Blog note: the ACLU cites a grand jury report.
“Disturbing” seems to be the word most-often
associated with the video of San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies beating a
man who was lying face down, arms and legs spread after leading law enforcement
on an hours-long pursuit on Thursday in the High Desert.
First, residents on social media called the
video disturbing, some using all capital letters.
Then Sheriff John McMahon in a prepared
statement said, “The video surrounding this arrest is disturbing and I have
ordered an internal investigation be conducted immediately.”
And late Thursday night, Hector Villagra, the
executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern
California, called the deputies actions “disturbing.”
“Once again video has provided an important
account of what really happened, this time in San Bernardino County,” he said
in an emailed statement. “While we applaud Sheriff John McMahon’s prompt
decision to investigate the disturbing actions of his deputies, we believe more
is needed. Too often the department has failed to address questions, including
those raised by the ACLU SoCal, about use of force and Taser policies.”
Last month, the ACLU filed a lawsuit asking a
judge to make the Sheriff’s Department hand over records regarding its Taser
gun policies and procedures after the Sheriff’s Department denied key parts of
the California Public Records Act request.
The ACLU sought the records to see
if the department is following orders from a 2012 grand jury report that
recommended deputies be given improved training — recommendations the
department supported.
Taser use by deputies was called into
question again in 2014 on at least two occasions.
Dante Parker, 36, died while in Sheriff’s
Department custody after a confrontation with deputies in Victorville, where
deputies shocked Parker at least 25 times, according to a lawsuit filed against
the Sheriff’s Department by Parker’s family.
The Sheriff’s Department is also facing five
lawsuits from inmates who accuse deputies of torture, sometimes with a Taser to
the genitals.
A Taser was also involved in Thursday’s
beating.
Deputies caught up with Francis Jared Pusok,
30, of Apple Valley in the desert after chasing him for a couple of hours.
Pusok fled in a car when deputies attempted to arrest him on an identify-theft
related warrant, according to sheriff’s officials.
Pusok eventually ditched the car and stole a
horse, according to the Sheriff’s Department.
With a KNBC News helicopter overhead, Pusok
fell off the horse. A deputy shot a Taser at him, which, according to a
sheriff’s spokeswoman, was ineffective, although it appeared Pusok was shocked.
Pusok laid on his stomach with his arms and
legs spread wide and then put his hands behind his back as if waiting to be
cuffed. A second deputy ran up and appeared to kick him in his head or
shoulder.
The deputy who shot the Taser then ran up and
apparently kicked him between his legs.
Then that deputy appeared to use the yellow
Taser like a hammer, smashing it into Pusok’s head and body.
More deputies came into the frame and beat
and kicked him.
“The ACLU of Southern California (ACLU SoCal)
understands that police officers are authorized to use force when reasonably
necessary,” Villagra said. “However, we are deeply troubled by the video images
that appear to show San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies beating a man
after he surrendered, placing his hands behind his back.”
April
9, 2015
San
Bernardino County Sun
By Greg Cappis, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
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