No charges against man beaten during arrest
Suspect in LAPD custody on parole violation
 |  A television news camera captures the end of the police chase. |
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|  VIDEO |
 Officer appears to beat suspect on videotape.
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LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The district attorney's office declined to file criminal charges Friday against the car theft suspect who was beaten by police officers when they took him into custody.
The circumstances of Stanley Miller's arrest Wednesday -- captured on videotape by news helicopters -- have sparked community outrage and an investigation into whether the officers used excessive force.
The decision to defer charges "does not mean that charges will not ultimately be filed," Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley said.
"Due to LAPD's ongoing Internal Affairs investigation, it is unclear whether the necessary officers would be available to testify," he said.
"Miller will remain in custody for a parole violation stemming from a previous felony conviction for escape from custody," he said. "That allows times for these issues to be resolved.''
Miller, 36, suspected of stealing a car in Compton on Wednesday, led police on a televised vehicle chase and foot pursuit. When he appeared to surrender, he was tackled by one officer and pushed to the ground.
A second officer jumped on him, then a third officer arrived and appeared to kick Miller in the head. This same officer then took out his flashlight and hit him 11 times about the head area, and also appeared to use his knee to strike him.
The eight police officers who were at the scene have been reassigned to desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
What happened on the video "does not look good," Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton told CNN on Friday. But, he said, the department has a policy that allows -- in certain instances -- body blows with a flashlight but not head strikes.
The videotape is being enhanced, so "we can get a closer look at what was happening down there," Bratton said.
He also said the department is interviewing several civilian eyewitnesses whose stories are contradictory.
Bratton, like other city officials, is promising a thorough investigation. He stressed that the community is working to get to the truth.
