Related Video: Man in footage discusses beating
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES- The man seen in a controversial video clip being punched repeatedly in the face by police pleaded no contest Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer.
William Cardenas, 23, was sentenced to three months already served in jail and placed on three years of probation.
The video footage posted on the Web site YouTube.com showed the arrest of Cardenas, an alleged gang member. Two Los Angeles officers can be seen holding him down on a Hollywood curb as one punches him several times in the face.
The clip caused a sensation, with 155,000 views, and eventually prompted the FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department to investigate.
Police said Cardenas had been wanted on charges of receiving stolen property when they confronted him Aug. 11.
In an arrest report obtained by The Associated Press, the officers said they tried to arrest Cardenas after spotting him on a sidewalk, but he fled.
The officers caught up to him, tripped him and swarmed over him to apply handcuffs, the report said. In their report, they admitted hitting him repeatedly in the face, saying he was resisting and that they feared he might grab one of their guns.
Cardenas’ attorney, B. Kwaku Duren, accused the officers of using excessive force.