LAPD officer suddenly punches man under arrest during traffic stop

An officer from the Los Angeles Police Department has been removed from field duty after a video shows him punching a man handcuffed during a traffic stop.  

A bystander recorded the now-viral video on Sunday at about 5 p.m. in the 1700 block of 113th Street in Watts. Neighbors said the man collapsed moments after the punch. Video from the incident also shows him taken away in an ambulance. 

In a statement, the LAPD said it launched an investigation into the incident. The following day, on Tuesday, and LAPD official said during an LA Police Commission meeting that the man who was punched was double parked, with his car facing in the wrong direction when officers approached him. He also said the man initially refused to get out of the car.

"The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of an incident that unfolded from a traffic stop on July 28, 2024 in the Southeast Area, involving use of force," the department stated. "The incident is under investigation, and the officer involved has been removed from field duties."

The phrase "removed from field duties" indicates that the officer has not been suspended or placed on leave but is rather posted at a desk at the station. 

On Tuesday, LAPD said the man —  identified by family and police as 28-year-old Alex Mitchell — resisted arrest by refusing to place his hands behind his back and grasping his front waistband and pocket area with his right hand.

"An officer then struck Mitchell on the right side of his face, enabling the officers to complete the handcuffing," the agency said in statement.

Activists and family members of Mitchell have since spoken out.

"Once again, we see another African American man being viciously assaulted by an LAPD officer," activist Najee Ali said. 

Brad Gage, an attorney representing Mitchell, appeared alongside his mother and activists including Ali at a news conference Tuesday. They called for an investigation and prosecution against the officer by LA County District Attorney George Gascón.

Gage said Mitchell was "doing nothing" when officers had him get out of the car "without justification." He also alleged Mitchell was punched more than once and his nose was broken. 

An'tneal Harris, Alex's mother, said the officer responsible needs to be fired and face charges. 

"It has to stop. To see my only child handcuffed, punched in the face while he was compliant — I have a problem with that," Harris said. "If the tables were turned, my son would've been in jail."

Lou Shapiro, an attorney who spoke to KCAL News about the case, expects other legal actions to follow. 

"I don't think anybody looking at his video thinks that it was justified force, even if something did precipitate it at that point in time," Shapiro said.

Retired LAPD Sgt. Cheryl Dorsey agreed that anything that happened before the video started does not matter. 

"That use of force was unnecessary," Dorsey said. "It was excessive and he's probably going to lose his job behind it."

She added that she was disappointed but not surprised.

"LAPD knows who the bad actors are," she said. "Thank God, this young man didn't lose his life."