A Beating in Full: DA Releases Cop's Full Baton Bashing

Earlier this week, prosecutors finally released surveillance video showing an NYPD officer delivering 20 baton blows to a man writhing on the floor of the lobby of a West 93rd Street housing project. But that video did not conform to the initial description of the July 2008 beating, specifically that the accused officer, David London, had hit Iraq war veteran Walter Harvin even after he was handcuffed. Now the full video has been released, and that part can be seen at the 7:45 minute mark (after London has taken a break from the beatdown to make a call on his cell phone):

Yesterday London took the stand in his defense, and called the arrest "routine." Which is (unintentionally?) funny-'cuz-it's-true. The incident unfolded after London tried to stop Harvin from entering the building (where his mother resides). According to London, what's missing from the video is the audio; he testified that Harvin "was very hostile to me" when asked to show his I.D. "He said, 'I fucking told you I live in apartment 22-C!' "

And then, according to London, Harvin shoved him in an attempt to move past to the elevator. The Times reports that after the assistant D.A. showed the video and asked London to explain where the push was, the officer responded, "He put his hands on me, sir." Justice Thomas Farber then asked London if he thought that "touching you is pushing you." To which London replied, "Yes, your honor."

Asked why he continued to beat Harvin when he was curled up on the floor, London explained, "In my military training, if a person is down on the ground, they’re trained to kick your legs from underneath you, and they’re still a threat." As for why he punched and kicked Harvin after he was handcuffed, London said that Harvin began screaming threats again, and he "was worried that Harvin was trying to draw a crowd, which would have made the situation more dangerous."

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By John Del Signore in News on June 25, 2010 2:24 PM

Comments [rss]

El Izzy

For a thuggish guy with an attitude, he sure went down quick. Yep, real tough guy.

El Izzy

You don't put your hands on a police officer. Period. This guy was asking for it.

inoyourider

Remind me not to put my hands on a cop.

Oh wait, I don't need to be reminded.

I know which one of us has the badge and the gun.

potsmoker

i beat him even when he was handcuffed because i saw a ninja movie once, i beat him more because he was screaming for help because of the beating i was giving him, and to make sure the situation wasnt even more dangerous i beat him some more.

sure the situation was dangerous, thats why i stopped the beating to conduct crowd control everytime people came in the lobby and off the elevator, i was so in fear for my life that i beat him only after people waited for and got on the elevator, i was so in fear for my safety, that i went outside and left my partner alone with the guy,

i was so in fear of some matrix movie leg sweep that i took a phone call and then went back to beat him.

its only a wierd stange coincidence that of the 15+ people who are seen in the lobby, outside and elevators, that i only beat the guy with my baton before and after he was curled up on the ground and handcuffed when nobody was looking or witnessing my beatdown.

guess what, he will get off, they always do.

guy will get $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ because it doesnt look like the forced was justified, the alleged statements do not require a beating, the shove does not require such an extensive beating, and your military training is moot when your a cop, your police training and policy takes precedence when using force on a suspect.

the guy will get alot of money because you took a phone call during the beating and left your partner alone with your socalled dangerous suspect.

hahaha

i hope he goes to jail and the guy gets rich.

jaycjay

"your military training is moot when your a cop"

I suppose his reason for saying that is that it was out of his control. His military training just took over! He's not a bad guy, this just happened because he's a hero.

Maybe we should stop hiring ex-military guys as cops. Apparently they're turned into such fighting machines that they can never safely interact with civilians again.

Matt Joyce

This cop is going to go to prison. And rightfully so. He is a disgrace to the uniform and our species.

How the hell someone could have the audacity and complete disregard for law and personal responsibility that would be required to attempt to defend beating someone lying in a fetal position in handcuffs is beyond my comprehension.

This guy is a criminal and the world is better with him behind bars. It's obvious his unchecked aggression is a danger everyone he encounters.

Still more proof that officers should be required to have cameras on them at all times. Protects them, and protects us. Keeps everyone on the up and up.

fosiacat

guys, im going to make a bold prediction here:

cop gets off scott free.

Gepap

The idea that any contact with an officer means you get beat down is not only absurd, but frightening.

The Patrol Guide, the cops bible, is clear on when violence can be used. If at the point Mr. Harvin had pushed PO London, PO London had grabbed Mr. Harvin and attempted to restrain him, that force would have been acceptable. using a baton even at that point would have been an uncalled for escalation of force, and ANY baton strike to the head is completely forbidden - you go for the body, arms or legs, but unless the officer is in a totalt drag out brawl, hitting the head is not permissible, and that is clearly spelled out.

PO London not only deserves to be kicked out of the police department, but found guilty of assault.

Cannibal

Wow. Thank goodness for surveillance cameras. Disgusting.

Oldmark

The cop does actually get pushed at :24 - not very hard, but it's still physical aggression toward a cop. Obviously the beating was way excessive, but this guy was asking for trouble.

brooklynmouthoff

+1 ... pigs.

jaycjay

"was worried that Harvin was trying to draw a crowd, which would have made the situation more dangerous."

Good point. Witnesses certainly would have endangered his defense.