Iraq Veteran Beating Tape: Video Of NYPD Assaulting Walter Harvin Released (VIDEO)

The Manhattan DA's office has released the highly controversial footage at the heart of a police brutality case involving an Iraq war veteran.

Officer David London is on trial for assault and falsifying a police report after being caught on tape beating Walter Harvin with his baton even after the vet had been handcuffed.

On Monday, London's partner Mohammed Khan testified that Harvin was needlessly aggressive before, during, and after the incident.

Reports the Daily News:

Harvin yelled "I'll kill you mother----er," and "I'll f--- you up" as London hit him repeatedly, Khan said. He also kicked the cop while on the ground, Khan said.

The 28-year-old Harvin, who recently returned from Iraq, was stopped by officers after trying to enter his mother's West 93rd Street housing project without a key.

The video shows Harvin shoving London in front of a group of people. The officer and Harvin then exchange words, inaudible on the tape.

After a few moments London proceeds to strike Harvin with his baton and continues doing so while Khan tries to cuff him. London hits Harvin at least 20 times.

Harvin has since disappeared and is not expected to testify at the trial.

Khan faces departmental charges for his role in the attack.

Comments

[Ranaldo]

04:33 PM on 06/24/2010

Those blows to the head and neck look like deadly force to me and nothing l see leading up to that moment would warrant that. Just another cop compensating for a small peni$.

[PaleFace215]

11:55 AM on 06/24/2010

They will probably find him dead from a drug overdose or in a stolen car. mark my words.

[guysalsburg]

01:39 PM on 06/25/2010

You assume, probably because he is black, that he is a drug addict and/or thief. You are every bit as bad as that police officer. Bigotry and racism has no place in today's society. Just as the gorilla (PaleFace215 uses) your inane sort of person is becoming a dying species. In your case this is a good thing.

By the way - I am a white male and Retired Army veteran.

[PaleFace215]

03:17 PM on 06/25/2010

nice try, whitey. I assume he's drug addict or thief because of his actions. I could care less that you are a retired army vet. i have army vets in my family. I have police in my family and i have dirt bags in my family. I don't take sides with anyone just because they are of my race or family. If they are wrong, they are wrong. The guy got the beating for a reason. He was asking for it. simple. btw, I only date non-whites. I agree, I am a rare species, in that I like to form my own opinion. I'm a vegan, anti-war, anti-racist & anti-homophobe. But I am anti criminal, also. Good riddance to Harvin. He's an insult to good soldiers.

[kwoodberryesq]

05:35 PM on 06/23/2010

What does the fact that he is an Iraq war veteran have to do with the price of tea in china?

[tobiasaurusrex]

04:22 AM on 06/24/2010

It has nothing to do with the price of tea in China (yes, it's capitalized). However, it's a bum deal for him to have put his life on the line to serve the US, and then get beat down, maced, beat down, cuffed, and beat down again, for trying to see his mother. He was willing to die for his country, willing to risk injury, but not this way, not at the hands of the out of control goons of Bloomberg.

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:11 PM on 06/23/2010

He DISAPPEARED?! Wasn't he IN CUSTODY? How can he have disappeared? Did they get rid of the body or what?

I guess the pig will walk instead of going on trial for police brutality OR murder....

[guysalsburg]

01:48 PM on 06/25/2010

By, "he has disappeared" the article meant his where abouts are unknown. It is obvious that the DA did not file charges against him, thus, the arrest was voided. Instead, after seeing the video and the testimony of this out-of-control officer's partner, the cop was charged with a felony. His partner will most likely be disaplined for not interfering and attempting to stop the beatings. He was duty bound to stop it and took no action on the video. Since the video has no voice recording anything the officer says that the veteran said is questionable due to his illegal actions. All the officer had to do when he stop this man was to contact the man's mother in that building to clear up any problem - but the officer chose the physical conflict route when he grabbed him. The veteran was initially wrong in pushing the officer (unless he actually believed his life / linbs were in danger. The tape cannot tell us what the officer was saying or yelling at him. I am sure the DA will find him and subpoena him to testify against the officer. If this officer beats the criminal charges he might be arrested by the feds and charged with violation of the man's civil rights. SFC Guy Salsburg, US Army Retired

[LeftistGuerrilla]

03:59 PM on 06/23/2010

It said he beat the guy even after he was cuffed. I didn't see him cuffed. I did see the guy push the cop as they walked in the door and then again at the elevator. Maybe the cops hit him excessively but the guy instigated it and first assaulted the officer by pushing him.

But later it was said that even while being hit the guy verbally assaulted the officer leading me to believe the cop felt threatened. Again, I don't usually side with cops but in this case, among others, physical force was justified.

[LeftistGuerrilla]

04:07 PM on 06/23/2010

On second viewing it appeared the guy didn't push the second time. At the elevator it appeared the cop was the aggressive one, but at the door the guy was the agressive one. You could even see the other guys step back in amazement that a cop was pushed. But I'm assuming that the cop told the guy to wait while the cop waited for backup so they could escort him to his mothers apt. and the guy just ignored it.

[anpu]

03:17 AM on 06/24/2010

All that matters is YOU noticed that the cop hit him "excessively."

What has happened to citizens in this country?!!! People defend corporations at their own expense and support police brutality as if it's the right of the officer to beat people when angered. At some point citizens in America ceased being citizens and have become vehicles for their own oppression.

[guysalsburg]

01:54 PM on 06/25/2010

Almost every adult alive, male and female, would be shouting & cussing and, yes, even verbally threatening the individual beating him with a stick and fists. This especially true of a war veteran who has been trained to resist attempts on his life and health. It is an edict of law that words, no matter how vulger or nasty or threatening, do not justify physical force. This applies to the regular citizen and to the police. Many police have been fired or arrested for violating this and turning to violence. All the officer had to do when he stop this man was to contact the man's mother in that building to clear up any problem - but the officer chose the physical conflict route when he grabbed him. The veteran was initially wrong in pushing the officer (unless he actually believed his life / linbs were in danger. The tape cannot tell us what the officer was saying or yelling at him. I am sure the DA will find him and subpoena him to testify against the officer. If this officer beats the criminal charges he might be arrested by the feds and charged with violation of the man's civil rights. SFC Guy Salsburg, US Army Retired

[SELDOM-SEEN]

03:31 PM on 06/23/2010

Most city project entrance doors are not secured for one, meaning no working locks and anyone can enter. Now the officer had the door open and this young man walked in.
If he told the officer his mother resided there the most intelligent and correct thing to do was to escort him to his mother's residence. The officer took it personal from my view and went to far and to lie about it makes it even worst.

That cop is a moron mostly every housing project lobby is equipped with video survelliance equipment, I hope he does go to jail and on his way to visit his mother or wife I hope another inmate beats him....Two wrongs dont make it right...But the law shouldnt perceive every person as a criminal nor make false reports...When you do that you must except your fate for you have surely crossed the boundaries and you are nothing more then a thug hiding behind a badge carrying a gun.....Let's remove your badge and gun and send you to thug training school your kindergarden starts on rikers island.

[kwoodberryesq]

05:33 PM on 06/23/2010

Assuming facts not in evidence!

[fataggie]

03:11 PM on 06/23/2010

He's an NYPD cop and, therefore, A Hero. They'll let this blow over and they'll protect him, as they almost always do. Maybe next time he'll assault a City Council member, and then they'll actually do something.

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:12 PM on 06/23/2010

Or maybe he'll assault someone who is white, and then it will be worth slapping his wrist over....

[Bushisgone]

07:37 AM on 06/24/2010

why are cops hero's

They don't do anything but teal, assault, rape and pretty much take up space

When did the USA become a police state

[PaleFace215]

12:10 PM on 06/24/2010

really? all cops? most cops? hmmmm

[coultersnemesis]

01:29 PM on 06/23/2010

WOw-this sounds like the case of the Harvard professor (also African American) who was also arrested while trying to enter into his OWN HOME without a key (because he had misplaced his key--happens to all of us!) Racial profiling for sure. The cops had no right, guess the vet should at least be grateful that the thugs didn't tazer him to death.

[SnapShots]

10:10 AM on 06/23/2010

Clearly abusive, excessive force. Probably one of those 'attitude' cops. Throw the book at the sob. Fired.

[taricaziz]

05:53 PM on 06/24/2010

And no retirement for the fool.

[morgan1]

09:56 AM on 06/23/2010

Both these cops are bad and need to be fired as well as face jail time and have their licenses jerked permanently so they cannot relocate and continue in law enforcement. Since the one beaten has "disappeared",more than likely nothing will happen to either of these officers and it will be back to business as usual.

