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HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding a video that appears to show a Los Angeles Police Department officer kicking a handcuffed man in the head during a July 3 arrest in Hollywood, police said today.
Officers arrested a man on a suspicion of battery and another man on suspicion of resisting or obstructing an officer in connection with the incident, the LAPD's Media Relations Section reported. The incident began at about 7:15 p.m. July 3 when officers responded to a report of a battery suspect at a marijuana dispensary in the 1600 block of Cahuenga Boulevard.
``While taking the suspect into custody there were several separate use-of-force incidents,'' LAPD Officer Drake Madison said in a statement. ``At one point, another male becomes involved when he tried to free the original suspect from the police. There was a use of force with that suspect as well,'' according to the statement. ``All the use of force with the suspects was reported as required.''
Madison said a bystander provided cellphone video of a portion of the incident ``showing what could have been an officer's boot striking the suspect's head.''
``This incident is reported use-of-force and the department is following appropriate protocol and investigating it,'' the statement said. Police did not say whether the officer was placed on leave.