Los Angeles police are investigating an LAPD officer who was seen punching a handcuffed man in a now-viral video, an incident that has prompted calls for the officer to be criminally charged.
Authorities said the altercation happened Sunday in the Southeast police division, which covers 10 square miles in the Watts area.
In a brief statement posted on the social media site X, the department confirmed that the incident was under investigation and said the officer involved had been “removed from field duty.” It did not name the officer.
The department said the incident began during a traffic stop, but provided no additional details about what led up to the punch.
A witness video posted online shows two officers grappling with a large man, his hands bound behind his back with two sets of handcuffs, standing next to an LAPD patrol car. The man did not appear to struggle with the officers and could be heard yelling loudly, “What did I do?” just before one of the officers suddenly turned and punched him in the jaw. The man did not appear to be fazed by the blow.
The blow prompted cries of condemnation from several spectators located off camera, who can be heard asking why the blow was struck.
“You’re resisting,” one of the officers is heard saying as they lead the man away.
“No, I’m not,” the man replies.
As the images began circulating online, a coalition of Los Angeles civil rights leaders and organizations began calling on Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón to immediately file criminal charges against the unnamed LAPD officer.
“It’s shocking that this officer would assault a handcuffed man who is already restrained. This is not resistance. It’s like they haven’t learned anything since the Rodney King beating, which is also captured on video,” said Najee Ali, director of the Islamic Hope Project. “He doesn’t deserve to be on the force. He deserves to be handcuffed and sitting in a jail cell.”
Ali said the incident happened in the 1700 block of East 113 Street in Watts, several blocks east of the Nickerson Gardens subdivision.
