By Amanda Lien
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Police Department released body camera video Tuesday that appeared to show an officer hitting a homeless man.
The Los Angeles Times reports that LAPD Chief Michel Moore said he felt compelled to release body camera video from two officers after a cellphone video of the alleged incident was leaked online, causing public outcry.
Two officers are seen approaching the man, who begins to walk away from them. The Los Angeles Times reports the officers were responding to a trespassing call.
The man can be heard cursing and appearing to be combative, according to audio from one of the videos. The officer then orders the man to turn around, and the man seems to struggle briefly, knocking the officer’s camera to the ground.
The officer is seen in one of the videos punching the man at least a dozen times. His partner drew her TASER but didn’t use it.
In the video, the officer says he used force because the man “grabbed (his) hand.”
The man sustained minor injuries and did not want treatment. He was released and not charged with a crime.
The Los Angeles Times reports the department has not identified the officer who struck the suspect. The officer has been assigned to home pending an investigation, according to Moore, who said he had “serious concerns” about what is depicted in the video. The officer’s partner was placed on administrative duty.