OFFICER WHO HIT TEEN WAS JUSTIFIED, LAWYER SAYS.(MAIN)

Byline: PAUL WILBORN Associated Press

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- A police officer who was videotaped slamming a handcuffed teenager's head onto a patrol car and punching him in the face was justified and ``restrained'' in his use of force, his lawyer said Thursday.

The attorney, John Barnett, said during an interview with CNN that the videotape of the arrest needs to be put into context.

``You cannot see what the subject is doing with his hands just prior to being hit in the face,'' Barnett said. ``He took action which required that he be punched.''

The lawyer added: ``the facts will show that the use of force was restrained given all of the …