NOPD Officer Hits Man Shooting Video of Bust

March 10, 2011
A man claims New Orleans police officers were out of line Sunday night when they broke up a parade in the Marigny, and now the Public Integrity Bureau is investigating.

NEW ORLEANS --

A man claims New Orleans police officers were out of line Sunday night when they broke up a parade in the Marigny, and now the Public Integrity Bureau is investigating.

Landscape architect Ritchie Katko shot video with his cell phone during the incident.

It shows what appears to be NOPD task force members trying to arrest someone near Elysian Fields and Chartres streets during the Krewe of Eris parade.

The video shows an NOPD officer going over to Katko and striking him, knocking his cell phone to the ground, as he was shooting video.

"Before I have a minute to back up, he struck me and knocked the camera phone out of my hand," Katko said. "Toward me, it was excessive. I was just filming."

"This matter is currently under investigation by the Public Integrity Bureau," said NOPD spokesman Gary Flot. "Once that investigation is completed, the findings will be given to Superintendent (Ronal) Serpas for his review and consideration."

NOPD has said Eris was an unauthorized parade that did not have a city permit to march. Late Monday, the NOPD said six officers were injured and 12 arrests were made as police tried to break up the parade.

According to police, some people threw bottles and bricks at officers and slashed tires on two police vehicles.

The New Orleans Independent Police Monitor is asking witnesses -- and especially anyone with additional recordings of the incident -- to contact them at:

Copyright 2011 by WDSU.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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