CRIME

Iowa officer disciplined after yanking suspect's dreadlocks

Associated Press
Published | Updated

This April 19, 2016, photo provided by the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office in Waterloo, Iowa, shows Montavis Keller. Police video obtained by The Associated Press on Aug. 30, 2016, shows a police officer yanking on Keller's dreadlocks and hitting him on the back of the head after Keller led officers on a dangerous high-speed chase in Waterloo. (Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this frame from an April 19, 2016 police video provided by Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office, Waterloo police officer Adam Wittmayer yanks on the dreadlocks of handcuffed Montavis Keller, who was arrested after a dangerous high-speed chase in Waterloo, Iowa. The video shows the officer briefly assaulting Keller and berating him after the chase. (Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this frame from an April 19, 2016 police video provided by Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office, Waterloo police officer Adam Wittmayer, right, kneels beside handcuffed Montavis Keller in Waterloo, Iowa. Wittmayer repeatedly yanked on the dreadlocks of Keller, a handcuffed black man, who was arrested after a dangerous high-speed chase in Iowa, then hit him on the back of the head. (Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)

An angry white officer repeatedly yanked on the dreadlocks of a handcuffed black man who was arrested after a dangerous high-speed chase in Iowa, then twice hit him on the back of the head.

Video obtained this week by The Associated Press shows Waterloo officer Adam Wittmayer briefly assaulting 24-year-old Montavis Keller and calling him names after the April 19 chase.

A state prosecutor concluded in June that no criminal charges were warranted against Wittmayer because jurors would understand why he was mad.

Keller is charged with nearly hitting Wittmayer with his car at the end of the chase after Wittmayer put down tire-puncturing sticks to disable it.

Waterloo Police Chief Daniel Trelka says Wittmayer was disciplined and that he doesn't condone the officer's behavior.