OCTOBER 8, 2005
October 18, 2005
Rich Matthews, Associated Press Television News
HARASSED
Two New Orleans police officers were caught on film beating a man suspected of public intoxication, and a third officer was caught on film harassing the Associated Press Television News producer whose crew was filming the scene.
The footage shows the third officer ordering the producer, Rich Matthews, to stop filming the beating. Matthews held up his press credentials. The officer grabbed the producer and forcibly leaned him backward over a parked car. The officer further jabbed the journalist in the stomach while subjecting him to string of profanities.
All three officers were suspended from active duty, pending an official investigation. The incident came a month after Hurricane Katrina