Santa Cruz police investigate use of force during arrest of cyclist

Santa Cruz police said they will investigate officers’ actions during an arrest of a cyclist last week that sparked public concern about the use of force.

The arrest occurred Wednesday, police said.

The 15-second video was posted to YouTube on Thursday by the Santa Cruz Sentinel, a local news outlet. In the video, the man appears to be screaming in pain while several officers surround and attempt to arrest him. “What the f—,” the man says. “I am sitting here. Why are you hurting me like this?” In response, one of the officers says, “Stop resisting us.”

The video did not show the interaction between the man and police before they arrested him.

Police said Friday that officers observed the man riding an electric bike and failing to yield for pedestrians in a crosswalk. Police stopped the man for a traffic violation, but when he failed to provide identification and instead gave officers false information, they decided to arrest him, according to police.

“The suspect resisted arrest,” authorities said. “He was not injured and was ultimately booked into the Santa Cruz County jail.”

In response to the incident, police said department leadership and an independent auditor were conducting an investigation into the incident. The investigation will include interviews with witnesses and officers, a review of video footage and a review of police body-worn camera footage, authorities said.

“The expectation is crystal clear: all members of the police department are expected to carry out their duties with dignity and respect within the community we serve,” Santa Cruz Police Chief Bernie Escalante said in a statement.