Disturbing video shows Mesa police officers brutally beating an unarmed man

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Vox


Arizona police violently beat Robert Johnson. Now four officers are on paid leave.
By P.R. Lockhart Jun 6, 2018, 3:40 pm EDT

The Mesa Police Department in Arizona on Tuesday voluntarily released disturbing surveillance video footage showing a group of Mesa police officers brutally beating an unarmed man while responding to a call at an apartment complex in May.

The 20-minute video, taken from a surveillance camera, shows several police officers kneeing and punching a black man, now identified as Robert Johnson. At one point, they slam his head into an elevator door.

The incident took place on May 23 when officers responded to a 911 call from a local apartment complex. They arrived to find Erick Reyes and Robert Johnson. Officers ordered Reyes to sit and began speaking with him, but their interaction with Johnson, who was unarmed and talking on a cellphone, quickly escalated.

Mesa Police Chief Ramon Batista told reporters that he was releasing the video to the public because he wanted to be transparent about the incident and provide additional context that would be left out if the video were anonymously posted online. Batista said he was not aware of the incident until the surveillance video was sent to the police department by a civilian.



Read more: https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/6/6/17434320/robert-johnson-mesa-arizona-police-beating

[Thomas Hurt]

1. We don't need more guns, we need more cameras....

people need to start recording any interaction they have or witness with a cop.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. This does not surprise me one bit.

The local Culture has been and is ripe for these incidents to continue to happen. Nuf said.

[yallerdawg]

3. That level of thuggish pack-animal brutality...

is so disheartening and sickening.

Not one cop steps up. All complicit.

[mikeysnot]

4. the big fat bald one needs to be in prison.

sucker punching that guy for what? A ticket?

[safeinOhio]

5. Any use of force by LEO should require

blood test for ALL officers involved. Many of these case can be caused by roid rage or other illegal drugs. Demand your rep introduce such laws.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

10. Yes !!!

This has been a nasty dark little secret for some time -- steroid usage by police officers. There has been some coverage of it, but not nearly enough. Look at the behavior. It is textbook symptomology of over-use of steroids. Irrational, explosive anger. Failure to intellectually process behavior BEFORE acting. The brutal, vicious physical beatings that don't stop even when the victim is restrained and blood is flowing freely. Complete abrogation of common sense, decency and empathy. Obvious abusive and unnecessary vulgar language, screaming to the point of incoherence and spittle. Treating all people, including the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women (There have been recent reports of cops intentionally punching pregnant women in the stomach.) and children as hostile adversaries that must be physically over-powered at all costs. Refusal to end the physical onslaught until the victim is almost unconscious - we've all heard and seen people in these videos, begging to breathe.

This is classic roid rage. If you see it/suspect it, report it. This is happening all over the nation, and it's not being addressed. There have been too many senseless, brutal deaths at the hands of LEOs. We need to start advocating for laws for drug testing of cops in all situations where excessive force has been observed or reported.

[safeinOhio]

11. thank you

much more common than most would think.

The company I retired from, large company, required drug test after any injury accident as a condition of employment.

[Coventina]

6. Morrissey says it best:

[samir.g]

7. That's Mesa PD for you

Not a surprise.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Didn't know they also have a history. Horrible news. Thank you. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

9. Four Arizona police officers on leave for punching unarmed man

WED, JUN 06

Surveillance video shows the Mesa, Arizona, officers punching and kneeing an unarmed man while responding to a domestic dispute call last month. The police chief now promises an investigation.

- video at link -

https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/four-arizona-police-officers-on-leave-for-punching-unarmed-man-1249870403840