Several Chicago area police officers were captured on tape repeatedly punching and brutalizing an Arab-American teen Hadi Abutella as he laid on the ground after a traffic stop. The tape filmed by a bystander showed the 17 year-old laying on the ground with several officers from the City of Oak Lawn on top of him punching him on different parts of his body. This was a clear case of police brutality against Arab Americans.
Oak Lawn police chief claimed that the officers feared for their lives as they severely beat Abutella who laid helpless on the ground. Police said Abutella had gun in a bag that was discovered afterward. The police didn’t have to use violence and brutality against the teen after he was overwhelmed and subdued by the officers. Illinois State Police is investigating the incident as it should. The ISP investigation should focus on police misconduct and violation of Abutellah’s civil rights by the officers from the Oak Lawn Police Department. Read more and watch the video from the Washington Post.