Nation of Islam Calls on Birmingham Police to Fire Officers Involved in Beating of Unarmed, Surrendering Black Man

From [HERE] Members of the Nation of Islam  today called on Birmingham police and city officials to take action against officers recently shown in a video striking a suspect , Travarious Daniel, who had surrendered to the police. [MORE]

The video shows several Birmingham Police officers pile on a suspect, and beat him. Prior to the beating Daniel is standing with arms outstretched as he had apparently surrendered to police. Although over twenty blows are counted on the tape, the Alabama police report described the attack by police as "minimal force."

Speaking at a press conference in Kelly Ingram Park, Minister Tremon Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque 69 said the police department and city should: fire and criminally charge the officers involved in the incident, abolish the act of using bait cars to catch suspects, and set up an independent police review board that would include members of the Nation of Islam. 

Muhammad took issue with the fact that the incident happened just across the street from the Birmingham Police Department's Administrative building on First Avenue North. "It either showed blatant disrespect for Chief  (A.C.) Roper or the officers believed that Chief Roper would stand behind them and their brutal actions," Muhammad said. 

The Nation of Islam will continue to call attention to acts of police brutality and soon will have town hall meetings, Muhammad said

Undercover officers with the burglary unit working in the 1600 block of Morris Avenue saw Daniel take the keys off an "unmark car," according to a Birmingham police incident report. 

The report then states Daniel drove his own car from 16th Street North onto Third Avenue North. Daniel at first refused to stop the car, the report stated.  He pulled over in the 1600 block of First Avenue North, according to the report. Daniel works as a security guard at the Downtown Lounge, which is where he pulled over and is across the street from the Birmingham Police Department Administration Building. 

  "The def. (defendant) received several cuts to the face and elbow," the report says of his injuries. "Minimum force required."

A stolen gun was found during the search of the car, the report stated.

The report states Daniel was treated at the scene by Birmingham firefighters. He was charged  with receiving stolen property and unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle as a result of the arrest, according to court records.

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