Puerto Rican officials to seek first-degree murder for killer cop.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: An arrest warrant on a first-degree murder charge has been against a Puerto Rican policeman caught on tape apparently shooting to death an unarmed man.

See the Video
(This is a very graphic and disturbing video. Protect your kids)
Video courtesy of El Nuevo Dia newspaper - 08.13.07

Authorities say Javier Pagan Cruz, a 14-year police veteran, shot and killed Miguel Caceres Cruz on Saturday in the eastern coastal town of Humacao.

A videotape shows Caceres struggling with several officers before he is forced to the ground and a gunshot goes off, the bullet striking Pagan's leg. Seconds later, Pagan can been seen standing over the man and shooting him at least three times — once in the head. The FBI has opened an investigation.

Pagan will be suspended from his job on Wednesday until the police department concludes its own investigation, Puerto Rican police chief Pedro Toledo said late Tuesday. Pagan was shown on TV leaving the hospital Tuesday afternoon in a wheelchair and wearing pajamas.

Two other officers who were present during the shooting were forced to take leave on Monday, a day after the videotaped confrontation was aired on Puerto Rican television.

The arrest warrant issued Tuesday against Pagan sets bail at US$500,000 (€368,000).

Pagan previously was accused of using excessive force. But the complaint was dropped after authorities decided he used appropriate force to subdue a motorcyclist who resisted arrest in 2004, Toledo said.

"There weren't any signs that suggested there was something bad in his character," Toledo said.

Pagan, 34, has seven other administrative complaints in his file, including a 60-day suspension for domestic abuse in 1999. The other complaints involved the loss of part of his uniform and failure to make court appearances.