Police in Illinois are defending the violent arrest of a 17-year-old after footage of officers punching him within the head sparked protests.
The footage confirmed Hadi Abuatelah, who had fled police after a site visitors cease within the village of Oak Lawn, being repeatedly punched within the legs and head by three officers on Wednesday.
Police say he was reaching for his bag, the place they later discovered a gun.
The clip went viral, prompting a number of hundred protesters to accuse police of brutalising {the teenager} and utilizing extreme power.
Hadi stays hospitalised and suffered fractures to his face, cranium, and pelvis and swelling of his mind, his mom Dena Natour and attorneys instructed a information convention.
Oak Lawn Police Chief Daniel Vittorio defended the officers’ actions and stated it was consistent with their coaching, in a information convention on Thursday.
Mr Vittorio alleged that {the teenager} continued reaching for a shoulder bag that contained a loaded semi-automatic pistol as he struggled with officers.
He stated {the teenager} didn’t cease reaching for the bag till a 3rd officer shocked him with a “drive stun” from his Taser, which causes extreme ache.
“What concerns me is a 16-year-old running around with a gun,” Mr Vittorio continued, misstating his age.
The teenager’s mom stated she didn’t know that her son owned or carried a gun and that he had not had any earlier run-ins with police.
Ms Natour stated: “When I saw the video, my stomach was in knots.
“You really feel so helpless, watching your baby, seeing three outsized males simply beating him.”
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The police chief stated the division was conducting an inner investigation of the arrest and that it supposed to hunt expenses in opposition to {the teenager}.
Mr Vittorio stated that not one of the three officers concerned have been suspended or moved off energetic responsibility, although two of the officers haven’t returned to work after struggling accidents themselves throughout the arrest.
Protesters are calling for the division to fireside the three officers.
Source: information.sky.com”