San Bernardino County, California, Sheriff’s Office opened two investigations Thursday only hours after a news helicopter recorded deputies using a stun gun on a man then beating him repeatedly.
The man falls off the horse and is stunned by one of the deputies. Two deputies begin punching and beating him in the head then kneeing him in the groin. Then, three others arrive and join in the assault.
The sheriff’s office identified the man in as Francis Jared Pusok, 30, of Apple Valley CA. Pusok is being treated at a hospital for undisclosed injuries.
Video captured the chase, which shows deputies striking the man, identified as 30-year-old Francis Pusok, even after he was on the ground with his hands held behind his back.
“The video surrounding this arrest is disturbing and I have ordered an internal investigation be conducted immediately,” Sheriff John McMahon said in a statement.
One police use-of-force expert described the video as “ugly.”
“This is a highly concerning video,” said former Los Angeles Police Capt. Greg Meyer.
“His hands are behind his back. He obviously surrendered, followed commands to keep his hands behind back — that would be the time for the deputies to drop the knees on him and get him handcuffed,” Meyer added.
“But it didn’t happen, and they will have to answer for the force they used on him instead of getting handcuffed.”
During the beating, which involved 11 deputies and lasted for about two minutes, Pusok was kicked and kneed about a dozen times and punched more than two dozen times.
The pursuit began around 12:15 p.m. when deputies arrived at a home in unincorporated Apple Valley to serve a search warrant in an identity theft investigation, according to a statement from the sheriff’s department.
California Sheriff Investigates ‘Disturbing’ Video of Suspect Being Beaten
‘Disturbing’ video shows deputies beating man after horse pursuit
