The police beating of Arie Smith has made the media, and the police seem to be acting on it (one wonders if they would have if it had all stayed quiet). The bad news is that reports yesterday that Smith's assailants were not NZ police were false:
Two police officers have been accused of beating a young autistic man who became "the face of looting".So, it sounds like the police know who did it. Its now a question of whether they will be charged and/or sacked.[...]
On the night of his arrest, he was beaten by two officers and taunted by New Zealand Army personnel, his lawyer Simon Buckingham said.
A New Zealand police spokesman last night said an investigation was being made. He said two New Zealand officers were involved in the arrest.
Mr Smith-Voorkamp was left with a black eye which was still bruised and swollen more than a week later, Mr Buckingham told the Herald.
He said his client, who has Asperger's syndrome, and another man arrested for looting were beaten up by the officers at the scene of the crime.