Another Cop Has Been Caught on Camera Attacking a Handcuffed Man
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A white police officer in Columbus, Ohio, is under investigation after a disturbing video surfaced over the weekend, showing him stomping on the head of a handcuffed black man. And it turns out, it's not the first time he's been under scrutiny for using excessive force.
According to Columbus police, it happened over the weekend as officers responded to a 911 call from a man who said someone entered his home and threatened to shoot him. A police report identified the suspect as 22 year-old DeMarco Anderson, who was found carrying a handgun, and allegedly elbowed one of the officers as he tried to get away.
The two-minute videocaptured part of his arrest, and shows one officer charging up to Anderson as he's held down by another officer and already in handcuffs.
Anderson was kicked so hard, his head can be seen violently bouncing off the pavement. Four other officers at the scene appeared to do nothing as it happened, and Anderson can be heard demanding to speak to their supervisor.
The officer was later identified as Zachary Rosen, who has since been taken off patrol duty, pending an investigation into the arrest video. According to the Ledger-Enquirer, Rosen reported the incident himself.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther Tuesday denounced Rosen's actions at a press conference:
But local activists quickly pointed out that Rosen was one of two officers involved in the fatal shooting of another black man last year.
A grand jury last month declined to bring charges against either officer in the shooting of 23 year-old Henry Green. Both officers were in plain clothes, and told investigators that Green fired at them first, though they identified themselves as police.
Lawyers representing Green's family released a statement calling the video "troubling," and also pointed to other alleged instances where Rosen was accused of using excessive force, including one incident where he allegedly put a gun to a 15 year-old's head.
Though the union that represents Columbus cops is defending Rosen's actions, some, including Ohio State Senator Charleta Tavares, are questioning why he was allowed to remain on the force, given some of the accusations about his prior conduct.
It's not clear whether any investigation into Demarco Anderson's arrest will also evaluate the actions of the other officers shown in the video.
In 2015, a jury awarded $30,000 to a former Ohio State University student who said he was beat up by Columbus police when they confronted him for littering.
