Congressman Al Green called on the U.S. Department of Justiceto investigate the circumstances of the arrest of a teenage burglary suspect after police officers were caught on a videotape kicking and hitting the teen as he lay on the ground last year.
A surveillance tape at a nearby business recorded several officers beating 15-year-old Chad Holley following a chase March 23, 2010. Holley was arrested for burglary. Four officers were indicted in the case.
Green, D-Houston, said he'll formally request later today that the Justice Department investigate the case.
"Ours is a request that justice be done," Green said during a news conference Monday at one of his congressional offices in southwest Houston.
Green added that the officers involved in the arrest are innocent of wrongdoing until proven guilty. Also, he added that the actions of a few officers should not suggest that the entire Houston Police Department engages in similar behavior.
State Representative Hubert Vo, D-Houston, and Houston City Councilman Al Hoang echoed Green's sentiment.
The videotape's release had been blocked by Harris County District Attorney Pat Lykos, who has said the public will see it during the trials of the four officers who were indicted in June. Local community activist Quanell X later acquired a copy of the tape in connection with another case and released it to KTRK, which broadcast it last week.
Officers Phil Bryan, Raad Hassan, Andrew Blomberg, and Drew Ryser were charged with official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor for punching, kicking and stomping Holley.
Bryan and Hassan also were charged with violation of the civil rights of a prisoner, a misdemeanor. HPD Sgt. John McClellan, Lewis Childress and Gaudencio Saucedo were fired but not charged. Saucedo later got his job back after he appealed his termination and an arbitrator ordered the Houston Police Department to reinstate him.
Holley was convicted of burglary in October and sentenced to probation until his 18th birthday.
Dale Lezon
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