5 Alabama Cops Fired For Taped Beating

Dashboard Camera Caught Officers Pummeling Suspect Already Unconscious After Car Chase

(AP)  Five Birmingham police officers were fired Wednesday for beating an unconscious suspect ejected from a car after a chase, an attack captured on a patrol car videotape that didn't surface publicly for a year.

Police Chief A.C. Roper said the officers, who were not identified, were seasoned veterans but acted in a "shameful" manner.

The video shows police pursuing Anthony Warren's van on Jan. 23, 2008. One officer on foot was hurt when the van swerved through traffic. It overturned on a ramp, ejecting Warren, who lay motionless as officers ran toward him. The video shows them beating him with their fists, feet and a billy club.

An attorney representing Warren in a civil case said he was hospitalized after the chase and didn't realize he'd been beaten until a prosecutor preparing for his trial requested the tape, saw the attack and told the defense about it.

Roper said the department had "terminated 50 years of combined service due to 10 seconds of injustice."

The officers can appeal.

Wendy Crew, an attorney for Warren, filed a claim against the city in March, the first step before filing a lawsuit seeking damages. She said Wednesday the claim was over the "horrific" beating and an attempt to suppress the video of it.

Authorities believe numerous Birmingham officers and as many as a half-dozen supervisors saw the video over the past year, but none reported it.

"In addition to these terminations, we're also reviewing our supervisor's actions, reporting mechanisms and policies," Roper said.

He said supervisors may face discipline, and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation will review possible criminal charges.

District Attorney Brandon Falls said Wednesday the tape of the beating surfaced unexpectedly as prosecutors were preparing to try Warren.

He said prosecutors had a video of the chase "but the beating was not on the copy we had."

Falls said the prosecutor wanted to play the video for the jury but, for technical reasons, she needed another copy and asked for the original.

"We got the original the week before the trial ... and that's where she saw the rest of the tape," he said.

He said they contacted the defense, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Birmingham police chief.

Warren, who was held on $1 million bond after the chase, pleaded guilty in March 2009 to first-degree assault and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Because of his plea, no trial was held, and Crew said Warren knew about the tape when he pleaded guilty.

Crew said police "deliberately tampered with the evidence" in their handling of the video prior to the criminal trial.

"As horrific as the beating is, the deliberate tampering of evidence is just as horrific," she said.

Crew, who did not represent Warren in the criminal case, said he fled in the van because he was confronted by a man who never identified himself as an officer, was not in uniform and drove after him in an unmarked car. She said he had not been accused of any crime when the pursuit began.

She said Warren, who was hospitalized for a few days after the chase, was "totally unconscious" when he was beaten and did not know it happened until the video surfaced.

[right_hand_extremist]

It'll make anyone who comes through alabama think twice about acting stupid

if you dont want a runin with the police..............obey the law

[right_hand_extremist]

I dont understand the liberal side of thinking in this country.....the idiot is a criminal and you are making it sound like the cops are the criminal...if he wouldnt have run from the police then he would be sitting on his couch watching tv. Try pulling over next time and you wont get beat up.

AND quit playing the stupid race card, that is the biggest load of crap..people that pull the race card have no other argument and are just trying to get crap started. one of the cops were black also!

[ssgtusmc31]

czechtraveler...you sir, are an idiot. Remember Abu Luima, a black man, who endured having a broom stick shoved up his rear end by a bunch of rouge, scumbag cops in New York? This kind of thing happens all over the United States with rouge cops beating citizens, pushing them down stairs, wacking them across the head with night sticks or shooting them (such as the case recently in New York City) and THEN the cops charge the victim with resisting arrest or assault on a polce officer. Cops all across this country need to be taken down a couple of notches and laws need to be changed so that officers will no longer be allowed to hide like lil ******* behind a badge. They should be charged just like anyone else when they exibit this type of behavior against any citizen, whether that person is considered by you to be a thug or not.. Next time it could be someone in your family who gets beat down and facing trumped up charge from a lying ass cop.

