Members of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department were captured on video allegedly assaulting a Black man said to be working as a security guard. The deputies are seen not only beating the man up but putting a gun to his head, leaving some to protest their use of excessive force.
The clip was posted on Twitter on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 1 a.m. by Cerise Castle, a Los Angeles-based investigative journalist.
Castle details the alleged excessive use of force in a 90-second video. Through her tweets, she attempts to break down the incident that happened between late Saturday night, Oct. 15, and early Sunday morning, Oct. 16. At the center of the footage she released is Blake Anderson, 24, who was wrestled to the ground and beaten by the deputies.
Anderson, who is believed to have worked as a bouncer at Inglewood’s Good Batch Lounge, reportedly lost his eyesight during the altercation.
While she does not share why the officers are in a confrontation with Anderson (mentioning only that they “pulled up and began beating” the security guard), Castle does identify one of the two officers as Deputy Rodriguez.
She tweeted, “Deputy Rodriguez and his partner pulled up and began beating Blake. He’s since lost vision in his eye. He’s current being charged with assault on a police office for this.”
“Multiple times during this video,” Castile continues, “The deputy puts a gun to Blake’s head. Blake told me he at this point the deputy said to him, ‘I’m going to blow your f—ing brains out.’”
The incident happened during a late-night club “let out,” and bystanders can be heard shouting, “He’s security here,” and to Anderson, “Don’t resist, they’re a gang!”
The woman filming says, “Blake, no. Blake, no. Blake. Don’t resist, Blake. No no no. Do what you gotta do, Blake. Come on,” as one of the deputies reportedly pummels him in the head with his fist and slams his head into the ground.
As the officers twist his arms behind his back, the individual says, “Please Blake, no. Don’t fight back.”
Anderson is pinned by one deputy to the ground with one knee to his shoulder. While he is restrained, the officers handcuff him.
“He did nothing. He was walking with me. He did nothing,” the friend filming remarks to the officers. “Blake, do not let them do anything, Blake. Blake, let them take you bro.”
The journalist was careful to note the location of the lounge, stating it was in Inglewood, an area outside of the LASD’s district, and questioning why would the officers be initiating an arrest outside of the jurisdiction.
Since the video was posted, it has been viewed over half a million times.
Castille later posted a minute-and-a-half excerpt from a local establishment’s surveillance video. The footage seems to corroborate her story that the officers drove into the parking lot, and hopped out of their patrol vehicle as he walked back and forth with his lady friend.
LASD released a statement saying the deputies had a reason to detain Anderson, saying, “the suspect, Blake Anderson, was … arrested for the following charges: felon in possession of firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of (loaded) concealed firearm, assault on a peace officer with a firearm.”
