SEATTLE — The Office of Police Accountability is investigating two Seattle Police Department officers after a video surfaced online of the officers beating a man on the sidewalk.
A 40-second video taken at a south Seattle bus stop at 1:30 p.m. on May 31 shows the beating.
Two officers can be seen hitting a man with their batons. One officer has a hold of the man's hair before he puts his knee on the back of his head to pin him down.
KING 5 is blurring the man's face because we have not yet identified or spoken to the man at the center of the video.
Deeanthony Marcell was passing by on a bus. He pulled out his cell phone to record it. He said the incident lasted at least a minute.
"They were doing him in before I even got the camera pulled out," Marcell said.
Warning: The video below is graphic and may not be suitable for all viewers.
The Seattle Police Department referred KING 5's questions to the Office of Police Accountability (OPA).
Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr said on June 5 that she has reviewed the video and she understands the community's concern.
"While OPA is conducting a full comprehensive investigation as required by our accountability process, my staff is gathering information, including all available videos for my review so I have a more complete picture of the entire incident," Rahr said in a statement.
KING 5 law enforcement analyst and former King County Sheriff John Urquhart said the video raises into question the circumstances requiring that level of force.
"Anytime you see a snippet of video like this involving what the police are doing, it raises questions," Urquhart said. "What did he do? Why is he resisting? Has he been resisting all along? How big is he? How strong is he? Is he on alcohol? Drugs?"
Urquhart said an investigation should answer those questions and determine if the officers' actions were justified.
"This is jarring. It's tough to look at," Urquhart said. "It's tough to watch, but wait until the full story comes out and then make your judgment."
Marcell said he doesn't have to wait to judge because he felt he was witnessing an injustice.
"It is never OK," he said. "And that's the only reason why I recorded it."
A spokesperson for Seattle Councilmember Tammy Morales, whose district this incident took place in, called the matter serious and said their office plans to look into this.
The office of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said they cannot comment on an ongoing OPA case.
KING 5 has requested body camera video of this incident.