[kellyhound]

San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon ordered an immediate internal investigation Thursday into an arrest by deputies after a horse pursuit caught on camera by NewsChopper4.

Deputies appeared to use Tasers to stun a man and then beat him after the pursuit in San Bernardino County Thursday afternoon.

Aerial footage showed the man falling off the horse, and then being stunned with a Taser by a sheriff's deputy.

The man appeared to fall to the ground with his arms outstretched. Two deputies immediately descended on him and began punching him in the head and kneeing him in the groin.

The group surrounding the man grew to 11 sheriff's deputies.

In the two minutes after the man was stunned with a Taser, it appeared deputies kicked him 17 times, punched him 37 times and struck him with batons four times.

Thirteen blows appeared to be to the head. The allegedly stolen horse stood idly nearby.

The man did not appear to move from his position lying on the ground for more than 45 minutes. He did not appear to receive medical attention while deputies stood around him during that time.

The man, identified as Francis Jared Pusok, 30, of Apple Valley, was hospitalized with unknown injuries, authorities said.

His girlfriend, Jolene Bindner, said she hasn't been able to get answers from the Sheriff's Department about Pusok's condition, let alone what hospital he's at.

"They have not told me a thing," she said. "How can you be tased and still feel it's necessary to beat him like that? I don't understand.

Three deputies were injured during the search. Two suffered dehydration and a third was injured when kicked by the horse. All three were taken to a hospital for treatment.

McMahon told he was launching an internal investigation into the actions of the deputies.

"I'm not sure if there was a struggle with the suspect," McMahon said. "It appears there was in the early parts of the video. What happens afterwards, I'm not sure of but we will investigate it thoroughly."

The series of events started when deputies from the Victor Valley station went to a home on Zuni Road to serve a search warrant in an identity theft investigation, authorities said in a news release.

The suspect took off in a vehicle and deputies initiated a pursuit through unincorporated Apple Valley, the town of Apple Valley and unincorporated Hesperia.

The area is more than 80 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.
Pusok allegedly abandoned the vehicle 40 miles away from Hesperia in a place called Bowen Ranch where he took off running.

During a search on foot, with off-road vehicles and by helicopter, deputies learned the suspect had stolen a horse and rode it on dirt trails through rugged, steep terrain, causing numerous injuries to the horse.

A sheriff's helicopter inserted a team of deputies to take the suspect into custody. As deputies made contact with Pusok, the horse threw him off.

Deputies said the Taser was ineffective due to his loose clothing and a use of force occurred.
"I can certainly understand the concerns in the community based on what they saw on the video," McMahon said. "I'm disturbed by what I see in the video.

But I don't need to jump to conclusions at this point, until we do a complete and thorough investigation.

If our deputy sheriff's did something wrong, they'll be put off work and they'll be dealt with appropriately, all in accordance with the law as well as our department policy."

San Bernardino Superior Court records show Pusok has convictions for resisting arrest, animal cruelty, disturbing the peace, attempted robbery and failure to provide evidence of financial responsibility.

The American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement that while they understand police officers are authorized to use force, they "are deeply troubled by the video images that appear to show San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies beating a man after he surrendered."

[thckoitin]

True heroes.

[Oswald2001]

If you put cops through a bunch of BS in chasing your low life criminal *ss, you deserve a beating.


If that's not "ok" with you, you may wish to consider other modes of behavior.

Otherwise, you should be beaten...to death if need be.

[spudigitti]

May I point out that the horse although stolen was indeed the runner on this tape,and I think he's getting off lightly....

[jackdiggums]

i love how the stragglers rush in for their share of the fun. nothing worse then being left out of the locker room celebratory chest bumping back at the station.

[redryan243]

Update: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/californ...ties-on-video/

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- A Southland man who was beaten by several sheriff's deputies following a chase involving a stolen horse has reached a $650,000 settlement with San Bernardino County, officials announced Tuesda, CBS Los Angeles reported.

Attorneys for Francis Jared Pusok finalized the settlement with the county in connection with Pusok's April 9 arrest in Apple Valley, according to San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert.

Pusok, 30, fled by car and then on horse in the desert while deputies chased him on foot after trying to serve a search warrant in an identity-theft investigation.

The county Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the settlement in closed session Tuesday, Wert said.

According to the terms of the agreement, the county "acknowledges no wrongdoing" and settles all potential claims from Pusok that could stem from the incident.

"The sole purpose of this agreement for both parties is to avoid the costs involved in litigation," said Board of Supervisors Chairman James Ramos. "This agreement is a fair outcome for everyone involved, including the taxpayers."

Pusok's violent arrest, which was filmed by a TV news helicopter, led to an FBI civil rights investigation and 10deputies being placed in leave pending an internal probe.

San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon said the video "disturbed and troubled" him and appeared to show an excessive use of force.

[Shakey]

They got all of their anger out.

[chewbacca]

Well, that was clearly a case of excessive force. Heads gonna roll on this one.