Saturday, authorities confirmed that two Alameda County sheriff’s deputies in San Francisco’s Mission District are under investigation after footage was released of them excessively beating a suspect.
The disturbing video was taken early Thursday morning and shows an unidentified man running fro the deputies. One of them yells for him to stop and as the man is tackled to the ground he is beaten with great force with batons by the two officers.
A witness and the Public Defender’s Office call it a “brutal beating.”
The assault does not stop until police and other deputy sheriff’s arrive on the scene.
“I heard just loud smack, smack, smacks. I really thought they were gunshots cause they were super loud,” said witness Redop Rundgren who lives in an apartment right above the alley. “They kept screaming, ‘Get on the ground,” pushing him and beating him continuously.”
Despite their vow to look into the matter, the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office likely will not handle the case.
“Any time there’s a question of police misconduct it’s always better to have an independent investigation,” she said. “An agency investigating itself historically hasn’t proved to be that effective.”