The police should have beat him senseless and claimed he was resisting arrest.
No, that would be an abuse of power. That is never acceptable.
They do that alot even when its not warranted. I think in this case its warranted. You harm a woman or a child the cops should get extra practice time with you.
No. Official abuse of power leads to contempt of the people, and that leads to abuse of the people at will. Never, ever think that you can go just a little way down that road. That is one of the major problems with the countries in Africa, that sort of official abuse is condoned.