Regarding the excessive force issue. When a person/suspect makes a sudden move like the Reverend did the officers have no idea what he is doing. He could be going for their weapons. The officers are trained to react to that sort of thing and immobilize that person in case he is going for the weapon. The officers can't stand around and wait to decide whether or not he is going for their weapon. If that was the case, they or innocent civilians may be injured or worse. Whether it's a 100 lb girl or a 200 lb man, when they have a gun it evens things out.

Yea, in the video he clearly made the first move and that's enough to make him lose any lawsuit. Excessive force maybe, but in the officer's minds he may have been reaching for their guns. We can't see too much because his back is to us and there is another officer blocking the view. However, it does look like he's just making a bolt for the door to get into the hearing.