An old police station surveillance video surfaced on Monday, leading to an investigation of three Seabrook, New Hampshire police officers who are shown gleefully bashing an inmate’s head against a wall.
The timestamp on the video states that the incident transpired on November 11, 2009. On camera, three officers dragged a young-looking, shirtless inmate down a corridor. Without warning, one of the officers forcefully slams the young man’s head against the wall. Afterward, he can barely walk, and falls down. The officers leave him on the floor for a few minutes, smiling all the while.
There is no audio accompanying the video, but the officers appear unconcerned with the inmate’s condition–even satisfied.
The video was posted to Youtube on Monday by user Mike Berg, who identified himself as the victim. Berg said he was arrested for drunk driving and abused over a misunderstanding:
“charged with a dwi and tried explaining that I wasn’t drunk and they could be out catching actual criminals. then after being in the cell for a while waiing for a bail bonds man I was taken out and brought in the booking room to call for a ride. after calling a ride I was told I could take my phone that I called from and my wallet. as soon as I greabbed my wallet from the table he officer with the glasses came at me saying he never told me I could take my stuff and choked me against the wall then tried to grab the wallet from my pocket. once he got the wallet and my phone this is what happened.”
Berg claimed that his lawyer at the time obtained the footage years ago, but “disappeared for 2 years until I finally tracked him down.” Berg doesn’t know whether he can still file a lawsuit, but claimed to have a permanent lump on the back of his head, chipped teeth and brain damage.
Seabrook Town Manager Bill Manzi told local news that the three officers had been placed on leave pending an investigation. He told The Daily Caller that their names had not yet been released.
Seabrook Police Chief Lee Bitomske will conduct the investigation. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.