The emergence of video footage showing California police beating a suspect last week has triggered an internal investigation, authorities say.
The New York Daily News reports that the video—which is nearly two minutes long—shows police in Salinas, Calif. beating 28-year-old Jose Velasco last Friday. Police were summoned following a report about Velasco running into traffic and leaping onto cars, adding that they arrived to find the man attacking his own mother:
The 1-minute 42-second video opens with two officers using a Taser on Velasco. It was unclear from the footage whether Velasco writhed on the ground or rolled away from the blasts.
Velasco then reached for an officer's leg, and that cop began striking him with a baton. The other officer tried to hold Velasco down.
As three more officers arrived on scene, two pinned Velasco to the ground while another began striking him with a baton.
Salinas police say Velasco resisted them violently, also claiming that he reached for one of the officer's Tasers. Kelly McMillin, Salinas' Police Chief, explained to KSBW that this made officers fear that he might attempt to do the same with their service weapons. Regardless, McMillin has referred to the video as "horrific."
Velasco, who was reportedly fueled by a combination of alcohol and meth, was eventually taken into custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, violating parole, and assault on an officer causing injury. As a result of the beating, he suffered a possible fracture to his leg, as well as bruising.
The investigation into the matter continues.
[via New York Daily News and KSBW]
