COPA releases video of a police chase in Auburn Gresham in which a man suffered serious head injuries and died weeks later

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability released video Thursday showing a Chicago police officer knocking down a man during a foot chase in Auburn Gresham in June, leaving the 22-year-old – who died weeks later – with a serious head injury.

The video casts doubt on the officer's claims that 22-year-old David Curry fell and hit the back of his head on the ground because he stopped abruptly in front of the officer, who was unable to stop his movement in time to avoid a collision with Curry.

COPA is investigating the officer's use of force in the incident.

The video appears to show the officer sprinting, extending his arms forward and pushing the fleeing Curry away as Curry collides with him in an alley in the 8100 block of South Hermitage Avenue.

In the police report, the officer stated that he extended his arms because he was about to grab Curry.

Blood can be seen pouring from Curry's left ear after he falls forward and hits the back of his head on the pavement.

As officers attempt to handcuff Curry, who lies motionless on the ground, a witness outside of the camera's view can be heard telling officers, “You didn't have to hit him like that.” One of the officers responds, “No, he tripped.” The man responds, “He didn't trip. You pushed him. I was watching you.”

Officers try to keep Curry conscious while he is on the ground by rubbing his back and sternum and asking him if he knows his name or what's wrong. Curry's handcuffs are removed after a few minutes as he slowly wakes up, the video shows. Officers sit him up as an ambulance arrives.

Curry was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in good condition and intubated, a police report said. He died Aug. 1 at Ascension Saint Francis in Evanston, the Cook County coroner's office said. Autopsy results were pending. He lived in Auburn Gresham.

According to COPA, officers were dispatched to the area that day after receiving calls about a person with a gun. When they arrived at the scene, officers learned that Curry had allegedly struck a woman with a gun before fleeing down an alley.

Officers patrolled the area and eventually found Curry in the 8100 block of South Hermitage Avenue around 5:10 p.m., according to the police report. Curry fled through the alley and was reportedly observed throwing a gun onto the roof of a building.

During the pursuit, “the offender stopped abruptly” and the officer “was unable to stop his driving in time and came into contact with the offender,” causing him to fall forward and hit his head on the ground, the police report states.

At the scene, officers found a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine and a “switch” that allows it to fire repeatedly with a single pull of the trigger, the report said.

Curry was scheduled to appear in court on July 31 on charges related to the incident, but was unable to appear because he was hospitalized, court records show.