[schlicga]

09:55 AM on 06/23/2010

I'd leave the damn country for good if that's my homecoming for serving my country.

[PaleFace215]

10:31 AM on 06/23/2010

haha. good one. bad person beat by cops. i won't lose sleep over it.

[coultersnemesis]

01:27 PM on 06/23/2010

Bad person?! Did you miss the part about him being an Iraq War vet?! I guess the only vets you guys on the Right support are the white ones?! Guess you don't see the honor and good when a colored person fights for this country, do you?! You are a disgrace.

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:14 PM on 06/23/2010

He was bad because what...he was trying to get into his Mom's house? He didn't even commit a crime. He just got beaten, probably to death by this pig, because the pig is a violent creep. He was in custody and disappeared. That is called MURDER. You are a disgrace to America.

[FabulousAt52]

09:54 AM on 06/23/2010

here's another link to get more details about what happened....

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2008/07/30/2008-07-30_cop_shown_clubbing_cuffed_vet_taking_cal-1.html

Harvin was cuffed... after the beating started - but before it ended. Cop took a 90-second phone call (it was an emergency he said) then resumed beating the crap out of Harvin. Cop London's partner is testifying against him. You can see in the video that London's partner was trying to get the cuffs on Harvin, but had to keep dodging the baton so HE wouldn't get hit! London is a raging animal.
He's been on "desk duty" since this happened in the summer of 08. NOW he's finally on trial and he should go to jail.

[PaleFace215]

10:23 AM on 06/23/2010

huh? are you on LSD?

[PaleFace215]

10:26 AM on 06/23/2010

Love how Harvin conveniently skips over the part where he shoved the officer nearly through the door, kept brushing him off, wouldn't listen when he was asked to stay put. Got what he deserved.

[Eris23Skidoo]

04:16 PM on 06/23/2010

Are you Officer London, or something? How do you know all this if you weren't there...so....what did you do with the body, murderer?

[commarcos]

09:35 AM on 06/24/2010

Do you know that the cop was justified? I have seen countless examples of suburban cops going beyond their duty and being just plain WRONG. Take a guess as to whether it happens more or less in an urban setting.

[FabulousAt52]

09:20 AM on 06/23/2010

"Harvin has since disappeared and is not expected to testify at the trial."

I suggest everyone who isn't sure who was 'right' or 'wrong' in this instance, click on the word "disappeared" in that sentence near the end of the article.
That will take you to a more detailed description of what happened.

Do you know the cop stopped beating Harvin long enough to take a call, then resumed beating him??

This cop is a despicable animal. He is a thug and a criminal!

[PaleFace215]

11:53 AM on 06/24/2010

Good riddance to harvin.

[Eris23Skidoo]

01:01 PM on 06/24/2010

I hope you get shot dead by a rabid pig.

[GBOVS]

09:02 AM on 06/23/2010

Hello Again from England.

Had to reply to the responses left here after my original one.....

1 The man is now dead. ( ie he went missing ........AND phoned his lawyer NOT his family)

2 The animal who beat him had a right to tell him not to misbehave and not to do things that were wrong....but not ritght to butcher him on the floor with a baton while his POLICE OFFICER buddy LOOKED ON. lol

3 The man had showed disrespect to a law officer and had used the threat or implied threat of violence ...which is wrong but he was annoyed and the the officer had been trained to deal with this exact situation in a sensible manner but choose to use extreme and unwarranted violence himself cause he felt that he had been dissed.

4 Both of these people (police officers) should not be left in the force ....both are as guilty as each other....ie both people at a crime scene are treated the same ...more so here...as the other office had a DUTY of care to the victim. ROTFLMAO

5 The police in the USA are totally on a power trip and its almost a police state where they do what they want to who they want when they want and cover up what they like when they like...

Good luck on sorting that shit out.

[myj66]

08:19 AM on 06/23/2010

cop should have used same amount of force put on him. the both of them together could have handcuffed him, but they took the easy route.

[commarcos]

09:37 AM on 06/24/2010

Exactly. That is what it comes down to. A real hero and a real police officer would have handled the situation calmly from start to finish. Too bad I see examples of responsible behavior by officers so rarely. Of course many do not take it to this extreme but many many are vulgar and antagonistic.