Video shows officer striking young man at Baltimore school

BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore prosecutors are investigating after a school police officer was caught on video hitting and kicking a young man inside a city school.

Baltimore City Public Schools released a statement saying their own officials are "vigorously investigating" the Tuesday incident at REACH Partnership School. In a cellphone video shot by a student, a school police officer can be seen slapping and kicking a young man while another officer stands by.

On Wednesday, Baltimore state's attorney's office spokeswoman Rochelle Ritchie said prosecutors are working closely with the city's police department and the school police to investigate the incident.

"The State's Attorney's Office takes this matter very seriously," she said in a statement.

Baltimore police spokesman T.J. Smith said the department has assigned an investigative liaison from the department's Office of Professional Responsibility to provide assistance to the school police.

The city's police department and the school police force are wholly separate agencies.

Officials have not yet identified the officers involved, but acting school police Chief Akil Hamm confirmed that both were placed on administrative leave with pay Tuesday after officials were made aware of the video.