BERNARD SHAW, CNN ANCHOR: In Philadelphia, African-American leaders are appealing for calm this day, following the beating of a black suspect by a dozen black and white police officers. A news crew caught it yesterday on videotape. The Justice Department is investigating, as is the city's police department. CNN's Deborah Feyerick is in Philadelphia with more -- Deborah.</s>DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bernie, it is a preliminary investigation by U.S. attorneys. No indication yet as to whether the Civil Rights Division will actually get involved, at least not at this point. The district attorney here is interviewing the police officers who can be were seen on that videotape beating the suspect. That man is described as a 30-year-old self-employed auto mechanic. He is Thomas Jones. Police say he is wanted on outstanding robbery warrant. Now officials say that Jones was driving a stolen car. Police tried to stop him. There was a chase. At some point, shots were fired. A police officer was hit. Jones was hit several times. Jones then hopped into a police cruiser and, again, led police on a chase, this time into north Philadelphia. And, at that point, that's when police were able to subdue him. Now the big question here is: Was there any unnecessary or unjustified force? The head of the NAACP says, both black and white officers went overboard.</s>JERRY MONDESIRE, PRESIDENT, PHILADELPHIA CHAPTER NAACP: We, at the NAACP, strongly believe this was a case of excessive force. This was a case where force used above and beyond the call of duty. Officers were seen jumping over their cars to kick and stomp Mr. Jones, who had already been wounded multiple times by police weapons.
African-American Leaders Appealing for Calm Following Beating of Black Suspect in Philadelphia