Taped police beating is investigated

A Philadelphia police sergeant and five officers were pulled from street duty as city officials investigated television footage showing a group of officers kicking and punching three shooting suspects during a traffic stop.

More than a dozen officers were involved, but Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said investigators were having the videotape enhanced to help determine how many of them were actually striking the suspects.

Police stopped the suspects’ car while investigating a triple shooting Monday night. No weapons were found in the car or on the suspects, Ramsey said, but officers said they had seen the suspects shoot three people on a drug corner moments earlier.