By Stephen Manning, The Associated Press
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- The FBI is investigating a Prince George’s County police officer who allegedly beat a handcuffed suspect last October after a police chase, an agency spokesman said Thursday.
Investigators are trying to determine whether Cpl. Bryan Addis violated the civil rights of the man during the incident, which was videotaped by a camera mounted in Addis’ police cruiser.
FBI spokesman Barry Maddox said the federal “color of law” investigation, which covers excessive force and other wrongdoing by police, was opened earlier this month, but he would not provide further details.
A Prince George’s County grand jury is also reviewing evidence from the Oct. 5 incident. County police, meanwhile, are also conducting an internal probe and Addis has been suspended with pay, said county police spokeswoman Barbara Hamm.
Addis’ attorney did not immediately return a phone call by The Associated Press seeking comment on the FBI case.
A spokesman for State’s Attorney Glenn Ivey said if any charges are filed they would likely be brought first in state court under an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“We are cooperating and working closely with the federal authorities on this,” said the spokesman, Ramon Korionoff.
The federal investigation comes just weeks after the county signed two agreements with the Justice Department to resolve a long-running probe of brutality in the police canine unit and the department as a whole.
Under the deal, Prince George’s must make several changes to its canine unit practices and department policies. It will remain under federal monitoring for three years.
According to police, Vernon Bullock stole a car and led police on a short chase before crashing into a guard rail on Route 197 in Laurel. Police Chief Melvin High said in January that Addis approached Bullock and used “force” while arresting him.
But the cruiser video camera reportedly taped Addis swinging his baton several time at Bullock and kicking him.
After Bullock was handcuffed by other officers, Addis allegedly struck the suspect in the groin with his knee and swung his police baton at Bullock’s shoulders and head. The tape does not show whether the baton struck Bullock.
Addis’s supervisor, Sgt. Kara Kerr, is on administrative duty while the probe continues. Police would not say why the action was taken, but Kerr signed off on the police report of the incident.