[right_hand_extremist]

obey the law and you want have to worry about it

[ssgtusmc31]

Based on the video, these jackbooted thugs not only should be fired, they should face charges of felony assault and if the story is true, tampering with evidence. The entire department should be investigated and those who knew of or assisted in suppressing, hiding, modifying or destroying any parts of this video should be charged also. None of them should ever wear a police uniform again! We all have a responsibility to protect our citizens from outlaws and thugs, whether those thugs happen to be civilians or cops. We expect this behavior from scumbags that want to kill our officers but we can never allow professional police officers to behave like the very thugs they are attempting to arrest. Doing so moves this country ever closer to a police state and trust me, you don't want any version of the Gendarmerie in your community. I urge you all to stand up and stop being sheep, assert your rights and never submit to intimidation by any police officer! Place cameras in your homes and cars. Keep audio and video devices handy or on your person to assist you in making your case if you find yourself being maliciously deprived of your rights or a victim of police brutality. You owe it to the millions of people who gave their lives in protection of these rights to STUDY, LEARN and KNOW your rights. Always remember, responsibilties of a police officer include protecting lives AND at the same time protecting your civil rights, but some cannot handle the power, pressure and authority of a badge and gun. If you are a cop and you feel you should be "allowed" to do what these officers did under ANY circumstance, then I urge you to start looking for another line of work. Some cops are true professionals and others like these scumbags that hide behind a badge need to be taken down several notches and spoon fed the constitution. While I believe that saving lives and protecting civil rights are equally important, it is a fact that if you sacrifice one, you will almost certainly lose the other.

[Consumer007]

Gee maybe if someone beat these cops unconscious within an inch of THEIR lives, they wouldn't do this from now on...just sayin...

[fg3416]

Hats off to Mayor Larry Langford---it's about time a mayor has the courage to immediately fire cops when he sees what is obviously abuse of power. Maybe he'll start a new trend in this country. I, as so many others are fed up with these arrogant & egotistic cowards thinking they have a "free pass" to abuse the citizens of our communities time after time again without any accountability what so ever! Enough is enough, thank you Mr. Langford for (at least in this case) serving the people honorably.

[right_hand_extremist]

larry langford is a crooked idiot that is demolishing bham day by day

[questionstatus]

Current story aside, the public needs to stop justifying police officers' obscene brutality and cult of security and secrecy. A police officer's job is not even in the top ten most dangerous professions. We need educated officers and proper screening. Many who know/work with officers find a large number of them to be disturbing/disturbed individuals. A profession allowing almost total power with near zero accountability-what kind of person does that attract? That is why most state sponsored torture worldwide is carried out by police departments. Most good police officers simply cannot function in the atmosphere of corruption and brutality of police departments. If you know a good, reasonable, compassionate officer that seeks to uphold the constitutional rights of the people he is serving, then by all means support him or her! But sorry, most are not your friends. Stop asking for increasing enforcement/punishment against human beings. Fight for civil rights of ALL human beings (no exceptions). The more power you give the police for "safety", the more danger we are in, and the more danger is created for our children and grandchildren in the future too. Benjamin Franklin said, "Those who give a little freedom for a little safety deserve neither." Who will keep us safe from them?

[JoetheDumbass]

I think cops play to much GTA. They act the same.

[YCantWeAllGetAlong]

Posted by kaylag04 at 10:07 AM : May 21, 2009
+++++++++++++++++++
I'd shake your hand if I could. Excellent post. Thanks for saying it how it should be said.

[cepe10-2009]

Whichever "officers of the court" who tampered with the evidence should be charged with that. Kudos to the prosecutor for turning the tape over, but they should have further charged these criminals in blue.

[enriquecaliente]

When anyone is arrested, they are being taken into "PROTECTIVE CUSTODY". Protecting the citizens from the perp and the perp from a lynch mob. That is what makes us better then any other state or government. In a rush of blind anger, these officers just threw out all that they were sworn to do. They have the hardest job in the world, they deal with human garbage everyday, they see what wrongs human kind is capable of. Now instead of being out on the streets doing a job that they love and protecting us, they're not. This is a sad story all the way around. And just to make it worst, this perp will most likely sue, go to jail and come out with a nice fat check. Hopefully, he'll either come out and live his life right or buy drugs and OD.

