IMPD is investigating the treatment of an early morning chase suspect.

Police eventually caught up with the suspect who escaped in a van and then fled on foot. It started around 6:45 am Tuesday morning.

Police say a witness pointed out Felipe Elvarado as a theft suspect near Mitthoeffer and East 21st Street. Elvarado reportedly took off in a van sparking a police chase.

He reportedly led police along 34th and Arlington and turned on to several other streets during the 10-minute pursuit.

When he reached 22nd and Riley, Elvarado drove into a field and spun out. He then took off running through brush and across railroad tracks where police cut him off.

An officer tased him. Then two officers kicked him four times before placing him in handcuffs. Then, after Elvarado is handcuffed face down on the ground, a third officer kicked him in the back of his head.

"After he is handcuffed, one of the officers does use his foot to push down the suspect's head," said Sgt. Matthew Mount, IMPD.

When asked why the officer did so, Mount responded, "That is something that needs to be reviewed. That is something that will be reviewed. The officer stated that the guy was starting to spit blood towards one of the officers. He's only pushing the head; he stated that he is only pushing the head so that he would not have that possibility of body fluid exchanges and after that the guy turned his head away."

Police say the suspect may have broken into several vehicles in the area where the chase started. Several car stereos and CDs were found in the van the suspect was driving.

The incident comes as Metro Police Chief Michael Spears oversees an investigation into a 2007 Black Expo incident caught on tape. Police videotaped Officer Adam Chappell kicking 17-year-old Bryan Jeter during an arrest.

Chappell's attorney struck a deal with prosecutors to avoid conviction, but Spears launched his investigation after meeting with Jeter's family. They claimed even more abuse was caught on tape that night involving Jeter's brother.

Sgt. Mount says the review board will investigate the officers use and level of force during Tuesday morning's arrest.