Prince George’s County prosecutors are investigating a videotaped police beating of a University of Maryland student during the riots following the men’s basketball team victory over Duke last month.
The investigation comes as prosecutors dropped charges Monday against the student getting struck by officers in the video, 19-year-old John J. McKenna. Prosecutors dropped the charges Friday against another student, Benjamin C. Domat, also 19, because there wasn’t enough sustainable evidence, prosecutors said.
“Excessive force will not be tolerated,” said State’s Attorney Glenn F. Ivey. “Once the initial investigation is completed, we will present this matter to the grand jury and decide how to move forward from there.”
The March 3 incident occurred after the Terps defeated the fourth-ranked Blue Devils at the Comcast Center and thousands of students pored into the streets of College Park. Twenty-eight students were arrested that night. Officers from Prince George’s County and Maryland National Capital Park Police wore riot gear and some were on horseback as they responded to reports of unruly students near the campus.
McKenna’s arrest was captured in a minute-long video provided to media outlets by McKenna’s attorney.
The grainy footage shows a man purported to be McKenna dancing and approaching one of the mounted policemen. The camera shakes and is a bit fuzzy as several police in black riot gear slam the student against the wall. The student lands on the ground and two officers strike him several times about the head and torso with their batons.
The video ends with an officer handcuffing the student as the riot police and horses slowly move together toward the crowd.
The police report, signed by Officer Sean McAleavey, said McKenna and Domat struck the officers and caused their horses minor injuries. The report said both men were kicked by the horses and sustained minor injuries.
Prince George’s County police and Maryland National Capital Park Police could not be reached for comment.
