Cops Release BodyCam Video After 'Slam & Punch' Arrest Goes Viral

PITTSBURG, CA – After a violent arrest video of a suspect being slammed to the ground and punched multiple times went viral, the Pittsburg Police Department on Thursday released the officer's body-worn camera footage in an effort to be transparent, adding that "often a single video does not tell the full story."

"We are aware of a video circulating on social media that shows disturbing cell-phone video of Pittsburg police officers making an arrest," the department said. "The video shows an officer throwing a man to the ground then punching him several times. Some who’ve viewed the video mistakenly believe the suspect was handcuffed - but he was not."

The 31-year-old man, not identified by police, was stopped Sept. 15 on a Pittsburg sidewalk by an officer investigating a case of gasoline theft. A caller reported a vehicle's punctured gas tank, stolen gasoline and a man who appeared to be walking while holding a cup of gasoline in the Power Avenue area, police said.

The suspect, who had prior police contact, reportedly matched the given description, was wearing a puffy jacket and had his right hand in his pocket as if concealing something, officials said.

In the body-cam video, the officer is seen asking the man to drop whatever is in his hand and to keep his hands out of his pockets. He asks if the man has been stealing gas and if the officer could check to see what's in the man's backpack. The man takes off the pack and hands it to the officer but then slides a crowbar out from his sleeve and refuses to drop it, spreading his arms wide, saying, "Shoot me, shoot me."

The officer backs up and pulls out his weapon, continuing to tell the man to drop the crowbar, shouting "Drop it, dude, just f---ing drop it!"

When a second officer arrives, the man throws the crowbar on the ground, but refuses to comply with officers' multiple commands to get on the ground.

That's when the officers take the man to the ground in a scuffle, shouting, "Dude, stop resisting!" They then deliver punches in a technique police call "distraction blows" meant to get a suspect to bring his hands
back for cuffing. Police say he was not cuffed when the punches were thrown.

The man was treated for lacerations suffered in the incident and ultimately was arrested for suspicion of resisting arrest and violating his probation, police said, noting that officers believe he was the gas-stealing suspect and that theft investigation is ongoing.

Pittsburg police have launched an internal investigation to determine if force used was "appropriate and reasonable," the agency said, adding, "We appreciate the community’s continued support, and we hope this body-worn video and additional details help shed light on what happened during this arrest."

WARNING: Video below contains graphic language and violence.

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--Bay City News contributed to this post/Image via YouTube video