ad info

 
CNN.comTranscripts
 
Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 

TOP STORIES

Bush signs order opening 'faith-based' charity office for business

Rescues continue 4 days after devastating India earthquake

DaimlerChrysler employees join rapidly swelling ranks of laid-off U.S. workers

Disney's GO.com is a goner

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

 
TRAVEL

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


Morning News

Philadelphia Police Promise Investigation Into Videotaped Beating

Aired July 13, 2000 - 10:01 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to start this hour with a controversial case out of Philadelphia. A violent confrontation between police and a suspect was caught on tape by a television news helicopter photographer. Police say it all started after the suspect, Thomas Jones, was spotted in a stolen car. There was a dramatic chase, the car crashed, and officers say that Jones stole another police cruiser, and then an exchange of gunfire. What you're seeing right now happened after Jones was apprehended. But authorities say these pictures may not tell the whole story, and investigations are under way.

Deborah Feyerick is in Philadelphia and she joins us now with more.

Deborah, good morning.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, the first image that comes to many people's minds is that of Rodney King. That happened in Los Angeles. But the police commissioner here says it is wrong to equate this beating with what happened in Los Angeles so many years ago. Police commissioners says there's no question this video looks very bad, but he says what it does not show is it doesn't show the police officer being shot, it does not show officers trying to subdue the suspect, nor does it show the suspect stealing a police car.

The big question, of course, in all of this is, were police overly aggressive? Well, the commissioner admits that tensions were running high, but he says once two police supervisors arrived on the scene, they were able to break up whatever it was that was going on. He had this comment earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN TIMONEY, PHILADELPHIA POLICE COMMISSIONER: We have a very professional police department. But that whole incident yesterday has got to be viewed in context, and to just go by the videotape may miss the whole point. I am not in any shape of fashion justifying what those officers did yet. Let's see what happens with this investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP) FEYERICK: The family of the suspect, Thomas Jones, says there's no question in their minds anyway that police did overreact. They say once Jones was shot and had been dragged from the police car, they say there is no reason that he should have been beaten by so many officers. Right now, the district attorney is questioning those officers.

Reporting live from Philadelphia, Deborah Feyerick.

Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: Deborah, before we let you go, any update on the conditions of the officer who was shot, and also the suspect in this case?

FEYERICK: The officer who was shot sustained a wound to his hand. He is OK right now. The other man, the suspect, Thomas Jones, he's in critical condition.

KAGAN: All right, Deborah Feyerick in Philadelphia, thanks for that update.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

 Search   


Back to the top  © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.