By Associated Press, 07/17/02

LOS ANGELES -- The police officer whose violent arrest of a teenager was captured on videotape has been indicted by a grand jury on an assault charge, his lawyer said Wednesday night.

Inglewood Officer Jeremy Morse will surrender Thursday morning at the downtown Criminal Courts Building to face a charge of assault under color of authority, said lawyer John D. Barnett.

An amateur cameraman taped Morse July 7 slamming 16-year-old Donovan Jackson onto the trunk of a squad car and then punching him in the head.

Morse has been placed on paid leave pending the outcome of federal, state and local investigations. "My client believes that an impartial jury will find that the use of force was necessary and he will be acquitted," Barnett said.

The incident involving a white officer and black teen has prompted comparisons to the Rodney King beating and sparked numerous protests led by civil rights activists.