An NBC news chopper caught footage yesterday of another stunningly disturbing incidence of police brutality. During a police chase through the desert, a suspect who fled on horseback, then fell off his horse, was consequently tasered and then needlessly surrounded and beaten by a group of San Bernadino County Sheriff deputies.
Video shows the suspect, 30-year-old Francis Jared Pusok of Apple Valley, stretching his arms out as police taser him. Right away two deputies begin punching his head and kneeing his groin. Soon after, nine other deputies surround the man.
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 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.
Pusok's mother apparently still does not know where her son is:
"To me, it was like a joyride for the cops to do this to him. (It was) brutality. He didn't deserve something like that," Clemenson said, "To Tase him, the beatings that I see them doing to him — it's uncalled for. You see him laying down, and they continue to kick him, hitting him and punching him. Why?"
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 taken to the hospital—one was kicked by the horse, two had dehydration. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department ordered an internal investigation Thursday.
Pusok's attorney called the incident "far worse than Rodney King."
You can watch the footage of the whole incident below the fold.