Press Releases

10/14/05

AP releases full New Orleans beating video

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Associated Press on Thursday released the full video of police officers beating a retired teacher as they tried to arrest him on New Orleans' Bourbon Street.

On Sunday, the news agency had released an edited version of the video, shot by an AP Television News crew the night before.

"Viewer interest in these images has been enormous, so we are putting out the entire video," said AP Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll. "Many times people like to see more information, which is why we post documents, transcripts and other amplifying material to our Web customers."

The full version of the video runs just over five minutes, about one minute more than the edited version. The additional minute mostly shows the street scene and the officers continuing to struggle with 64-year-old Robert Davis.

Davis pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of public intoxication, resisting arrest, battery on a police officer and public intimidation.

The three patrolmen involved in the beating -- Lance Schilling, Robert Evangelist and S.M. Smith -- were arrested late Sunday and charged with battery.

Their attorney, Frank DeSalvo, contends the video of the Bourbon Street confrontation doesn't tell the whole story. Police union officials described Davis as so intoxicated that he staggered down the street, stumbled into a police horse and became belligerent when officers intervened.

Davis told reporters that he hasn't had a drink in 25 years.