Questions Raised Over Salinas Police Use Of Force Caught On Video
SALINAS (CBS SF) – Questions are being raised about the amount of force police officers in Salinas used to subdue a man suspected of beating his mother and tried to throw her into traffic last week. The suspect's mother said police went too far.
The video shows officers hitting 28-year-old Jose Velasco repeatedly with their batons for 45 seconds last Friday.
Police said Velasco had been drinking, was high on meth and grabbed an officer's stun gun.
Chief Kelly McMillan said officers had no choice but to use force. "You don't understand how that video looks and unfortunately real violence looks terrible. We don't like to use those batons but sometime that is the appropriate tool," Chief Kelly McMillan said.
Police said the suspect also attacked a paramedic and another officer on the way to the hospital. Velasco was booked for assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.
Rita Acosta, Velasco's mother, said her son is mentally ill. "Everybody is passing judgment on what they seen, but nobody was listening. they weren't hearing my son yelling for help," Acosta said.
An investigation into the use of force is underway. All of the officers involved are still on duty.
