UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - Two Prince George's County police officers have been suspended after a police videotape captured them beating a Latino driver during a traffic stop. It's video you will only see on ABC 7/NewsChannel 8.

The incident happened Oct. 19, 2008, on Greenbelt Road in Berwyn Heights. The events on the video are as follows.

Officer John Wynkoop, with Ofc. Scott Wilson working backup, explains to motorist Rafael Rodriguez that his blue-tinted after-market driving lights are illegal. During this section of the video, there is no audio, but Rodriguez's lawyer says his client was arguing that another officer told him two days earlier the lights were fine.

Back at the squad car, the audio is turned on. On the recording, Wilson can be heard mocking Rodriguez and his accent.

	» watch the raw police video
	» read the officer's complaint

"'But officer, the other officer didn't tell me so it OK," Ofc. Wilson says in an apparently mocking tone. "He's telling you, John, you don't know how to do your job."

Wynkoop then responds: "I understand and I'm going to explain to him one time."

When the officers return to Rodriguez's car, Wynkoop does just that.

"This citation's $50, driving on roadway with visible blue lamp device," Ofc. Wynkoop says. Rodriguez replies: "Hold on, sir. Look at this." Wynkoop replies: "I could care less about that."

Rodriguez argues with Wynkoop, who yells at him to turn off the car and hand him the keys.

The camera keeps rolling as Rodriguez, without resisting, is slammed to the car and sprayed with pepper spray. The tussle goes out of camera range at that point, but Wynkoop's voice is audible, complaining that he got sprayed as well.

Before long, Rodriguez can be seen on the video quietly sitting on the curb, watched over by Wilson. That's when a seemingly angry Wynkoop re-appears and slams Rodriguez against the car. Rodriguez is also struck with a baton at least eight times.

Prince George's County police Chief Roberto Hylton suspended the officers without pay after viewing the tape.

"I'm very concerned for what I saw on that tape," he said. "After I reviewed the tape I thought my action was proper -- suspending these officers. I'll wait until the conclusion of the investigation."

Rodriguez's attorney, Terrell Roberts, discusses his client's injuries.

Kris Van Cleave reports on reaction from the community.

Chief Hylton, who speaks with an accent, says he was disturbed to hear an officer seemingly mock the legal Salvadoran immigrant's speech.

"We have worked too hard to gain the trust of this community, have built so many bridges -- we're not not going to tolerate one incident to actually dismantle all of our hard work," he said.

Rodriguez does not want to speak publicly about the incident. His lawyer provided photos of his physical injuries and said the emotional scarring is deeper. Terrell Roberts says his client only wanted an explanation and the officer refused to listen.

"Clearly he was quite frightened -- I think he was terrorized," Roberts said of his client. "All [the officer] had to do was probably just handle this without force, without aggression and things would have taken care of themselves."

Many county residents were outraged by the officers' behavior.

"That's unnecessary," LaVon Lucas said. "They should have their badges and their guns taken away -- they don't need to be no police officer."

Added Wendall Galloway, "I can't believe the police did that. There will be some cataclysmic ramifications and repercussions for their behavior."

Mario Quiroz of CASA de Maryland calls the video disturbing.

"This type of conduct, this type of action, is absolutely unacceptable for any law enforcement," he said.

Hubert Williams, president of the Police Foundation, a group that's extensively studied use of force issues, says while recordings like this one don't always tell the whole story, it does raise questions.

"Was he just being violent and vicious -- pushing a citizen in front of traffic?" Williams asked. "Police officers don't do that as a rule. There's something different here -- you want to know what's causing it." 

Ofc. Wynkoop alleged in a criminal complaint that Rodriguez had punched him in the stomach during the incident. Second-degree assault charges against Rodriguez were dropped Friday after prosecutors reviewed the video.

The Justice Department has also asked for a copy of the tape.

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