[kellyhound]

Friday, 18 Sep 2009, SOUTH BEND, Ind. The public can now be the judge of whether a former Indiana police officer used excessive force while arresting a man after a high speed chase.

On Tuesday, the City of South Bend released dash cam video that shows the February incident that led to disciplinary action for Corporal Jason King.

It all started back on February 14, 2009. Corporal King spotted a stolen vehicle and was involved in a high speed chase. Three South Bend squad cars followed the car for blocks. The chase ended when suspect Skee Katlum crashed the car.

The video tape shows King as the first officer to arrive to the scene. He jumps out of his vehicle and starts to strike Katlum. Katlum is already on the ground and has his arms spread out in the surrender position. You can also see King point his taser at the passenger in the car.

South Bend Police Chief Darryl Boykins recommended 30 days without pay and a demotion for Corporal Jason King. In May, King agreed to the discipline.

On Monday, a grand jury decided not to indict King on any criminal charges.

Although the grand jury decided not to indict King on any criminal charges the SBPD still stands by the decision.

The Chief says King used unnecessary force in the incident and falsified a police report by writing up a different version of what of happened.

"We still believe there was erroneous information depicted on the report and that it is and was a departmental violation. And overall the amount of force used is still believed to be excessive," said South Bend Police Department spokesperson Captain Phil Trent.

King maintains he used appropriate force.

In his police report he says he feared Katlum had a weapon hidden on him.

In fact, King even acknowledged he knew the entire incident would be caught on tape while he is talking with Katlum when driving him to the jail.

"HGV, another felony, possession of stolen property, another felony...Does it look like my first day? You must be an idiot! I wasn't driving, right! You try to explain that one in court! When they watch the camera with your driving," says King while in his squad car heading to St. Joseph County Jail after the incident.

The video was found and reviewed by a captain at South Bend Police.

The suspect didn't file a complaint.

On the advice of his attorney King is not giving a comment.

King is receiving disability payments from a work related injury suffered in another incident. He is no longer working at the police department.

[güttsfükk]

all they need to do is throw this cop face down into the floor and punch him in the back of the head a few times \as punishment for what he did.


see if he thinks it's excessive or not then.

[AboveAverage]

I could see him using that force if the guy hadn't layed down and surrendered like he did. Cops are just pillars of self-restraint.

[indybob]

I think he didn't do enough.What if that was your car that he took.He did a stupid thing by stealing that car and running from the cops.He got what was coming to him Great post Kelly--nice to see one from my home Indiana.