Arizona police caught on camera beating an unarmed man of color because ‘he wouldn’t sit down’

Police in Arizona were caught on surveillance camera beating a man of color in the face until he became unconscious, for no apparent reason.

Three officers and a sergeant are now on administrative leave as a result of the altercation, Mesa Police Chief Ramon Batista said.

The police involved in the beating of the name identified as Robert Johnson said they used physical force on him because ‘he wouldn’t sit down,’ according to Fox 10 News. 

 

Arizona Police caught on surveillance camera beating Robert Johnson, a man of color, in the face until he was unconscious because he ‘wouldn’t sit down,’ are now on administrative leave

Batista only became aware of the incident one week after it occurred, thanks to a local pastor.

‘I didn’t know anything about this, and the way I learned about this is because a member of the community sent me the video and said, “Hey, this looks very alarming, and I need you to look at it,”‘ said Chief Batista. ‘I examined it, and I immediately opened up an investigation.’

That community member was Pastor Andre Miller.

Mesa Police Chief Ramon Batista only became aware of the incident one week after it occurred, thanks to a local pastor

Mesa Police Chief Ramon Batista only became aware of the incident one week after it occurred, thanks to a local pastor

Johnson can be seen leaning back against a wall beside an elevator, checking his phone, when four members of the Mesa Police Department begin closing in on him

Johnson can be seen leaning back against a wall beside an elevator, checking his phone, when four members of the Mesa Police Department begin closing in on him

'The officers who initiated this assault need to find another vocation,' Miller said; 'And I am not anti-police, I am not pro-police. I am pro-community policing'

‘The officers who initiated this assault need to find another vocation,’ Miller said; ‘And I am not anti-police, I am not pro-police. I am pro-community policing’

‘The officers who initiated this assault need to find another vocation,’ Miller said. ‘And I am not anti-police, I am not pro-police. I am pro-community policing.’

He added: ‘Somewhere along the lines, we’ve lost the protection aspect and the serving aspect, and it’s become a militant force, if you will, against citizens, and that’s not OK for me.’ 

The video footage, which lasts roughly one minute, was captured at an apartment complex on May 23.

The full video shows the police patting down Johnson moments before kneeing him in the lower body and repeatedly punching him in the face, making it clear that they were aware he was unarmed, according to Fox 10.

Pastor Andre Miller (pictured) sent Batista the tape and expressed concern for the use of force

Pastor Andre Miller (pictured) sent Batista the tape and expressed concern for the use of force

As the four policemen proceed to pummel him, the elevator doors open with two additional officers on board

As the four policemen proceed to pummel him, the elevator doors open with two additional officers on board

Johnson can be seen leaning back against a wall beside an elevator, checking his phone, when four members of the Mesa Police Department begin closing in on him.

As the four policemen proceed to pummel him, the elevator doors open with two additional officers on board.

At first, the officer closest to the elevator exit waits, appearing to evaluate what is happening right in front of him.

As Johnson begins to drop to the floor, the fifth officer is shown putting a hand on one of the original four officials’ shoulder, and eventually making his way through the four law enforcement officials to Johnson, who is now unconscious on the floor.

At first, the officer closest to the elevator exit waits, appearing to evaluate what is happening right in front of him

At first, the officer closest to the elevator exit waits, appearing to evaluate what is happening right in front of him

The officers on the elevator slowly make their way out and into the fray

The officers on the elevator slowly make their way out and into the fray

The entire time this was going on, another man in plain clothes can be seen in the lower right corner of the video, peeking around the corner to watch the scene unfold

The entire time this was going on, another man in plain clothes can be seen in the lower right corner of the video, peeking around the corner to watch the scene unfold

The officers and sergeant, together, move Johnson’s unconscious body over a few feet, and proceed to restrain his hands and legs.

The entire time this was going on, another man in plain clothes can be seen in the lower right corner of the video.

At first, he remained around the corner, with eyes forward and not paying attention to what was going on to his right.

As the situation escalated, almost simultaneous with the other officers’ arrival as the elevator doors opened, the other man peered around the corner and watched, seated on the ground, as Johnson was beaten.

As Johnson begins to drop to the floor, the fifth officer is shown putting a hand on one of the original four officials' shoulder

As Johnson begins to drop to the floor, the fifth officer is shown putting a hand on one of the original four officials’ shoulder

The fifth officer eventually makes his way through the officials 

The fifth officer eventually begins to make his way through the officials, toward Johnson

As the police cuffed Johnson, one of them turned his attention to the man seated around the corner, making him stand up with his hands on his head to be searched.

The video ends after an officer pulls a few items out of the other man’s pockets and instructs him to sit back down on the ground. 

Batista, who has been Police Chief in Mesa for just 10 months, has acknowledged the need for a culture change within his police force, according to Fox 10. 

‘There’s going to be a special directive that says that we will not strike somebody in the face or in the head unless they are showing us active aggression,’ he said. 

Mesa Mayor John Giles said he would reserved comments on the incident until the Mesa Police Department conducted its full investigation.

Batista, who has been Police Chief in Mesa for just 10 months, has acknowledged the need for a culture change within his police force

Batista, who has been Police Chief in Mesa for just 10 months, has acknowledged the need for a culture change within his police force

Miller, along with attorneys Benjamin Taylor and Joel Robbins, issued a joint statement on the incident, noting that Johnson was both 'cooperative' and 'following police instructions'

Miller, along with attorneys Benjamin Taylor and Joel Robbins, issued a joint statement on the incident, noting that Johnson was both ‘cooperative’ and ‘following police instructions’

But Miller, along with attorneys Benjamin Taylor and Joel Robbins, issued a joint statement on the incident, noting that Johnson was both ‘cooperative’ and ‘following police instructions.’ 

‘The misconduct of these officers would have gone unnoticed if it had not been captured by surveillance videos at the apartment complex where the assault occurred,’ the statement read.

‘The Mesa Police Department must develop a law enforcement culture that meets community and constitutional norms and ensures that police and citizens go home safely after police interactions.’

A news conference in scheduled for Thursday, according to the Miller, Taylor and Robbins statement. 

Johnson eventually dropped to the floor, unconscious, and was cuffed; A news conference in scheduled for Thursday, according to the Miller, Taylor and Robbins statement

Johnson eventually dropped to the floor, unconscious, and was cuffed; A news conference in scheduled for Thursday, according to the Miller, Taylor and Robbins statement

 

 

 

 



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