Birmingham police beating video

Five Birmingham police officers fired Tuesday on charges they used excessive force on a man after a pursuit have appealed the decision to the Jefferson County Personnel Board, authorities said.

A hearing officer will investigate the claims and make a recommendation to the Personnel Board's three-member governing body. The officers involved each have between 7 and 15 years of experience on the police force.Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper and Mayor Larry Langford announced today the firing of the five officers based their roles in the videotaped beating of a man following a police chase on Jan. 23, 2009. Disciplinary action also will be taken against supervisors who failed for months to report the incident to higher-ups, officials said.

The beating incident happened when a Birmingham police officer tried to question 38-year-old Anthony Warren about possible drug activity. Warren fled starting a chase, captured by a police video camera, which showed Warren struck a Hoover police officer and then was thrown from his own car after he crashed. Authorities said he was unconscious when officers began beating him with a billy club, fists and feet.

FOLLOW ALL OF TODAY'S DEVELOPING STORY:

Police announce officers will be disciplined for beating incident;

Five officers are fired;

Beating victim's attorney filed claim with city.