Police have finally fired the officer who was caught on video assaulting Damas Pakada and then arresting him for supposedly having attacked him.
Police commissioner Yochanan Danino explained that the unidentified police officer was not dismissed immediately because he “made several claims” and that discussions on in the incident included legal advisers.
The broadcast of the video of the assault set off violent protests by the Ethiopian community against police brutality and racism.
The fired police office still faces possible criminal charges, which Danino said are pending the outcome of an investigation and if there is enough evidence to indict him.
The video shows that the police officer approached Pakada, who was on a sidewalk with his bicycle, spoke to him and within one second started beating him.