3 cops back on the job after videotaped scuffle
Three of the four Philadelphia police officers who were involved in a violent, videotaped arrest of a young man in Frankford earlier this week are back on street duty. The cops, all of whom work in Northeast Philly's 15th District, were filmed by at least two passers-by as they struggled to subdue Marcus Warryton on Ruan Street near Paul about 5 p.m. Monday, moments after the car that the 18-year-old was driving rammed a pole. Warryton encountered the officers as he attempted to walk away from his smashed-up car.
Three of the four Philadelphia police officers who were involved in a violent, videotaped arrest of a young man in Frankford earlier this week are back on street duty.
The cops, all of whom work in Northeast Philly's 15th District, were filmed by at least two passers-by as they struggled to subdue Marcus Warryton on Ruan Street near Paul about 5 p.m. Monday, moments after the car that the 18-year-old was driving rammed a pole. Warryton encountered the officers as he attempted to walk away from his smashed-up car.
One officer was shown on the footage repeatedly striking Warryton in the head with an extendable baton, including at least once while Warryton was on the ground.
During the struggle, police said, two officers suffered cuts and bruises, and another injured his neck.
At one point, Warryton allegedly reached for one officer's handgun, police said.
Warryton needed seven staples to close gashes on his head. He was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and resisting arrest.
Warryton's family said publicly that they believed that he was the victim of police brutality.
The incident spurred an Internal Affairs investigation, which led to all of the officers' being assigned to desk duty.
Police spokesman Lt. Ray Evers said Friday that the investigation was ongoing but that only the officer who struck Warryton was still on desk duty.
