Alleged police beating being investigated

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis says he has placed an officer on desk duty while authorities investigate allegations about the possible beating of a suspect while in custody.

Weis said at a news conference Friday night that he found the allegations being investigated by the Independent Police Review Authority were disturbing, and involved an officer in a supervisory capacity. He said the incident reported to the IPRA allegedly occurred earlier this week.

Weis left the news conference at police headquarters without providing any more specifics, but police spokesman Roderick Drew later said the officer involved was a sergeant.

Officer Antoinette Ursitti of the Chicago Police News Affairs Office said late Friday that the department would be providing no more comment for the time being, and referred any questions to the IPRA.