Philly beating victims allege cop coverup

PHILADELPHIA, May 10 (UPI) -- Attorneys for three men beaten by Philadelphia police in a videotaped incident say police are lying to cover up a case of mistaken identity.

Attorney Eldridge Suggs told reporters gathered Friday that his client, Dwayne "Lionel" Dyches, 24, was beaten and kicked along with Brian Hall, 23, and Pete Hopkins, 19, because Dyches was mistaken by police for Eric DeShawn Floyd, who is being sought for the slaying of police sergeant.

"All they've done is make up some facts to account for the beating," Suggs said at a news conference. "And the reason why they beat this man is because he looked so much like the cop-killer."

The video of the beating, shown on CNN and other news outlets, was taken from a police helicopter and showed a swarm of officers pulling the three occupants of a vehicle out, throwing them to the ground, and kicking them repeatedly. No weapons were found in the vehicle, according to CNN.

Police officials have denied a coverup and allege that the three men were acting suspiciously at an area police had staked out in the search for the killers of police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski.