Video shows Seattle police beat man with batons at bus stop, city investigating
A video captured by a Washington state man circulating on social media shows Seattle police officers beating a person with batons at a bus stop, prompting an investigation by authorities, the city's top cop confirmed to USA TODAY Thursday.
The violent confrontation in which an unidentified person being attacked is heard screaming "police brutality" was recorded about 1:30 p.m. Friday by DeeAnthony Marcell.
Marcell, 36, told USA TODAY he was on a bus on the way to a music rehearsal when he noticed the melee "already in motion," pulled out his cell phone and recorded the incident which lasted at 30 seconds, if not longer.
"What the heck is their problem? Why are they doing this?" the Hip-Hop and R&B singer said he recalled asking himself about the attack. "It was very triggering."
"No one tried to interfere, no one could interfere because it was blocked off and we were on the bus so we couldn't get off at the stop because they were clearly using the stop," Marcell said.
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Video shows Seattle police officers beat man with batons
Footage in the 30-second video shows two uniformed Seattle Police Department officers repeatedly beat a man on the ground with batons.
During the confrontation the officers, both wearing what appears to be latex gloves, yell at the man and one appears to grab the man's hair.
"Whoa. What the heck?" Marcell, is heard saying, as the melee is filmed.
At one point, both officers kneel on the man's back to handcuff him.
Seattle chief confirmed OPA investigating the video
Seattle Police Department Interim Chief Sue Rahr confirmed to USA TODAY Thursday the Office of Police Accountability (OPA), an independent office within agency which investigates complaints of officers alleged misconduct, was investigating the video.
Rahr released the following statement:
"I have reviewed the video that began circulating on social media over the weekend and completely understand the community’s concern. While OPA is conducting a full comprehensive investigation as required by our accountability process, my staff is gathering information, including all available videos for my review so I have a more complete picture of the entire incident."
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What did the man beat by police batons do?
Rahr did not release additional information including what the person in the video allegedly did, who they are, who the officers involved are and whether they had been placed on leave in connection to the video.
USA TODAY has reached out to OPA and the mayor's office.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.