A police officer in suburban Chicago was caught on video hitting a driver 15 times with his baton and firing a stun gun at his passenger. The officer was charged with felony aggravated battery and official misconduct, with more charges being possible.

According to prosecutors, neither man threatened or attacked the officer, named James Mandarino of the Streamwood police department. In fact, the footage taken from the officer's dashboard camera seems to suggest that the driver, Ronald Bell (pictured above), 28, and the passenger were cooperating.

" Perhaps the most startling thing about the brutal beating is the apparent overkill," observes CBS News Correspondent Cynthia Bowers.
"This conduct as displayed on the video by this officer is not only disturbing, it's outrageous and is unacceptable," Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez said to reporters. "Every law enforcement officer holds his or her powers through the public trust and this officer's senseless act of rage against an unarmed citizen constitutes and offensive violation of that trust."

Mandarino is 41-years-old and a 15-year veteran of the police department. He was charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct. If convicted, he could get up to five years in prison on each count.

Mandarino's attorney, Ed Wandering, mentioned that Mandarino has a stellar record. "He's a decorated officer," Wandering says. "He was officer of the year three or four years ago."

Prosecutors say that Mandarino followed the car, after hearing its tires squealing around 4 a.m. on March 2th. It was after Bell pulled over in to the driveway of his brother, Stacey Bell, that the officer approached him with his gun out.

There was no audio, but prosecutors say that the video shows that Ronald Bell got back in to the car when he was told to do so by the officer. That's when Mandarino turned to the passenger and fired his stun gun at him twice. Ronald Bell got out of the car, got on his knees and kept his hands behind his head. That's when Officer Mandarino hit him repeatedly in the back of the head and neck.

On "The Early Show Saturday Edition," Stacey Bell said to CBS News, "I saw the officer striking my brother. It kind of was very shocking to me, and I went outside and was pleading with them to stop beating my brother. I was saying, He's complying with your commands. I don't understand why you're beating him."

Mandarino arrested Bell on suspicion of drunken driving, resisting arrest and threatening an officer, along with a variety of other traffic offenses. All of the charges have been dropped.

The case of Officer John Mandarino brings quite a few questions to light:

1) What provoked this officer to behave in such an uncontrollable fashion?
2) If he is this abusive to citizens, how in the world was he so well-decorated? Does this reduce the credibility of the police department?

I just attended the National Leadership forum hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton. One of the things I spoke with Warren Ballentine and Urban League President Marc Morial about is how many of those in black leadership need to have experiences similar to Ronald Bell in order to truly understand how bad and rampant police misconduct can be. While there are many officers who do the right thing and protect citizens, there are quite a few bad apples who continue to abuse their authority. The best way Chicago police can protect their fragile relationship with the community is to ensure that Officer Mandarino is punished to the fullest extent of the law.


Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book, "Black American Money." To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.