Squad Car Video Captures Cop Beating Motorist in Illinois

(April 16) -- In a Chicago suburb, a police officer's own camera caught him beating an unarmed motorist repeatedly with a metal baton.

Officer James Mandarino was charged with official misconduct and aggravated battery, and was released on $50,000 bail. He is on administrative leave from the Streamwood Police Department.

On March 28, Mandarino, a 15-year veteran of the police force, followed Ronald Bell in his car after he screeched his tires, authorities said.

The seven-minute video, captured by the squad car camera, shows Bell, 28, complying with the officer's orders as he kneels on the ground. Then, Mandarino unleashes a series of blows, striking him 15 times with the baton until Bell collapses, throwing his hands up to protect himself. The tape also showed Mandarino using a Taser on the car's passenger as he left the vehicle.

"It's a wonderful tool. It's a great tool," Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Even though there is no audio on this tape, it really gave us a clear, clear view of what occurred in this particular case. It was extremely helpful."

The beating gave Bell a concussion, multiple bruises and a cut to the ear that required seven stitches. Prosecutors say the tape records a clear case of police brutality.

"The victim is completely compliant," Assistant State's Attorney Alexander Vroustouris said Thursday. "At no time during the time period when the defendant is beating the victim with his baton does the video reflect that the victim had anything in his hands, nor does the video reflect the victim making any threatening motions toward the defendant."

But Ed Wanderling, Mandarino's lawyer, said the silent video gives an incomplete version of the events and didn't record the language Bell used toward the officer.

Bell was arrested that night and charged with resisting a police officer and reckless driving, but the charges have been dropped. The department became concerned after witnessing Bell's extensive injuries in his mug shot, and reviewed the video from his arrest, the Chicago Tribune reports. On the video, prosecutors say, Mandarino's excessive use of force was blatant.

"Every law enforcement officer holds his or her powers through the public trust, and this defendant's senseless act of rage against an unarmed citizen constitutes an offensive violation of that trust," Alvarez said.

Bell's brother, Stacey Bell, who witnessed part of the confrontation, said he was grateful for the police camera. "If there was no videotape, it would have been a totally different story," he told the Chicago Sun-Times.

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Video Captures Cop Beating Motorist in Illinois

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