LONG BEACH -- Long Beach Police officers have been accused of police brutality after a YouTube video that shows several officers surrounding a man as one officer hits him with a baton went viral.
The video, posted to YouTube Monday, shows a man lying on the ground as several Long Beach Police officers surround him. One of the officers then strikes the man in the legs as others shout orders.
Family members identified the man as Porfirio Santos-Lopez, 46, of Long Beach, and said they were devastated by the incident which took place at Locust Avenue and South Street Monday.
He was being taken into surgery at Long Beach Memorial Hospital late Tuesday night for his injuries, said his wife, Lee Ann Hernandez.
Long Beach Police would not make a comment on the incident late Tuesday night saying a statement would be made on Wednesday.
However, police did speak to KTLA and said the case was under investigation. They also offered nearby store video surveillance that shows Santos-Lopez punching a man prior to the alleged police beating.
Reaction to the video has been mixed with some stating the police over-stepped their bounds while others who saw the footage of Santos-Lopez allegedly attacking an unidentified man, saying it may have been justified.
"He was already on the ground," said Carlos Uribe when shown the video for the first time Tuesday night. "They didn't have to hit him."
However, Connie Morales, who said she saw the surveillance video said the 46-year-old looked like he was out of control.
"I don't know if it was excessive or not, but he was just swinging at people," she said.
Its' unclear if the man will be arrested for any offense following his release from the hospital. ___
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Distributed by MCT Information Services
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