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 Around noon local time sheriffs deputies went to serve a search
warrant at the home of 30-year-old Francis Pusok, who fled from
officers in a car in rural Apple Valley, the San Bernardino County
Sheriff's Department said in a statement.
Pusok later ditched the car and stole a horse from a group of
people, leading officers on a pursuit through the rugged and hilly
terrain, the statement said.
Footage captured by a news helicopter for NBC Los Angeles and
published online showed the man fall off his horse at the end of the
chase and two deputies deploy what appear to be tasers on him.
The video shows Pusok falling to the ground, spreading his hands out
above his head, before placing them behind his back. Over the next
roughly two minutes, the video shows about 10 officers swarm the
man, kicking and kneeing his head and crotch, punching his head and
back, and stepping on him.
"The video surrounding this arrest is disturbing," Sheriff John
McMahon said in the statement.
The incident comes as police violence has been under increased
scrutiny, following nationwide protests over police killings of
unarmed black men in cities like Ferguson, Missouri, New York City,
and most recently, North Charleston and South Carolina.
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The sheriff's department statement said three deputies were injured
during the incident - two suffering from dehydration and one who was
kicked by the horse. Pusok and the deputies were taken to the
hospital.
(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Michael
Perry)
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