Philadelphia Police Staff Inspector Turns Self In On Charges Of Assaulting Protester With Baton

Joe Holden reports.

JUSTIFIED.REPORTING LIVE I'M MATTPETRILLO CBS3 "EYEWITNESSNEWS."MATT, THANKS.A PHILADELPHIA POLICEOFFICER CAUGHT ON CAMERAHITTING A PROTESTER WITH ABATON IS NOW FACING CHARGES.STAFF INSPECTOR JOSEPH BOLOGNAIS SEEN IN THIS VIRAL VIDEOSURRENDERED TO AUTHORITIESTODAY.JOE HOLDEN HAS MORE ON THEINCIDENT THAT IS SPARKING MOREDEBATE ABOUT POLICE AND THEUSE OF FORCE.Reporter: GOOD EVENING.PHILADELPHIA POLICE INSPECTORJOSEPH BOLOGNA IS STILL BEINGPROCESSED HERE INSIDENORTHEAST DETECTIVES.HE IS EXPECTED TO MAKE BAILTONIGHT.THE FOP IS ASKING PEOPLE NOTTO RUSH TO JUDGMENT ON THECASE.AS THE LEGAL PROCESS BEGINSFOR STAFF INSPECTOR JOSEPHBOLOGNA HIS LAWYERS RELEASEDTHE FOLLOWING STATEMENTCONCERNING AGGRAVATED ASSAULTCHARGES FILED AGAINST THEIRCLIENT AFTER HIS NOW WELLCIRCULATED INTERACTION WITHTHIS PROTESTER "IN THE MIDSTOF THIS DEADLY PANDEMICINSPECTOR BOLOGNA AND HISFELLOW OFFICERS WERE SPIT ONSPRAYED WITH URINE AND OTHERCHEMICAL AS WELL AS VERBALLYAND PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED.HIS USE OF FORCE TO APPREHENDAN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS TRYINGTO THWART WHAT ARE THE ALAWFUL ARREST DURING A MELEEWAS LAWFUL AND JUST IF I'D.THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYDISAGREES.HE SAYS IT WAS A CRIME.THE 30 YEAR VETERAN OF THEFORCE FACES TWO FELONYCHARGES.THE INTERACTION WAS ONE OF ANUMBER OF ENCOUNTERS ONE WEEKAGO RIGHT NOW INCLUDING WHENCROWDS SIMULTANEOUSLY SPILLEDONTO THE VINE STREETEXPRESSWAY.S.W.A.T.

OFFICERS WERE GIVENTHE COMMAND TO DEPLOY TEAR GASTO DISPERSE THEM.BOTH INCIDENTS ARE UNDERREVIEW BY INTERNAL AFFAIRS.MEANWHILE BOLOGNA'S ATTORNEYSAYS LEADING UP TO THE BATONINCIDENT, THE POLICE COMMANDERHAD WORKED SEVERAL CONSECUTIVE15-HOUR SHIFTS, DOZENS OFPEOPLE SHOWED UP AT FOPHEADQUARTERS MONDAY MORNINGSUPPORTING BOLOGNA.THEY APPLAUDED AND SALUTED HIMAS HE WALKED THROUGH THECROWD.POLICE SOURCES TELL CBS3 FROMTHEIR ANALYSIS OF THEVIDEOTAPE, IT IS UNCLEAR IFTHE BATON ACTUALLY EVER MAKESCONTACT WITH THE PROTESTER'SHEAD OR DOES IT FALL SOMEWHEREWITHIN THE SHOULDER AREA.IT IS ONLY MORE INFORMATION