Five Prince George’s County police officers have now been removed from regular duty as the department continues to investigate the March 3 beating of a University of Maryland student during a post-basketball game celebration, authorities said. The internal probe into the beating started earlier this week when a video of police beating 21-year-old John McKenna surfaced. The FBI has since joined the investigation. Three of the officers have been suspended and two others have been given non-duty assignments until their paperwork for suspension is cleared, police said. The incident occurred in College Park following the Maryland men’s basketball victory over fourth-ranked Duke. Police arrested 28 people during the celebration that followed the victory, saying students were rioting in the streets. But students claims police officers overreacted to the crowd by acting violently.
— Freeman Klopott