[kaylag04]

The poor "victim" in this case was doing his best to murder husbands, wives, children, families and police officers who happened to be driving down the road. This criminal removed himself from consideration as a human being by his callous disregard for anyone else on the road, and should've gotten much more than a simple beating. I hope the fired officers are hired in my town; I'd take them to dinner and thank them for providing that normal, working families didn't have to make funeral arrangements for family members victimized by the criminal class.

[DefendLiberty]

Too many police are just THUGS with badges. Think of them as the gang in school who beat up little kids but could never pass their classes. That's who become the POLICE- ANGRY, VIOLENT and STUPID children who never mentally grow into adults.

These THUGS think they can do whatever they want to to American citizens. Who needs COURTS? Just let the thugs dispense their angry "justice" right there on the street. At least that is the way it often works- NOT the way it should be.

[mnbrant]

usually when I hear about a high speed car chase someone dies. In this case everybody lives. I don't know what is more horrific, the car chase or the beat down. I hear cops beat down rowdy drunks regularly. I think the car chase guy should get attempted murder and the cops who beat him should be at least fired. Everybody who saw the tape and didn't mention it should get a televised caning. To think cops don't beat down people regularly is silly.

[czechtraveler]

Well this is Alabama after all...you know a RED STATE, whatelse would you expect?
Posted by ozi

what a stupid thing to say..

[legacyabq]

'The beating was well deserved if he recklessly endangered the lives of other drivers, pedestrians, and the police. It is time be begin demanding that people obey the laws and show respect for the safety and rights of other people. "

rhs666


You cant see the hypocrisy of your statement? Do you want people to obey the law or not? You claim you do, then the next moment ypou say this guy "deserved" his beating at the hands of cops..

Well guess what moron THATS ILLEGAL

So cops are people too and they too must obey the law. I mean really, you think cops should be able to go around freely beating up anyone who they think broke the law?? Like the hitler brownshirts??? Whats the matter with you? Wheres your brain?

[legacyabq]

This guy pled guilty to assault, assault only, and got 20 YEARS IN PRISON???

Holy shiite whats going on in alabama?

Wonder what they give you for assault and battery

Probably electric chair huh.,. YEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW

and praaaaaaaaaaaaaissse Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezuuuuuuuuuuusssssssss

[clarencebev]

That cop almost got killed laying down the strips. I would have taken a few swings at that attempted killer. Thanks to the five that acted on behalf of their fellow law enforcement officer.

[Dgunner]

Gravyboat 45 , I was not in anyway sticking up for the criminal. I was stating the impact that thier actions have on the trust of future generations.obvisously you don't have children and don'y concern your self with thier outlook on law enforcemnt. Nor did these officers take into consideration the impact on thier childrens lives. Right is right and wrong is wrong. there is no gray area unless you wan to be judge and jury on the side of the hiway. They blatantly spit on the laws they were sworn to uphold. I am thinking that perhaps your totaltarian outlook on society is deep rooted from the morals instilled in you by your parents. I survived 36 months of vietnam by killing everything with lungs that was too close to my LZ. When the war ened I put my weapons own and threw away the kill them all mentality. Thay doesn't mean Iam not capable of resparking it . I choose not to because law and order is for the sworn to uphold. My allegiance lies with the constitution not the institution.

[SanityPlease]

I'd look to run over that a'hole with my car, or kick that **** in the head myself. That kind of criminal deserves that level of treatment (black or white)!
Posted by dkhorse11 at 1:40 AM : May 21, 2009

What part of 'plainclothes' & 'did not identify himself' did you not understand?. Or are you in denial?.

I would run too, if I had been raised black in America with a history of injustice and wanton racial killings, and someone comes after me who I don't know, and who does not identify who he is.