Should Security Guards Have Intervened During Teen's Brutal Beating?

Feb. 10, 2010 — -- A 15-year-old girl was brutally beaten and kicked in the head by a gang of other teenagers on a Seattle bus platform while several security guards stood by and watched.

In the chilling surveillance video that caught the assault on tape, the victim is seen being jumped from behind by another girl in front of three uniformed security guards.

As the victim falls to the curb of the Westlake Center transit terminal, she is straddled by the assailant and then surrounded by other teens who start robbing her of her belongings.

One security guard can be seen standing directly over the victim as she is kicked in the head.

Despite the apparent brutality of the attack, the girl suffered only minor injuries like scrapes and bruises, as well as the loss of hair from it being pulled out.

The incident is under investigation by both the King County Sheriff's Office and the Metro Transit Police, sheriff's office spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart said.

"Transit tunnel security officers were on the platform and witnessed the assault," said Urquhart in a statement. "However they did not intercede as they are unarmed, civilian employees."

Urquhart told ABCNews.com that the security guards are trained not to become involved in violent confrontations or fights but are instead told to call 9-1-1, which they did.

Asked whether he believed it was a problem that the security guards weren't able to intervene, Urquhart responded, "That's an issue Metro Transit is looking at."

In a statement given to The Associated Press, Metro Transit's general manager said it is revising its policy that guards only "observe and report" problems.

Calling the attack "egregious," Urquhart said that the transit terminal where the attack occurred has a reputation for being quite safe.