Philadelphia police detective charged with assault, kidnapping

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia police detective facing assault charges has surrendered to authorities.

Forty-three-year-old Detective Adam O'Donnell has been charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, kidnapping, unlawful restraint and related offenses. He surrendered Wednesday to the Philadelphia Police Department's Internal Affairs Unit.

The alleged assault occurred on Feb. 3.

According to the District Attorney's Office, O'Donnell was escorting 45-year-old Theodore Life Jr. out of the Philadelphia Police Department's Special Victims Unit when he grabbed Life and kicked him once in the knee.

After falling to the ground in pain, officials say Life found that he could not put any weight on his leg.

Officials say O'Donnell then put Life in an unmarked police vehicle and drove him to Hunting Park where he dropped Life off on the road.

"A senseless attack on one Philadelphian is an attack on all Philadelphians," District Attorney Seth Williams said in a statement. "I also hope that by charging Mr. O'Donnell he not only understands the severity of his crime, but is reminded that when law enforcement does something to clearly hurt a complainant it will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Officials say Life was unable to walk because of the pain, so he called his father to find him and drive him to the hospital.

Life was treated at Einstein Medical Center and Abington Memorial Hospital for a nondisplaced femur fracture.

As a result of his injuries, the D.A. says Life continues to walk with a limp and continues to undergo treatment.

O'Donnell is a nine-year veteran of the department, assigned to the Special Victims Unit.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross has suspended O'Donnell for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.