Disturbing Video Shows Baltimore Police Officer Brutally Beating Unarmed Man

The Baltimore Police Department is under scrutiny yet again after a video went viral on Saturday showing two black officers brutally assaulting an unarmed black man seemingly for no reason.

“What the fuck?” a witness is heard saying in the video as the as-of-yet unnamed officer lands a fury of punches to the man’s face. A second officer is seen grabbing the victim’s arm as the beating continues. After another powerful blow to the back of the head, the man collapses on a staircase as concerned onlookers attempt to figure out how to help him.

“I got all of that,” a man who appears to be recording the video says.

In a statement, the city’s interim police commissioner, Gary Tuggle, said he was “disturbed” by the incident, and that the officer involved was suspended pending an investigation.

“I’m deeply disturbed by the video that surfaced online earlier today,” Tuggle said. “The officer involved has been suspended while we investigate the totality of the incident. Part of our investigation will be reviewing body worn camera footage.”

Tuggle asked witnesses to contact the Office of Professional Responsibility.

On Twitter, WJZ TV reporter George Solis identified the man as Dashawn McGrier.

The video of the attack comes just two weeks after another video showed police officers trying to violently arrest a 13-year-old boy with a mental disability and his 11-year-old sister. That case also is being reviewed by the Office of Professional Responsibility.

Both of these incidents came shortly after the Baltimore Police Department Monitoring team issued its first semiannual report on July 18. The team is overseeing an agreement between the Justice Department and the city following the documentation of widespread abuse and misconduct by the police department.

The report raises “clear constitutional concerns” including improper stops and resident searches in the wake of the 2017 fatal shooting of Detective Sean Suiter, The Baltimore Sun reported.

The Sun added:

The report said the police department has so far met the deadlines outlined by the monitoring plan, and that the department’s work “has been respectable and has demonstrated a genuine commitment to reform.” But the monitoring team expressed concerns about reaching future benchmarks in the years-long plan, and emphasized the extensive work that lies ahead.

Presumably, part of that “extensive work” will include getting rid of out-of-control officers who resort to excessive force and unwarranted violence to subdue an unarmed citizen who didn’t appear to be violating any laws.