LAPD Officer Caught on Camera Assaulting Handcuffed Man
A disturbing video has been released by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) showing one of their officers assaulting a man in handcuffs. The 56-minute body camera footage, released on YouTube on Sunday (July 28), shows two officers arresting a 28-year-old Black man named Alexander "Dante" Mitchell in the Watts neighborhood.
According to reports from The Los Angeles Times, the arrest stemmed from a double parking dispute. The officers can be seen initially tapping on Mitchell’s car window, asking him to roll it down. Mitchell questions why he’s being stopped and as he exits the car, the interaction with the LAPD grows hostile.
The video shows the LAPD attempting to pat Mitchell down, looking for a weapon and trying to place handcuffs on his wrists. Mitchell struggles with the officers as his loved ones watch the incident unfold. Suddenly, one of the officers punches Mitchell in the face, causing chaos among the onlookers. One of the officers then equips a taser and demands that the onlookers stay back.
Mitchell’s attorney, Brad Gage, and his mother, An’tonel Harris, held a press conference, claiming that the punch left Mitchell with a broken nose and injured jaw. Harris said, "It doesn’t make sense. He’s complying. He’s listening, and you still punch him? A sucker punch!"
Gage added, "This officer clearly has anger management issues. He does not deserve to remain on the force. We’re calling on the district attorney’s office to investigate and to prosecute."
Both officers involved in the incident have since been removed from street duties as an investigation continues. The LAPD has not released their names. Interim LAPD Chief Blake Chow said, "There was an active use of force investigation as well as a complaint investigation… The goal is to complete both of those investigations, you know, within the next three weeks."
Mitchell was treated for his injuries at a hospital before being booked for resisting arrest and released with a misdemeanor citation.
