF CBS AFFILIATE WCCO MINNEAPOLIS

MINNEAPOLIS (CBS/AP) Did police use excessive force during an incident with a Minnesota man after they pulled him over for speeding?

Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan told the Star-Tribune that he plans to ask for help from the FBI in investigating a disturbing police video that shows 42-year-old Darryl Jenkins being beaten by as many as six police officers. Jenkins was Tasered several times and beaten so badly he defecated on himself and officers, according to his lawyer, Paul Edlund.

"The kicking is troubling to me," Dolan told the paper after watching the video early Monday. "The public will want an investigation."

What caused such a strong police reaction?

Officer Richard Walker told CBS affiliate WCCO that Jenkins smelled of alcohol and was uncooperative, but the nuances of the case are hard to make it out in the grainy police video.

Jenkins says he was headed towards a friend's house after a late-night dinner and three beers at Rudolph's Bar-B-Que when he was pulled over for allegedly speeding Feb. 19 in north Minneapolis.

In the video, Officer Walker can be seen approaching Jenkins' car and after a brief exchange, Walker opens the door. When Jenkins gets out, Walker wrestles him to the ground.

Jenkins is then seen being held on the ground face down in a snow bank. When several other officers arrive at the scene, they start punching and kicking Jenkins, who appears to offer no resistance.

"They punched him kicked him, elbowed him, they Tased him several times. He was beaten to the point where he literally defecated on himself and on officers. He was also beaten to the point of unconsciousness," Jenkin's attorney told WCCO.

Photos of Jenkins after the incident show that his face was badly bruised, and he had to receive seven stitches.

But Walker and his fellow officers' actions were deemed appropriate for the situation after the tape was reviewed by a supervisor, a watch commander and internal affairs officers.

According to the police report, Jenkins resisted arrest; he was charged with assault and refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test. Those charges have since been dropped "in the interest of justice," according to court papers.

Both Jenkins and Walker are African-American. "This is not a hate thing, this is just a people issue and it needs to be dealt with," Jenkins told reporters.

Did Minnesota police go too far? You be the judge.

More at CBS affiliate WCCO.

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by omnicell1 August 23, 2009 11:58 AM EDT: Your reply is B.s.
Police officer's arent above the law... they are paid public servants, paid by everyone to serve and protect them not just the selected few..They crossed the line..And should be prosecuted for lynching or a mob attack like any other group of citizens engaged in a group attack.

As an officer of the law, you know from the begining that it is a stressful job, just as I did becoming a soldier in the military..
And if soldiers ever tried this stunt with prisoners,insurgents, individuals captured after shooting at us,..(ie which is higher stress i might add being in a war zone.)and it was caught on tape we would be court marshalled and imprisoned..And im talking about non-citizens..Why dont or citizens deserve better protection???

Those guy's are criminals, kicking and beating a man laying on his stomach..cowards....Im ashamed...omnicell1; Reply to this comment


by marlie02 August 19, 2009 10:52 AM EDT: I am white. In my opinion, based on the tape, this man did NOTHING to deserve the whipping he got. When the other policemen arrived, they had plenty of manpower to subdue the individual. There was no cause, no resistance shown, to engage in a 6 or 7 person mob-style beating to include use of tasers. If these were common individuals, they would have been arrested and charged with maiming by a mob. Ridiculous. Hopefully the FBI does pursue charges on these officers who definitely crossed the line.; Reply to this comment


by EpiphoneG August 18, 2009 5:36 PM EDT: Honestly, Racism will always be here and there is no single good way of defending against it. Events such as this happen very frequently, but just do not make it to the top news stories. Whether its black males being pulled over and harassed, searched, and ruffed up and justified by the word of a person representing authority. It would be great if the people could make a concerted effort to fight back in some way because they do not intend on letting go of their ways. By the way, that man was clearly not resisting or being provocative in any manner but, the officers still had their way and are now justfying it. Wow, how does it make you feel to be a black man...; Reply to this comment


by reform-now August 18, 2009 12:33 PM EDT: When will people learn... you MUST do what the Police Officer says to do. No exceptions.

If an Officer throws you down on the ground and tells you to lay there, YOU BETTER LAY THERE. If not, you have to live with the consequences of your decision.

Here is a list to follow:
1) do exactly what the Officer tell you to do.
2) keep your mouth shut.
3) be respectful.
4) you will have a chance to give your side of the story when you are in court, in front of a judge.

Follow those steps and you can avoid the road-side drama (and the trip to the hospital).

Also, if you back-up a little, I bet the whole episode could have been avoided. Just eliminate the traffic stop... that is, don't drink and drive, and don't speed.

Of course, there could be profiling when a person hasn't done anything wrong at all. But again, even if the stop is a result of profiling, the person who gets pulled over needs to follow the points listed above. No exceptions.

And don't get me started on high-speed chases!
_; Reply to this comment


by Appalled-2 August 17, 2009 10:06 PM EDT: What is our country and our police force coming too? Some of them are as bad as the criminals they are supposed to be chasing. This looks like a bunch of guys with severe anger issues. They should all be fired and locked up.; Reply to this comment


by MzPurpleKitti August 17, 2009 7:43 PM EDT: OMG! Even if he was resisting arrest. wasnt he alredy on the ground or close to it when the other FIVE "officers" showed up kicking and beating the crap outta him? THey are outta their minds! Bet they arent liking that dash cam a whole lot rite now huh? Jerks!!; Reply to this comment


by gothamgoddess August 17, 2009 5:41 PM EDT: Gestapo police are in every state and they are the henchmen not the protectors. Some are good and unfortunately they are few and far between. This is what happens when citizens are not allowed to defend themselves. Maybe the officers should admit they are fascists.; Reply to this comment


by owlafaye August 17, 2009 1:21 PM EDT: Oh Yes ! Absolutely no doubt whatsoever...he was beaten unlawfully and should receive a few million in compensation uncontested. This police force is obviously mis-managed and in need of strong leadership.; Reply to this comment


by Ronmiller1 August 17, 2009 1:00 PM EDT: This is absolutely a case of excessive force and police brutality. there is no possible reason that these officers needed to respond in this manner. If the tape was reviewed and deemed an appropriate response, whoever approved it and all the officers should be fired and charged with assault, attempted murder and any civil rights violations that apply. This type of behavior will only stop when police that act this way are tried and sent to prison. the prosecutor dismissed the charges "in the interest of justice" is weak at best and should have immediately been followed with charges being filed against the police involved. The mayor claiming the public will want an investigation is also a weak response, he also should be calling for the arrest of these officers.; Reply to this comment

by refriedbean August 17, 2009 12:50 PM EDT

Have you ever seen an incident like this where the police didn't say that their actions were justified? What are they smokin? They beat the hell out of this guy for no apparent reason. Does it normally take 6 officers to subdue a non-resisting person? Did they go too far? Hello!!!!!!!!!!! That doesn't even begin to describe what they did. They're a bunch of sadistic thugs with a badge.

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