Philly Police Staff Inspector Turns Himself In on Felony Charges After Incident Involving Student Hit in the Head

Philadelphia Police Staff Inspector Joseph Bologna Jr. surrendered himself to face charges of aggravated assault, among others, on Monday, after he was captured in viral video clips beating a protester during Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

Bologna, 54, was taken into custody without being handcuffed from the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5. A crowd of predominantly white supporters, who local reporters said were police colleagues, stood outside and applauded and cheered in support of the staff inspector. In a clip shared by reporter Steve Keeley from FOX 29 Philadelphia, a supporter can be heard saying: "You've got it, bro."

The Philadelphia Police Department told Newsweek in an emailed statement that "all applications of force are investigated by the Internal Affairs Unit. We are unable to provide further comment at this time."

Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw on Friday promised a full investigation into Bologna's conduct, pulling him from street duty, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Just a few hours later, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced that his office would be filing charges against the officer.

Video footage captured during a protest appeared to show Bologna hitting 21-year-old Evan Gorski, a student from Temple University,in the neck and head with a baton. Another officer involved in the incident was then seen putting his knee on Gorski to hold him down after he had fallen to the ground.

"Cellphone video captured Inspector Bologna using an ASP (a collapsible metal police baton) to strike the Temple University student in the back of his head while he was participating in a mass demonstration against racism and injustice in the area of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway," Krasner's office said in a statement.

The district attorney's office said the alleged assault resulted in Gorski receiving 10 staples and 10 stitches to treat a large head wound.

Massive protests against what many see as systemic racism in policing and the justice system have been held across the country, and around the world, over the past two weeks. The demonstrations began in the wake of the death of Floyd, a black man who died after being detained by police in Minneapolis for allegedly attempting to use a counterfeit $20 bill.

A video of the arrest went viral, showing white officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on the neck of Floyd for nearly nine minutes as he said: "I can't breathe." Onlookers also repeatedly urged Chauvin to stop, but Floyd was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly later. An independent autopsy concluded that Floyd died as a result of the officer's actions.

Chauvin and three other officers involved in the incident have been fired and criminally charged over the death. On Sunday, the Minneapolis City Council also voted with a veto-proof majority to disband its police department and to instead invest in new community safety initiatives.