Investigation launched after video shows LAPD officer punch handcuffed man

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WATTS, LOS ANGELES -- A video that shows a 28-year-old antheral being punched by a Los Angeles constabulary serviceman during an apprehension has sparked outrage and is present the halfway of an investigation.

The incidental happened connected Sunday astir 5:20 p.m.

The video posted connected societal media shows 2 officers arresting Alexander Mitchell. Footage shows him handcuffed with his hands down his backmost arsenic helium asks, "What did I do, though?"

An serviceman past throws a punch and hits Mitchell successful the jaw.

According to police, officers were conducting a postulation halt connected a conveyance that was double-parked.

Officers initially thought nary 1 was successful the car, saying the conveyance had "heavily tinted windows," but aboriginal learned Mitchell was inside. Police said officers ordered Mitchell to get retired of the car and tried to spot him successful handcuffs.

"As a assemblage began to stitchery astir the scene, further backup was requested," said LAPD successful an update released connected Tuesday. "During the handcuffing process, Mitchell resisted by refusing to spot his hands down his backmost and grasping his beforehand waistband/pocket country with his close hand, preventing the officers from securing him. An serviceman past struck Mitchell connected the close broadside of his face, enabling the officers to implicit the handcuffing."

Police said Mitchell was sent to a adjacent infirmary for "medical clearance anterior to booking." He was aboriginal arrested for obstructing and resisting arrest, constabulary said.

Mitchell was released with a misdemeanor citation and is scheduled to look successful court.

In a station connected X, LAPD said the serviceman involved, who has not been identified, has been removed from tract duties.

Video sparks outrage

Mitchell's household and activists person since been calling connected District Attorney George Gascón to record transgression charges against the officer.

"If the tables were turned, my lad would've been successful jail," said Mitchell's parent An'tneal Harris successful a property league Tuesday. "If helium would've punched that serviceman the mode helium punched my son, it would've been a antithetic story, truthful helium needs to beryllium held accountable."

Brad Gage, an lawyer for Mitchell, said the 28-year-old was sitting successful his car, waiting for his person erstwhile officers made him get out.

"All I tin archer you is helium was handcuffed down his back, and helium was compliant and helium did thing wrong," said Gage. "He did not merit to beryllium treated this way."

He claims officers ne'er told Mitchell wherefore helium was stopped. He besides claims Mitchell was punched much than once, but that lone 1 punch was caught connected camera.

"There's lone 1 happening that they charged him with, and that was aft the fact, obstructing an investigation, truthful basically, what they accidental is erstwhile you're handcuffed and getting punched, if you're not talking to us, you're obstructing us," said Gage.

Meanwhile, a connection from the Los Angeles Police Protective League reads, "The caller societal media station showing a information of a constabulary brushwood wherever 2 LAPD officers are attempting to summation compliance from a ample antheral to spot him successful handcuffs is misleading, lacks context, and is being exploited by immoderate for governmental reasons."

The national cited an LAPD usage of unit grooming bulletin from March 2023 that states, successful part, that "strikes and/or kicks tin beryllium utilized erstwhile specified unit is objectively tenable to execute the following:

• Overcome progressive absorption to arrest

• Create region from a suspect

• Protect aforesaid oregon others from injury

• Stop oregon stun a suspect

• Distract a suspect"