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A Las Vegas police officer is in hot water after being caught on tape beating a videographer outside of his home in March.
A police department review found that Officer Derek Colling violated police policies when he used "excessive force" on Mitchell Crooks, reports the Las Vegas Review Journal.
According to the newspaper, the incident occurred on the night of March 20, when the 36-year-old Crooks was in his driveway videotaping police as they investigated a burglary report across the street. Crooks said that when he refused to stop filming, Colling arrested and beat him, with much of the altercation recorded by the camera.
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In the video, Crooks can be heard yelling in pain while Colling can be heard telling him to "shut up" and telling him his decision not to turn off the camera put him in "a world of hurt."
Colling has been on paid suspension since April 1 and could be fired pending the outcome of a review by the officer's supervisors, the newspaper reported.
Earlier this week, the Internal Affairs Bureau notified Crooks that Colling was found to have violated Las Vegas police policy - a development which pleased Crooks.
"It seems like they're saying he was guilty, which is what I've been saying," Crooks told the newspaper. "I really hope he gets fired."
In the meantime, Crooks' lawyer, David Otto, said he intends to sue Colling and the police department, the newspaper reported.
