Mayor outraged at taped LA 'assault'

Officer Morse (centre) has been suspended from duty

A senior Los Angeles official has said a police officer who was videotaped punching a handcuffed black youth in the face should be fired and charged with assault.

Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn said nothing could justify the apparent attack on 16-year-old Donovan Jackson, which was caught on tape by a bystander.

I will not under any circumstances tolerate the type of conduct I observed in the videotape

Roosevelt Dorn, Inglewood mayor

The FBI has begun an investigation into what happened after the video was broadcast on national television, sparking widespread outrage.

The mayor called on investigators to complete their inquiries within 10 days.

The Inglewood officer who hit Mr Jackson - Jeremy Morse - has been suspended from duty.

Dozens of protesters, chanting "No justice, no peace", marched on the mayor's office on Tuesday, demanding Officer Morse be jailed.

Caught on tape

The incident was captured by 27-year-old Mitchell Crooks across the street from a petrol station where Mr Donovan and his father were stopped by two Los Angeles sheriffs and four police officers.

Jackson's father said his son was developmentally disabled

Police and sheriff's officials say the teenager was aggressive and lunged at the sheriffs.

Police say Officer Morse was injured and is seen bleeding from a wound on his face on the tape.

The Jackson family's lawyer, Joe Hopkins, said Donovan Jackson was beaten by all four officers and dragged by a chain around his neck before the video started.

The video begins just before Officer Morse is seen slamming the youth onto the bonnet of a police car and punching him in the face.

Intolerable behaviour

Mayor Dorn said he was infuriated by what he saw on the tape.

"I will not under any circumstances tolerate the type of conduct I observed in the videotape," he told reporters.

A similar incident caused major riots in 1991

He said he was not concerned with what might have happened before the video was turned on.

"In my mind, I can't think of anything that this teenager could have done that would justify the conduct that I observed," he said.

The mayor said Officer Morse should be fired and charged with assault and violating Mr Jackson's civil rights.

The incident was reminiscent of a case in 1991 which triggered some of the worst race riots in US history.

Violence erupted after four white LA police officers videoed beating black motorist Rodney King were acquitted of criminal damage.

Fifty-four people were killed in rioting which swept the city and caused over $1bn in damage.