3 Bridgeport police officers placed on administrative status

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — The police chief in Connecticut's largest city has pulled three officers off the streets after a video was posted online showing them kicking and stomping on a man they had already subdued with a stun gun.

In the video, a stun gun is heard being fired and a man falls to the ground at a park. Two officers stand over the motionless man and begin kicking him. A third officer drives up and attacks him.

Bridgeport city spokeswoman Elaine Ficarra said Saturday that all three officers are on desk duty while authorities investigate the May 2011 encounter. 

Officers Elson Morales, Joseph Lawlor, and Clive Higgins were placed on administrative status with pay. They are all 10-year veterans of the police force.

"I'm concerned by what I saw and ordered the Office of Internal Affairs (OIA) to conduct an immediate, thorough and timely investigation. If violations are found, we will take action. Our officers are held to high standards and rightfully so, and we intend to maintain these standards," said Bridgeport Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr.

Chief Gaudett ordered an OIA probe after learning about the video last week. The Bridgeport Office of the State's Attorney was also contacted.

The video was posted on YouTube on January 6th. It's not clear who's filming or who posted the video.

Police have identified the man who was arrested in the video and he has not yet filed an excessive force complaint.