Feb 12, 2008 4:30 pm US/Eastern
Officer Suspended After Questionable YouTube Video
BALTIMORE (CBS) ―
A 17-year veteran of the Baltimore police force has been suspended with pay pending an internal investigation of his actions involving a 14-year-old skateboarder at Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
CBS station WJZ-TV's Richard Sher reports, video of the confrontation in question appears on youtube.com.
It happened mid-summer when City Police Officer Salvatore Rivieri asked 14-year-old Eric Bush and his friends to stop skateboarding at the Inner Harbor; skateboarding is illegal there.
Bush's friend was videotaping the exchange, which at one point shows the officer grabbing Bush's skateboard and throwing him to the ground.
"I started watching the video and couldn't' continue. I flipped out," said Peggy Miller.
"I saw the tape. The officer handled the situation so poorly. It is very clear this is unacceptable," said Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon.
Officer Rivieri, a 17-year veteran of the BCPD, has been suspended with pay while the department conducts an internal investigation.
Many viewers have emailed WJZ-TV supporting the officer suggesting that what occurred before the confrontation was not shown on the tape.
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