Cops caught on camera beating a man with a baton said they were trying to disperse hundreds of people attacking patrol cars during a street takeover.
Officers from McFarland Police Department had responded to a Walmart in Delano, California, on Sunday afternoon to reports of vehicles driving recklessly.
In a statement, the force said that around 200 vehicles and 300-400 subjects had been conducting a nearby street takeover when they arrived – with some throwing glass bottles at their vehicles.
Cops then responded to a neighboring McDonald’s where a fight had broken out, with officers having to detain two individuals which resulted in a man being hit by a bat by one officer.
Police identified the man as Francisco Joaquin, 21, and said he had been carrying a loaded semi-automatic firearm during the battle with officers.
The officer who beat Joquin with a stick yelled at the camera man to back up and would not answer questions
Footage of the interaction was captured and shared on social media, showing one officer hitting Joaquin with a large bat.
Individuals inside the McDonald’s also filmed a police officer armed with a rifle arguing with Joaquin and his girlfriend Anjanette Garcia.
The cop chased after the couple when they walked out of the McDonald’s, while people in the restaurant began to laugh and take out their phones.
Four other unnamed officers were seen pinning Joaquin down to the ground as the officer hits him in the leg with a bat.
A female officer ran over to help another cop restrain the male customer, who squirmed in police custody after they began beating him with sticks.
The video taker got a direct view of the officers aggressively restraining the male customer and repeatedly yelled, ‘he’s not resisting.’
An officer with a large night stick lunged briefly at the person filming, telling him to step away.
‘Back up, back the f*** up,’ yelled the officer, ‘I’m backed up, I’m backed up,’ the video taker responded.
The male customer attempted to get on his feet again, but the officers kept ahold of him, and the cop with the stick began hitting the male customer’s legs while he screamed in pain.
Individuals inside the McDonald’s also caught on camera a police officer armed with a rifle arguing with Joaquin and his girlfriend Anjanette Garcia, the two are seen here
The cop chased after the couple once they walked out of the McDonald’s while people in the restaurant began to laugh and take out their phones
Outside, four other unnamed police officers ran to the scene and began beating Joaquin with sticks while pinning his girlfriend to the ground
In a statement, McFarland Police had said that Joaquin and his girlfriend Anjanette Garcia had ‘refused to comply with officers’ commands’
The video taker continued to ask the officer what he was doing since the customer was restrained and ‘on the f****** floor.’
‘F****** McFarland a** people,’ the man who filmed added
The video ends with the cops putting Joaquin handcuffs while on the ground, while the officer with the nightstick keeps a watch on the ground.
In a statement, McFarland Police had said Joaquin and his girlfriend Anjanette Garcia, 22, had ‘refused to comply with officers’ commands’.
They also added that ‘de-escalation techniques were ineffective’ against the two, and that officers had to use ‘control holds and takedown techniques’ to take Garcia into custody.
McFarland Police said: ‘The male suspect, later identified as 21-year-old Francisco Joaquin, began resisting arrest while Officers struggled to take him into custody on the ground.
‘After a brief struggle and use of less lethal weapons, Officers were able to take Joaquin into custody.’
Officers from McFarland Police Department had responded to the fast-food franchise on Sunday afternoon to reports of hundreds of vehicles driving recklessly
During a search of Joaquin, Officers said they located a loaded semi-automatic firearm with an illegal extended magazine
Police also said that Joaquin is a known gang member and a convicted felon in a Fresno gang
During a search of Joaquin, Officers said they located a loaded semi-automatic firearm with an illegal extended magazine.
Police added that Joaquin is a known Fresno gang member and convicted felon.
He was charged with numerous felonies including gang charges and refused medical aid before being booked into the Lerdo Justice Facility Center.
Speaking to Eyewitness News, family members of Joaquin said the officers used excessive force and are currently speaking with lawyers about their next step.
Criminal justice professor at Bakersfield College, Dr. Tommy Tunson also told the outlet: ‘It’s obvious that it just does not look good at how it came out but officer safety is always at the forefront of these actions and based on what I observed and what I see, I don’t see it as an issue but again, I wasn’t there at the scene.’
Joaquin is expected to appear in court next Tuesday morning for his arraignment.