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May 8, 2008 8:48 am US/Eastern
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Officers Taken Off The Streets After Taped Assault
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) ―
At least five police officers and one sergeant have been taken off the street as authorities investigate a video showing three suspects being kicked, punched and beaten after they were pulled out of a car during a traffic stop, the mayor's office said.
"What you see on the video is not behavior that is representative of the high professionalism of the Philadelphia Police Department," Mayor Michael Nutter said.
The police department believes about a dozen officers, including two sergeants, were involved in Monday night's arrests in the city's Hunting Park section, where police had been investigating a triple shooting, said Doug Oliver, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Nutter. Some have already been taken off the street, while others still need to be identified, he said.
"We are still in the process of trying to identify all of the officers involved," said Police Commissioner Ramsey. Ramsey said they are working with the District Attorney's Office and have sent the tape out for enhancement.
The video, shot by a WTXF-TV helicopter, shows three police cars stopping a car on the side of a road. About a dozen officers gather around the vehicle and pull three men out. About a half-dozen officers hold two of the men on the ground on the driver's side. Both are kicked repeatedly, while one is seen being punched; one also appears to be struck with a baton.
On the other side of the car, another group of officers can be seen kicking a third man who ends up on the ground.
"The actions we saw on the video are not acceptable," said Nutter.
Authorities said while the use of force appeared excessive, the public should withhold judgment until all the facts are known.
The officers involved in this incident will be reassigned pending the outcome of an investigation.
The three suspects -- Dawayne Dyches, Brian Hall, Pete Hopkins -- were charged with attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment, according to court officials.
The beating happened two days after the fatal shooting of a Philadelphia policeman, the third city officer slain on duty in two years.
Officer Stephen Liczbinski was shot with an assault rifle after a robbery in the city's Port Richmond section on Saturday. One man was fatally shot by police after the shooting, another was arrested Sunday and a third was apprehended Wednesday evening.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)