A video appears to show a Chicago police officer kicking a man in the head. (WLS)
Laura Podesta
Updated 3 mins ago
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chicago police officer is on paid administrative leave after a video surfaced of the officer apparently kicking a man in the head on Monday.
A video that appears to show a Chicago police officer kicking a man in the head is under investigation by the Independent Police Review Authority.
The video captured by Terrance Hobson shows a police officer trying to apprehend a suspect Monday in the 3900 block of West Grenshaw. It then shows another officer appear to kick the man in the head, knocking him out.
Witnesses say they thought their friend was dead.
"Shaquille lost consciousness, he stopped moving for like 25 or 30 minutes," said witness Lenell White. "It looked like he was passing away."
The man was rushed by ambulance to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment according to activist Jedidiah Brown, who spoke with the family. In front of Chicago police headquarters Tuesday morning, Brown demanded the department's pattern of excessive force against African-American men must end.
"Kicking him in the face was uncalled for and it was a disgusting act and I'm glad that that police officer has been stripped of his story," Brown said.
"I just want police to stop doing all the things they've been doing to people, hurting people," said witness Travis Williams. "All they had to do was arrest the man. They didn't have to put their elbows and feet on him."
In response, Chicago police said in a written statement: "The Chicago Police Department holds its members to the highest possible professional standards with a priority on treating all Chicagoans with respect. Upon viewing the video, Superintendent Johnson immediately asked the Independent Police Review Authority to investigate the matter while the department gathers more information about the case."
Supt. Eddie Johnson made the decision to place the office on paid administrative leave after a meeting Tuesday morning.
It is not known why police were trying to arrest the man or if he will be charged with a crime.
The man being kicked in the video has secured an attorney.
Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report