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Baltimore police are investigating a school police officer who was caught on camera hitting a 16-year-old boy inside a public school.
A widely circulated cell phone video that appeared to have been shot by a student at the school shows the school police officer kicking and slapping him while another school officer stands nearby. Neither the officers nor the victim have been publicly identified. Baltimore City Public Schools released a statement late Tuesday evening saying that school officials and city police were looking into the incident, calling it a "deeply concerning encounter."
The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon on the steps outside a city high school. School Police Chief Marshall Goodwin and the two officers in the video were placed on administrative leave, and activists renewed calls for the Department of Justice to investigate the school police.
School officials have released few details of the incident, and there is disagreement about whether the youth is a student.
On Wednesday, acting School Police Chief Akil Hamm said the two officers responded to REACH Partnership School in Clifton Park after two "intruders" were reported inside. He said their presence was considered a threat.