A California police officer who was caught on video brutally beating a man is being accused of using excessive force. His conduct is currently being investigated.
via NYDN:
The incident occurred Friday afternoon after police were called to a Vallejo gas station where a man was acting “crazy,” authorities said.
One arriving Vallejo police officer chased the suspect for several minutes before the suspect sat down on the street and was knocked to the ground, witnesses said.
“The kid surrendered,” one witness, who asked not to be named, told KPIX-TV. “The cop, on the other hand, came up right behind him and he was tired too. But he immediately dove on the kid and started wailing on him.”
The officer can be seen on video punching the suspect repeatedly with his fists and flashlight while the suspect shouts “I am God, I am God.”
The two appeared to struggle on the ground and the officer — shouting profanities — eventually placed handcuffs on the man.
Neither the suspect nor the officer were identified.
Local law enforcement experts say even though the video was difficult to watch — the officer used appropriate force during the arrest.
“That’s what they’re trained to do,” police trainer Don Cameron told the station. “When we’re down on the ground, we want to get the person in custody as quickly as we can, and we use personal weapons.”
Former Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan said the officer’s initial contact was appropriate but is concerned that he continued using that same force on the suspect after another backup officer rushed to the scene.
The Internal Affairs department is investigating the incident and the officer’s actions, police said.
The beaten suspect faces charges of resisting arrest and being under the influence. Watch the video below.
