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A video uploaded to YouTube shows a Philadelphia police officer beating John Scrivano, 43, after Scrivano slapped the officer first.

A video has been posted to YouTube of a Philadelphia police officer who appears to be beating a citizen with his baton, less than three weeks after a fellow officer made headlines after a video of him hitting a woman at a public event was also put online.

This time, though, the YouTube video shows the citizen, identified as 43-year-old John Scrivano, slapping the officer first.

The video was on posted on YouTube on Sunday, Oct. 14. It apparently occurred during Oktoberfest on South Street in Philadelphia on Sept. 29.

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Lt. Raymond Evers defended the officer seen in the video to Philly.com, saying "The guy [Scrivano] was highly intoxicated. What do you want?" Evers billed it as "old news" to Philly.com and is not releasing the officer's name.

Internal Affairs investigated the level of force used by the officer, Evers told NBC10. But the officer was not put on desk duty or reprimanded for his actions.

Scrivano's girlfriend told NBC10 he was unconscious when paramedics arrived.

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In the earlier incident this month, Lt. Jonathan Josey was caught on tape hitting a woman, and was suspended for 30 days. The department intends to fire him, according to Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. 

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter publicly apologized to the victim, Aida Guzman, in the Lt. Josey case, saying he was appalled, angry and ashamed. He said Josey violated his role as a public servant.

"We're here to serve the people who hire us. We're not over them or above them," Nutter said. "We're here with them."

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Joe Klamar / AFP - Getty Images file

Rodney King speaking with fans before presenting his autobiographical book 'The Riot Within...My Journey from Rebellion to Redemption' in Los Angeles.

Rodney King's death was ruled accidental in an autopsy report released Thursday by the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office, which also noted he had marijuana, cocaine and alcohol in his system.

The report summarized the events leading to his June 17 death at age 47 in his backyard pool in Rialto, Calif.

King "was in a state of drug and alcohol induced delirium," according to the coroner's report.

He "either fell or jumped into the swimming pool," the report said. "The effects of the drugs and alcohol, combined with the subject's heart condition, thus incapacitated, was unable to save himself and drowned."

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King's fiancée, Cynthia Kelley, found him in the deep end of the pool at 5:25 a.m. and called 911. She made several attempts to pull him out of the pool but was unable to save him. He was taken to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center where he died.

Rialto police said the preliminary investigation suggested the drowning was accidental and that there were no signs of trauma or foul play.

Kelley told police that King he had been out all weekend with a male friend, but police said at the time they did not know if King and his friend had been partying all night.

During a press conference announcing the death, police technicians could be seen bringing out a marijuana plant from inside King's home.

LA Riots 20 Years Later

King was an admitted drug addict and alcoholic and told NBCLosAngeles.com in April he had been managing his addictions.

King was remembered during services led by the Rev. Al Sharpton as a "symbol of forgiveness" who bore the scars of his infamous videotaped beating by Los Angeles police officers with dignity.

Sharpton said that King never showed bitterness to the officers who beat him.

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King became famous after his videotaped Lake View Terrace beating by Los Angeles police in 1991 was broadcast worldwide, as were photos of his bloodied and bruised face.

Those images became a national symbol of police brutality.

When four officers charged with felony assault on King were acquitted by a jury with no black members, the verdict sparked a riot that lasted for six days and brought U.S. military presence to patrol LA streets.

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During the unrest, which left more than 50 people dead and caused more than $1 billion in property damage, King famously pleaded for peace by asking, "Can we all get along?"

King's words were embroidered on the lid of his casket, next to a portrait of him.

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