The video featuring Delonte West in a disturbing physical and mental state that went viral this week was allegedly taken by a police officer, and the officer has been suspended.
Prince George’s County Police Department Chief Hank Stawinski said Tuesday that the officer responsible for capturing the footage has been suspended, according to Paul Wagner of FOX 5 DC. Police say they responded to reports of a fight in Oxon Hill, Md., on Monday morning. When they arrived, the two men had been separated, but a witness had a video of them fighting in the middle of the street.
One of the men involved was West, and the former NBA player was handcuffed and asked to sit on the curb while police gathered more information. At that point, one of the officers who responded to the call recorded a video of West using the officer’s personal cell phone, and the footage got out from there.
While certainly embarrassing, hopefully the video winds up being a positive. Many have already expressed concern about West after seeing the footage and are trying to get him help, though one report claims the 36-year-old has not been receptive when those close to him reach out.
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