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CNN Live At Daybreak
Videotaped Police Beating of 350-Pound Man
Aired December 02, 2003 - 05:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Cincinnati, Ohio, multiple investigations now under way into a videotaped police beating of a 350 pound man.
Lynsay Clutter of our affiliate WXIX says the death of the suspect is raising questions about how much force police should use against a suspect who resists arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LYNSAY CLUTTER, WXIX CORRESPONDENT: This videotape is causing quite a stir in this city. It's raising the question of whether or not police used excessive force or if their actions were in self- defense and necessary when dealing with people who violently resist arrest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back up! Back up! Back up!
CLUTTER (voice-over): First, you see 350 pound Nathaniel Jones take a swing at the officer. Then you see the officers take him down. But Jones continues to resist arrest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But your hands behind your back! Put your hands behind your back!
CLUTTER: Jones continues to fight back. The result? Blows to his torso and body, over and over again. Two officers suffered injuries to the head and neck, one officer's shirt collar torn away. All six officers involved are on paid administrative leave.
But civil rights groups say more needs to be done, because the video shows inappropriate force based on race.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If proper procedure means that you can use that kind of force to clobber people repeatedly who are clearly disarmed, then there's something wrong with the policy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I cannot believe that there are not white people who resist the police, who assault police officers. Yet they do not wind up at the coroner's office.
CLUTTER: Although there is no official cause of death yet, the Hamilton County coroner says that Mr. Jones had an enlarged heart, consistent with heart disease. He had bruises to his body, but there was no evidence of force to internal organs. Lab tests showed Mr. Jones had cocaine and PCP, or angel dust, in his body. Both drugs have been associated with aggressive behavior. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Taking into consideration everything that we see on this tape here, it appears to be consistent with our training. These officers responded very well to an assaultive person, a very large person who clearly attacks them very violently.
CLUTTER (on camera): Now, there are several investigations taking place, including some here by the police department, the citizens complaint authority and the NAACP. Now, they say depending on what they find in their investigation, they might end up helping the victim's family with legal action.
In Cincinnati, Lynsay Clutter for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And, again, a preliminary autopsy shows Jones had symptoms of heart disease and his blood had traces of cocaine and angel dust or PCP, which the coroner said can cause aggressive behavior.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 2, 2003 - 05:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Cincinnati, Ohio, multiple investigations now under way into a videotaped police beating of a 350 pound man.
Lynsay Clutter of our affiliate WXIX says the death of the suspect is raising questions about how much force police should use against a suspect who resists arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LYNSAY CLUTTER, WXIX CORRESPONDENT: This videotape is causing quite a stir in this city. It's raising the question of whether or not police used excessive force or if their actions were in self- defense and necessary when dealing with people who violently resist arrest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Back up! Back up! Back up!
CLUTTER (voice-over): First, you see 350 pound Nathaniel Jones take a swing at the officer. Then you see the officers take him down. But Jones continues to resist arrest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But your hands behind your back! Put your hands behind your back!
CLUTTER: Jones continues to fight back. The result? Blows to his torso and body, over and over again. Two officers suffered injuries to the head and neck, one officer's shirt collar torn away. All six officers involved are on paid administrative leave.
But civil rights groups say more needs to be done, because the video shows inappropriate force based on race.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If proper procedure means that you can use that kind of force to clobber people repeatedly who are clearly disarmed, then there's something wrong with the policy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I cannot believe that there are not white people who resist the police, who assault police officers. Yet they do not wind up at the coroner's office.
CLUTTER: Although there is no official cause of death yet, the Hamilton County coroner says that Mr. Jones had an enlarged heart, consistent with heart disease. He had bruises to his body, but there was no evidence of force to internal organs. Lab tests showed Mr. Jones had cocaine and PCP, or angel dust, in his body. Both drugs have been associated with aggressive behavior. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Taking into consideration everything that we see on this tape here, it appears to be consistent with our training. These officers responded very well to an assaultive person, a very large person who clearly attacks them very violently.
CLUTTER (on camera): Now, there are several investigations taking place, including some here by the police department, the citizens complaint authority and the NAACP. Now, they say depending on what they find in their investigation, they might end up helping the victim's family with legal action.
In Cincinnati, Lynsay Clutter for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And, again, a preliminary autopsy shows Jones had symptoms of heart disease and his blood had traces of cocaine and angel dust or PCP, which the coroner said can cause aggressive behavior.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
