Police Under Review After Video Shows Struggle With Homeless Man

LAKELAND, FL – Two Lakeland Police officers are under administrative review after a video surfaced on Facebook showing them kicking and striking a homeless man.

According to the Lakeland Police, Officers J.R. West, 44, and De’Angelo Anthony, 30, were on patrol around 4:20 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, when they spotted 38-year-old Justin Abbott sleeping beneath an Interstate 4 overpass at U.S. 98.

Due to the "dangerous location," West asked Abbott to leave the area and gave him a trespass warning, according to a Lakeland police media release. Lakeland Police say Abbott refused to leave so both officers attempted to arrest him.

Abbott began resisting, shoving Anthony, who fell to the ground while still holding onto Abbott. The momentum caused both Abbott and West to fall as well.

West then used his taser on Abbott but it proved ineffective. Abbott reportedly tried to grab the taser away from West, and Anthony struck Abbott several times with his fist.

At that point, Anthony kicked Abbott and he fell to the ground.

Abbott was taken to Lakeland Regional Health, as is standard procedure when a taser is deployed, but doctors found no injuries. He was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest with violence and was taken to the Polk County Jail.

Both officers were treated at Lakeland Regional Health for minor injuries.

“As with all use of force cases, a thorough administrative review is being conducted by the chain of command,” noted the press release from Lakeland Police.

Joel Alfaro, who was driving down I-4, videotaped the encounter from a distance away and posted the 32-second video on Facebook.

Video via Joel Alfaro