A grand jury indicted two Prince George’s County police officers Tuesday for their roles in a beating of a University of Maryland student during riots following a men’s basketball game in March 2010.
Officers Reginald Baker and James Harrison each were charged with first- and second-degree assault and misconduct in office after they were caught on tape beating student John McKenna during riots after a victory over then-fourth-ranked Duke, when thousands of students poured into the streets of College Park.
The grainy footage shows a man reported to be McKenna dancing and approaching a mounted policemen.
The video shows several police in black riot gear slamming 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.
Prosecutors dropped charges against McKenna and another student, Benjamin Donat, shortly after the riots.
Twenty-eight students were arrested that night, and officers from Prince George’s County and the Maryland-National Capital Park Police wore riot gear in response to the unruly mob that shut down Route 1.
Prince George’s State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks declined to comment further on the case.
