Sunday, August 7, 2011

Citizens Still Under Attack For Recording Police Activity

A Las Vegas police officer is facing disciplinary charges after being caught on tape beating a videographer outside of his home. A police department review found that Officer Derek Colling violated police policies when he used "excessive force" on Mitchell Crooks.

According to reports, the incident occurred on the night of March 20, when the 36-year-old Crooks was in his driveway videotaping police as they investigated a burglary report across the street. Crooks said that when he refused to stop filming, Colling arrested and beat him, with much of the altercation recorded by the camera. In the video, Crooks can be heard yelling in pain while Colling can be heard telling him to "shut up" and telling him his decision not to turn off the camera put him in "a world of hurt."

Colling has been on paid suspension since April 1 and could be fired pending the outcome of a review by the officer's supervisors, the newspaper reported. "It seems like they're saying he was guilty, which is what I've been saying," Crooks told the newspaper. "I really hope he gets fired." In the meantime, Crooks' lawyer, David Otto, said he intends to sue Colling and the police department, the newspaper reported.

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